GAME 56: DAL (30-26) vs. LAC (31-27) | 110-104 WIN!

[Scott41theMavs]

I'd start him, too, but in Bullock's spot. 

...and I don't think it's a given that Kidd will start him at all. We've heard calls for it here all season and lately the media types have picked up the cry, but as we saw with Wood, Kidd has his own idea of the pecking order. 

And that's what it is to him, much more than it was with Carlisle (right or wrong) - a pecking order. Green is the young kid. Bullock and THJ are the veteran leaders. It's so clear to me that Kidd thinks upsetting that isn't something to be done lightly. He might be right, I'm not sure. But both Nellie and Carlisle would throw lineups together based on synergy and fit, so that's what we're all used to as fans. I honestly, truly believe Kidd thinks more like he did as a player. There are likely pros and cons to each approach. 

To be clear, I expect Green to be a starter soon - it's impossible to deny that he's super important to this team. Part of the equation seems to be getting the rest of the team on board with that concept, however. Also, the way he plays, with so much energy...I think it's easy to assume he can simply extend that approach to longer minutes without dipping in effectiveness, but his conditioning might actually still be a work in progress. It is for most young players. 

This might all get cleared up by that "one more trade"...whatever it is.

Moreover, no denying that Green is a huge spark off the bench. He brings a renewing energy. He has also begun to finish games recently, which he has earned.

I'll be interested to see if Kidd changes up Luka's minutes patterns. If not, I would assume Kyrie gets a six-minute rest in the first quarter and starts the first six of the second. In any event, the patterns have to change somewhat. The whole point of "get this kid some help" is that his minutes, as well as his usage, need to go down.