01-18-2021, 02:30 PM
(01-18-2021, 02:09 PM)Mavs2019 Wrote: I think it´s a combination of the Mavs being real sh*t at drafting and Carlisle favouring veterans over rookies, therefore restricting their actual and necessary NBA minutes for development.
Agree with some of your post, and definitely don't want to get into yet another debate about Carlisle with someone who has clearly bought into the hive mind and not likely to change their mind, but...I'd say DSJ points to the exact opposite conclusion about the coach.
Yes, he HAD to play the kid. It was clearly the organizational approach at that time, finally, to pick a prospect in the lottery and build around them. Smith was their first stab at that, Luka their second.
My point is that at times here, DSJ looked competent. Good, even. I believe that him completely falling off a cliff to the point where he might not have a job in the league soon points to how WELL Carlisle was doing with him here. Knowing what we know now, that can't have been easy, but I do feel like had Smith remained here they would've worked through some of the issues he's having and he would've reached something much closer to his true potential.
Then again, maybe I'm completely wrong and something has CHANGED with Smith's personality. His confidence? His general motivation and direction in life? Not sure, really, but my original comment was just meant to point to how bizarre it is that he has gone from "interesting, might have some potential" to "jesus, get that guy out of here" sooooo quickly.