Will Coaching Changes Help Kidd?

Shapecity · Sep 22, 2008

In nine days, the Mavericks will convene for the 2008-09 season, and if you're wondering what they have learned since the commotion that engulfed the team four months ago, it can be summed up easily.

Change is good.

They are referring to new coach Rick Carlisle. But they also believe the transition from Avery Johnson will show an earlier change – trading for Jason Kidd – was a smart move.

The fresh, upbeat atmosphere will be a theme as the Mavericks prepare for training camp, which will be held at SMU's new training facility.

And one of the team's leaders insists the attitude has, indeed, changed.

"Automatically," Jason Terry said. "It's obvious, if we come back and play the way we played the last two years, the system wasn't bad, but now you've changed the roster. So we needed to go in a different direction."

Owner Mark Cuban and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson made sure they did. Now it's up to Carlisle to make sure the excitement is embraced by the players.

Carlisle has three assistants who were not with the Mavericks last season: Terry Stotts, Dwane Casey and Tom Sterner. He also has Mario Elie, a holdover from Johnson's staff.

"It's going to be really important to keep the fresh approach," Casey said. "Avery did a great job of tightening the ship, and he and Nellie [previous coach Don Nelson] were so different. We want to keep it simple

"One thing that Rick wants to do now is give guys more freedom and run – and have a secondary break that doesn't have a lot of pre-ordained moves."

Their job will start with Kidd, the trade-deadline addition who was supposed to take the Mavericks deep into the Western Conference playoffs.

But Kidd and Johnson never meshed. Johnson's offense was a poor fit for Kidd's skills.

That has to change.

"You look at Jason Kidd, and we had him for two months," Terry said. "This is one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game. And two months is really cheating us.

"Now we're going to have him through training camp, and he's going to put his stamp on this team."

With relatively few additions other than the coach, is that enough to fuel optimism among the players?

"You can't go into the season if you feel like, 'Aw, we don't have a shot,' " Terry said. "You've got to stay positive. The city is ready. With what we've been through – all the core guys have been through a disappointing time – we're looking for some excitement and to go out and prove a point.

"We still have high expectations of ourselves, but nobody else does and that's the thing that keeps us motivated. We're out to prove a point."

It starts with proving it to Carlisle, who is opening camp with a clean slate. He has no biases when it comes to analyzing players. Starting spots – some of them, at least – are up for grabs. It will be up to the players to prove themselves. They know they will get a level playing field.

"The encouraging part is, we've got a new coach coming in and guys are going to try to impress him and play as hard as they possibly can, especially the way we've ended the last couple of years," Terry said. "I think everyone on this team has something to prove."

MAVERICKS KEY DATES
Sept. 30 – Training camp opens with two practices.

Oct. 4 – Two-a-days end.

Oct. 7 – Preseason opens vs. Washington at AAC (7:30 p.m.)

Oct. 17 – Fan Jam at AAC (5:30 p.m.)

Oct. 27 – Rosters set for opening day (5 p.m.)

Oct. 30 – Regular season begins vs. Houston at AAC (7 p.m.)
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Source: Dallas News

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Will Coaching Changes Help Kidd?

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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Will Coaching Changes Help Kidd?

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