10-20-2022, 01:41 PM
(10-20-2022, 01:17 PM)Kammrath Wrote: Both are big concerns IMO, which is why I am suggesting the Mavs may need another big man if Kidd is not going to play CW close to 32-35 mins.
I could be wrong about any of this, but here's my thinking about last night.
1) I don't think Kidd wants to play Wood/Kleber together to end most games. I think he wants to play one of them with DFS, Bullock, Dinwiddie and Luka.
2) I think he's trying to give Kleber a sense of "it's your job to lose" with the closing minutes, and that he's not just going to give that role to the new guy. That might frustrate us in the short term, but I can kind of see the logic, I guess. Kleber just got them to the WCF, has been here a while, and once Wood takes over they'll still need Kleber's head on straight about his role because he'll still be super important. I think Kidd might be taking baby steps here so as not to mess up the chemistry. It's probably already kind of messing with Kleber a little that he's not the first big off the bench anymore.
3) If Wood keeps playing as well as he did last night, I don't think this process will take long at all. All involved will understand soon what gives this team its best chance to win.