I did a favor for a friend, and in return, I was given not only two lower level tickets to Wednesday night’s game against the revamped Denver Nuggets, but also two postgame passes which would get me down on the floor after the game. Not to mention, it was the Dirk and J-Kidd Future Hall of Famer double bobblehead giveaway. Needless to say, I was more excited than usual as Dad and I made our way to the arena. And then the game started…and it was all downhill from there, as the Mavs lost yet again.
As a tried and true blue Mavs fan, I’ve been very disheartened of late, especially since the second half debacle that took place against the Lakers. In a game we needed to win, not only did we lose, we lost in the worst possible way…and then followed that up with two more losses, this time to inferior teams. Then we add in another loss, this time against a potential playoff opponent, and it’s no wonder I’m bummed and had to take the day off work yesterday. (Ok, honestly, it was just exhaustion catching up with me – at least that’s what I’m telling myself!)
Normally, I’m not one to play the blame game when it comes to losing. I figure it is what it is, a failure, and many people had a hand in it. But after watching my beloved Mavs fall apart yet again and continue in their current process of backpedaling into the playoffs, it’s time for me to step up and start pointing the finger (no, not that finger!) at all those responsible for the Mavs’ sudden decline at the most inopportune of times:
1. For Wednesday night’s loss to Denver, I blame Dad. For the first time that I can remember, he did not wear a Mavericks’ shirt of some shape or sort to the game. True, he does get credit for his Mavs hat, but just as Dallas fell short, so did my Dad’s game day attire.
2. I blame my Mom. No, she didn’t even go to the game, but as we were leaving work, she noted how I would be “so happy” when I returned to work on Thursday because the Mavs would win the game. Erhh, wrong answer. Predicting a win somehow always seems to end in defeat….kinda like how the Mavs always seem to lose once Charles Barkley decides to jump on their bandwagon.
3. I blame my friend Jay, for being upfront and honest with me. He told me before the Mavs went on their recent six game West Coast road swing that he had “a bad feeling” about this. Being the eternal infernal optimist, I felt compelled to defend my boys and disagree. There’s so much egg on my face right now I could whip up an omelet. Next time, if you’re really my friend, lie to me, please!
4. Enough of the ridiculousness. Although I’m rarely one to criticize the coach when a team fails, primarily because he is not out on the court when it counts, after Wednesday night, I can keep quiet no longer. The only question is, where do I begin? How about with the starting lineup? Why in the world, in a game with potential playoff implications, would you “rest” Jason Kidd? True, Kidd’s legs aren’t as young and fresh as they once were, but there are three straight games coming up against non-playoff teams, and any one of those would have been a better night to rest Kidd. Besides that, it was Kidd-Dirk bobblehead night, an evening to honor the future Hall of Famers, and people came to see Kidd play. So why disappoint the fans?
Secondly, starting Roddy B at point guard is just plain dumb. First of all, the Mavs’ coaching staff seriously needs to quit trying to make the poor kid be something he’s not. Beaubois, by nature, is not a point guard, yet Dallas insists on throwing him in that position. Granted, Roddy is quick and athletic, but he’s much more of a slasher than a distributor. He’s a natural two guard, but the Mavs are increasingly reluctant to give him meaningful minutes – or any, actually – in his rightful position. If you’re gonna sit J-Kidd, only one of the best point guards in the history of the damn game, don’t do it in favor of Roddy. It puts too much pressure on a kid who isn’t ready to handle it, and likely never will be. If you must start someone else, why not Barea? He may be undersized, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in heart. He is fearless on the floor, unafraid to mix it up with the big men in the paint, and unafraid to fling his body to the floor if he thinks he can draw the charge. Plus, as evidenced by his double digit assists on Wednesday, Barea knows how to distribute the basketball.
Thirdly, Coach Carlisle needs to learn how to use Dirk and Peja together more effectively. When teams double down on Dirk, Peja needs to be open on the perimeter, prepared to sink the three or the open jumper which have become his trademarks over the years. But against the Nuggets, every time Carlisle put Dirk in the game, he pulled Peja our or vice versa. Again, the coach was not making the most of the weapons he had available to him. In the postgame presser, I overheard Carlisle talking about how his playoff rotation is “still wide open.” Say what?!? We’re ten days from the freaking playoffs, and the Coach has no idea who he plans to play when it really counts? Nevermind the fact that the players have been consistently shuffled in and out of the lineup (Terry, Stevenson, and Marion); the Coach needs to know where he intends to go with this, and Carlisle seems essentially clueless.
I’m starting to think maybe Dad’s right. Maybe the real problem with Coach Carlisle is...
5. …his lack of hair. Maybe like Samson’s superhuman strength, Carlisle’s amazing coaching abilities will only reappear when his hair grows back, and he once again looks like a Jim Carrey impersonator.
For the sake of the entire organization and Mavs’s fans everywhere, let’s hope it’s not the hair, because the playoffs are a week away, and unless someone substitutes Miracle-Gro for Carlisle’s shampoo, we’re all in a world of hurt.
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