06-16-2021, 11:50 AM
Highlights from Bill Simmons pod on Athletic article, with Jonathan Tjarks --
The podders think that this piece did not emanate from Luka. Luka doesn't need to go to the media, if he's even really that bothered about a stats guy. The Luka stuff was likely put in to get Mavs fans to care about the story -- there's this front office dysfunction, and omg, it could end up causing a rift with Luka.
Mavs have only one top-40 player on their roster. Considering the lack of talent, their season was actually pretty successful.
The deeper structural issues pointed out in the article are concerning, as they raise a question about whether the franchise is being run in a functional way. When Mark tried to bring in Gerson Rosas, Rosas was given no ability to hire and fire people, and he quit after three months over having no real authority. Usually, when teams change a GM, they clear out the front office, and the new GM brings his own guys in. When you just bring one new guy at a top level into an existing hierarchy, conflicts are probable.
On other matters, KP is not the player he used to be. His outlook is uncertain. They don't blame the Mavs for doing the trade, but the real problem now is the injury risk, considering the history of super tall guys in the NBA. Guys 7'2" and over tend to start breaking down after a few seasons, almost without exception, and KP has already had a couple of bad knee problems. If the team wants to move him on, they will need to find another team willing to take that risk. Not clear that there is a particularly good deal out there to be had.
In terms of what Luka needs to do to get better, the priorities are to get and stay in shape, play well off the ball, and learn how to lead a team, on and off the court. They think Rick may be bending to Luka too much, when someone who challenges him might be better. The Mavs' letting go of Barea might have been a more consequential move than was reported, as he was a guy Luka would listen to, at least to an extent.
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vdGhlLWJpbGwtc2ltbW9ucy1wb2RjYXN0/episode/ZTk1ZWM0N2UtODhlMC0xMWViLWFhMDMtYmI2ODA0ZjdkOGY0?hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwjp_MWAxJzxAhVRG80KHWiRDQ0QieUEegQIBhAF&ep=6
The podders think that this piece did not emanate from Luka. Luka doesn't need to go to the media, if he's even really that bothered about a stats guy. The Luka stuff was likely put in to get Mavs fans to care about the story -- there's this front office dysfunction, and omg, it could end up causing a rift with Luka.
Mavs have only one top-40 player on their roster. Considering the lack of talent, their season was actually pretty successful.
The deeper structural issues pointed out in the article are concerning, as they raise a question about whether the franchise is being run in a functional way. When Mark tried to bring in Gerson Rosas, Rosas was given no ability to hire and fire people, and he quit after three months over having no real authority. Usually, when teams change a GM, they clear out the front office, and the new GM brings his own guys in. When you just bring one new guy at a top level into an existing hierarchy, conflicts are probable.
On other matters, KP is not the player he used to be. His outlook is uncertain. They don't blame the Mavs for doing the trade, but the real problem now is the injury risk, considering the history of super tall guys in the NBA. Guys 7'2" and over tend to start breaking down after a few seasons, almost without exception, and KP has already had a couple of bad knee problems. If the team wants to move him on, they will need to find another team willing to take that risk. Not clear that there is a particularly good deal out there to be had.
In terms of what Luka needs to do to get better, the priorities are to get and stay in shape, play well off the ball, and learn how to lead a team, on and off the court. They think Rick may be bending to Luka too much, when someone who challenges him might be better. The Mavs' letting go of Barea might have been a more consequential move than was reported, as he was a guy Luka would listen to, at least to an extent.
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vdGhlLWJpbGwtc2ltbW9ucy1wb2RjYXN0/episode/ZTk1ZWM0N2UtODhlMC0xMWViLWFhMDMtYmI2ODA0ZjdkOGY0?hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwjp_MWAxJzxAhVRG80KHWiRDQ0QieUEegQIBhAF&ep=6