ROSTER TALK: Mavs favs for Vogel if no HC job exists. Kyrie handshake deal?

[F Gump]

I do think he is really trying to get Wood to focus on defense, and I think there has been progress in that area.

I think that's accurate. The fact we're seeing growth in defense by Wood is what it's all about.

I think it's always been a case of the coaches trying to get Wood to be a keeper by upgrading his defense. The goal is a title, and building a winner means players have to develop multiple skills to be useful contributors. Having a bunch of one-way players isn't going to cut it.

And with Wood I think it's been a carrot-stick approach where minutes have been the reward, with starting his goal and motivator, and the coaches holding him accountable on defensive effort and focus to try to ingrain some positive habits. Hopefully, with him starting to do some things positively on defense, it will give him motivation and a foundation to build from.