Quote:
Originally Posted by Melonhead
This. And the defense started clicking in January
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The defense didn't just start clicking. The biggest move the Mavs made in the off season, the change of coaches, started paying off. Kidd put in a different defense, demanding players fight their way over or under picks, rather than just switching everything. Last year, every time a team ran a pick and roll, they ended up with a big covered by Brunson, or a wing guarded by KP, and the result, for the Mavs, was disaster. Now we have the same guys playing a different defense with a better attitude. Kidd convinced them they could defend, and now those same guys are convincing the NBA.
Certainly, we need better 3 point shooting, but you don't need to take, or hit as many 3's if you are holding the other team to a hundred points.
I'm not sure you can give Cuban credit for getting rid of Carlisle, but you have to give him points for taking a flyer on Kidd. Looks like he learned some lessons after being run out of Milwaukee and coaching under Vogel. Its too small of a sample to declare total satisfaction, but it means a lot to get this far with so few complaints.
Maybe now, it won't be so hard to convince free agents to come here.