Fire Carlisle

[omahen]

I think Carlisle is considered by Cuban to be like Donnie and Dirk as lifers...it would take a couple of horrible seasons or something happening that makes firing him the only choice possible...

He is still for now the only Coach I want to be running the Mavs...he will maximize the talents of Luka and KP and be able to punish them for not giving maximum effort which I don't think would happen...

Well to try to play devil's advocate, if Carlisle turns in at least 2-3 underwhelming seasons with KP and Luka at the helm I can see him easily being fired. 

I think that duo should net 50 wins easy by year 2. If the Mavs aren't hitting that then Carlisle can (and should) be definitely looked at to be replaced. 

However, I doubt that'd happen because Carlisle is still a great coach, and with just Luka he managed to lead the Mavs to 33 wins. RC is apart of the Mavs triangle because he's great at what he does.

Well. Focusing on the last part of your post. Last season they wanted to compete for play-offs but only managed 33 wins after giving up half way through the season. It could be argued that a team of Luka, DJ, Barnes, Wes and DSJ looks similarly good on paper compared to Luka, KP, Powell, Jackson and Wright. 

Not to mention absolutely same game plan regarding the starting line-up and rotation no matter who they were playing - speaking before the TDL trades when they were still trying to be competitive. It could be seen from space that some things just aren't clicking yet no changes were made as far as coaching is considered. It was driving me mad. I really hope this was solely out of need to showcase some players for trades and nothing more.

There should be no excuses this year. With the exception of devastating injuries, Play-offs are the goal. if we don't make it, responsibility should be taken. Either by persons responsible for team building (they failed to spend some 12 million on additional assets, not trading Lee so far,...) or by the coach. Or will you fans be again so easily convinced how a "33 win season" is actually a great acomplishment. Like this offseason was great accomplishment despite high flying announcements and goals set before the summer. I sure know I am not satisfied with the summer as I expected more and I will sure not be satisfied with anything less than playoffs.

I had hope at the beginning of last season, and then Barnes, Wes and DJ were awful, and DSJ didn't take that step forward and then went AWOL. But there is no way that I buy that they looked "similarly good on paper". You said "it could be argued". I'd like to see your argument. 

2nd year Luka + KP gives us the hope of two legit stars. We had nothing close to that last season. And the depth this season blows last season out of the water.

I think it is simple:
go back to 2018: "Wow, our team looks super good. We have a center we always wanted in DJ, we got great rookie, DSJ will take another step forward, Barnes is a 20 per guy and Wes is a solid starter. Our bench is best in NBA" 
Enter 2019: "Wow, our team looks super good. We have a fringe all star Luka, we have KP who was a stud 17 months ago when he last played and we all believe he will only get better. We got Wright who is just waiting to explode at 27 year old. Jackson was a 15th pick and he will explode for sure. Powell will keep his amazing production from second half of last season. "

All hopes are build on expectations that everything will be great. In reality, we didn't add much besides KP. The team without 4 of last year starters didn't win a lot at all. So KP is not upgrading the beginning of the season team but end of the season one. If my count is correct the "after trade team" won just 10 games out of 32. 

Direct comparison (stats from last season when playing in Dallas, Wright in Memphis):
KP>Barnes - 22,7 points; 6,6 rebounds; 1,2 assists vs 17,7;4,2;1,3
Powell=DJ - 10,6; 5,3; 1,5 vs 11,0;13,7;2,0
JJ Wright=DSJ - 12,2; 5,4; 5,3 vs 14,7; 2,8; 5,4
Luka=Luka 

I don't think it is that much better on paper. Of course last year team didn't click and we have higher hope this year team would. But I thought that RC is a magician who makes everything work. Obviously he couldn't make that one. If we would be speaking only about potential as seen before last season, last team could be seen even much higher than this year team (if you go back to the point before season of 2018-2019). 

Team this year still considerably lacks shooting as only KP can be considered as reliable shooter in the starting five. If Wright, Powell and JJ (or THJ) fail to produce solid three point percentages, we will already have trouble. Not to mention injury risks. One considerable injury for a month or two for KP or Luka would probably end all of our playoff hopes.