Fire Carlisle

[fifteenth]

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.

You first paragraph isn't a bad summary of what folks were saying at the beginning of the year, but just because you can type out summaries using similar language doesn't prove that the 2018 Mavs had anything brewing that can compare with 2nd year Luka + KP.  

Luka + KP is a franchise restart. 

And your greater than/less than chart with stats doesn't tell the story either. We have two legit stars with a good supporting cast. There is really no comparison. 

Re: "RC is a magician who makes everything work"

No one has ever said that. If someone said it now, they'd be wrong. RC is a great coach, but no coach (including Rick...or Pop) can make everything work. 

Re: "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)." 

You're just flat out delusional on that point. 

Re: Shooting

We don't know what the starting 5 will be, but KP, Luka, Seth, Jackson, Brunson can all shoot, DP from 2 is insane, and might be coming along from 3. We've improved our shooting for sure. 

I don't know that you'll find many takers on this theory that the promise before last season was equal to the promise before this season. 

Re: "good supporting cast".

Speaking of delusional... My biggest problem is the supporting cast. While we might have 13 great bench guys, we only have two legitimate starters. It would take two or three guys to really step up from their carreer bests. Hope they prove me wrong, but I am sceptical.

 Re: "RC is a magician who makes everything work" No one has ever said that.

It is said all the time. Not using this words exactly, but with this meaning all the time. 

Re: Shooting
Jackson and Brunson were average shooters up to now. Luka was actually below average, but it has a lot to do with a number of difficult shots he takes. This only leaves KP, as I said. Seth will most likely come from bench and I wouldn't really expect him to drastically increase his last year production. Do you think Lillard and Mcculum can't create space for catch and shoot guys like Seth?

Re: DP from 2 is insane

DP is insane as a rim runner/finisher. Other than that, his shot is doubtful at best. He has 0 midrange game and shaky three pointer. Of course, if he could keep his spring 3 point percentage, he would be a great starter. At least on offensive end.

Of course we'll have to just wait and see on the shooting and supporting cast. 

But on the "Rick can make anything work" thing: If people really believed that it would be silly because no coach on planet earth is that good! But also because if we all really believed that then we'd all be on the "Fire Rick" bandwagon since the team has sucked for 3 years straight.