Mavericks (24-21) at Celtics (23-24) Game #48 3/31/21

[gouki88]

Welp, I'm off on a fishing/camping trip until Sunday, so I get a break from this madness for a few days. TPs to all for sticking around.

Given the way the Cs played looks like they're already off fishing!

[86MaxwellSmart]

Brad be wishin he took that Indiana Job

[radiohead]

I wonder if Brad would consider leaving if this disastrous season continues and we miss the playoffs. This team is too good not to be in the playoffs.

[Ogaju]

why dont they do this all game?

It’s on Brad, too little too late per usual

Completely agree. Others may disagree, but I think this is absolutely a failure of the coaching staff to push the right buttons to get their guys to play hard and smart. That's the coaching staff's job - to manage the guys and get them motivated in these situations.

100% letting Smart, Kemba, Tatum chuck all game long. Not getting PP and Fournier involved. Not benching guys when they’re not playing hard.

6 mins of hard play at the end is so inexcusable it’s not even funny. Got to love those moral victories.

Eh. It's on the players, imo. These aren't little leaguers or high schools athletes. These are grown men, legitimate multimillionaires who need to stop being coddled so much. They show these glimpses where they're capable of playing at a high level, they're making a choice not to do it all game long. As some point, we have to take off the kid gloves and hold them accountable.

You’re not wrong but sometimes messages do need to be sent.

But... They already know what they need to do. What other message is there? Sure, Brad could bench guys and make posters here happy, then they players can really tune him out and decide to get him fired. Again, this isn't a young team. They've seen success and know what it takes. It's up to them to earn the tens of millions per season, and right now they're not committed to doing that. Stop giving these guys an excuse by blaming the coach.

What exactly is the coach’s job then?

[hwangjini_1]

Brad be wishin he took that Indiana Job

not really. he absolutely loaths recruiting. besides, the pay in the nba is way, way better.

[Goldstar88]

Welp, I'm off on a fishing/camping trip until Sunday, so I get a break from this madness for a few days. TPs to all for sticking around.

Lucky! Early spring FTW. I went fishing for largemouth on Saturday haha. Can’t beat 60’ degrees in March. 

[slamtheking]

had to watch the fourth on tape delay.  fought like hell to get back in it but as usual they dug themselves too big of a hole to get out of

[liam]

They’re treating Fournier as though he was some sort of scrub. The guy is a legitimate 20 point scorer. He was brought in to alleviate the scoring burden of the Js. He must be really frustrated getting only 6 shots. If Brad can’t do it, Danny should sit JT down and tell him he’d be a much much much better player if he learned to pass the ball and trust his teammates.

Fournier should be starting and getting Smart's shots. Why didn't Kornet start? Brad's phoning it in.

[RJ87]

why dont they do this all game?

It’s on Brad, too little too late per usual

Completely agree. Others may disagree, but I think this is absolutely a failure of the coaching staff to push the right buttons to get their guys to play hard and smart. That's the coaching staff's job - to manage the guys and get them motivated in these situations.

100% letting Smart, Kemba, Tatum chuck all game long. Not getting PP and Fournier involved. Not benching guys when they’re not playing hard.

6 mins of hard play at the end is so inexcusable it’s not even funny. Got to love those moral victories.

Eh. It's on the players, imo. These aren't little leaguers or high schools athletes. These are grown men, legitimate multimillionaires who need to stop being coddled so much. They show these glimpses where they're capable of playing at a high level, they're making a choice not to do it all game long. As some point, we have to take off the kid gloves and hold them accountable.

You’re not wrong but sometimes messages do need to be sent.

But... They already know what they need to do. What other message is there? Sure, Brad could bench guys and make posters here happy, then they players can really tune him out and decide to get him fired. Again, this isn't a young team. They've seen success and know what it takes. It's up to them to earn the tens of millions per season, and right now they're not committed to doing that. Stop giving these guys an excuse by blaming the coach.

What exactly is the coach’s job then?

Imo, a coach's job is to design the offense and defense - basically act as the architect of how the team functions on the court. When it comes to "motivating" players, I think that's 100% silly and nonsensical. Again, these aren't little leaguers. Playing at a high effort level shouldn't be a conversation if you're getting paid millions of dollars. If you can't show up and do the bare minimum for a premium paycheck, why are you here?

I'm just tired of people wanting to lay the blame all on the coach and letting these guys off the hook. Does this team need a coach or a babysitter?

[liam]

Brad needs to do something different!!!!!

[footey]

Smart played hard. Not always smart, but played hard.

We got most of the lead down with Tatum and Brown on the bench. 

That second quarter was brutal. Really the game right there. just too big a hole to climb out of. We are not cohesive enough to make up deficits that large.

Confidence of this team is so low.

Why did Wagner play so many minutes in the 3rd quarter? He does nothing. He can't rebound, has poor hands.  I misjudged his ability when the trade was made. He is just not any good.  Kornet is much more composed, and even though he could not hit 3s tonight, plays decent defense, and finishes plays.  Given a choice, I'd keep him over Wagner.

We missed Rob Williams a lot tonight. A lot.

Need to incorporate Fournier into the offense more. 

This team is killing me.

[Silas]

They’re treating Fournier as though he was some sort of scrub. The guy is a legitimate 20 point scorer. He was brought in to alleviate the scoring burden of the Js. He must be really frustrated getting only 6 shots. If Brad can’t do it, Danny should sit JT down and tell him he’d be a much much much better player if he learned to pass the ball and trust his teammates.

Fournier should be starting and getting Smart's shots. Why didn't Kornet start? Brad's phoning it in.

Agree.  And play Payton more than 15 minutes.

[liam]

why dont they do this all game?

It’s on Brad, too little too late per usual

Completely agree. Others may disagree, but I think this is absolutely a failure of the coaching staff to push the right buttons to get their guys to play hard and smart. That's the coaching staff's job - to manage the guys and get them motivated in these situations.

100% letting Smart, Kemba, Tatum chuck all game long. Not getting PP and Fournier involved. Not benching guys when they’re not playing hard.

6 mins of hard play at the end is so inexcusable it’s not even funny. Got to love those moral victories.

Eh. It's on the players, imo. These aren't little leaguers or high schools athletes. These are grown men, legitimate multimillionaires who need to stop being coddled so much. They show these glimpses where they're capable of playing at a high level, they're making a choice not to do it all game long. As some point, we have to take off the kid gloves and hold them accountable.

You’re not wrong but sometimes messages do need to be sent.

But... They already know what they need to do. What other message is there? Sure, Brad could bench guys and make posters here happy, then they players can really tune him out and decide to get him fired. Again, this isn't a young team. They've seen success and know what it takes. It's up to them to earn the tens of millions per season, and right now they're not committed to doing that. Stop giving these guys an excuse by blaming the coach.

What exactly is the coach’s job then?

Imo, a coach's job is to design the offense and defense - basically act as the architect of how the team functions on the court. When it comes to "motivating" players, I think that's 100% silly and nonsensical. Again, these aren't little leaguers. Playing at a high effort level shouldn't be a conversation if you're getting paid millions of dollars. If you can't show up and do the bare minimum for a premium paycheck, why are you here?

I'm just tired of people wanting to lay the blame all on the coach and letting these guys off the hook. Does this team need a coach or a babysitter?

The coach needs to use playing time as the carrot and the stick. If you play the way he wants you get time, if you don't you sit. That's a constant at ever level of basketball. Brad just keeps giving time to certain guys and just doesn't to guys who are on the bench that come in they bust a gut playing hard! If Smart wants to coast until the 4th don't play him until the 4th.

[RJ87]

Smart played hard. Not always smart, but played hard.

I'm gonna strongly disagree here. He didn't start fighting over screens until we were down by 20. But I guess I should be happy that he didn't just randomly chuck the ball into the stands from half court this game. Baby steps.

[Silas]

What was Smart doing by missing the rim at the end of the game.  He must know the rules.