Report: Dallas to Hire Rick Carlisle

[Fizdale]

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnf ... id=4147987

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Rick Carlisle is reportedly headed back to the NBA as a head coach.

Analyst Peter Vecsey, speaking on NBA TV, reported Carlisle would take over for the recently fired Avery Johnson.

In six seasons as a coach, two with Detroit and four with Indiana, Carlisle has compiled a 281-211 record. He was the league's coach of the year in 2002 when he guided the Pistons to a 50-win season.

Carlisle's career playoff record stands at 30-32. Indiana finished just 35-47 in 2006-07, and Carlisle didn't return to the team for the following season. In four seasons as the Pacers mentor, Carlisle compiled a 181-147 record and the team made the NBA playoffs in three of his four seasons at the helm.

His best season in Indianapolis was his first. In 2003-04 the Pacers posted a 61-21 record -- the best mark in franchise history -- and reached the Eastern Conference finals.

Despite having three years left on a five-year deal he signed after Dallas' run to the 2006 NBA Finals, Johnson finds himself unemployed after two straight exits in the first round of the playoffs. Johnson led the Mavs to a 194-70 record during the regular season, but his postseason mark is 23-24. The Mavericks have lost 12 of their last 15 playoff games.

Dallas lost to New Orleans, 99-94, on Tuesday night, as the Hornets wrapped up a five-game victory over the Mavs in the Western Conference quarterfinals. The first-round defeat was the second straight for Dallas, which was eliminated by Golden State in the 2007 conference quarterfinals in one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoff history.

[Andrew]

So much for the speculation about going to Chicago.

Maybe a new coach will help or maybe Kidd will enjoy some kind of renaissance and everyone will benefit from him being around from day one rather than making a midseason adjustment but that's placing a lot of stock in maybes. I expect they'll be good for another playoff appearance and depending on the bounce of the ball they could well advance but it seems like their ship might have sailed on anything beyond that.

[Fizdale]

Well, the summary of the hiring, and the point is that, Dallas wants something new. I still think Dallas wont imprve til they trade Howard and Terry for a package including a star.

Is it time to blow it up? Trade dirk to a unproven high pick? or for another superstar? Nah not yet.

[Andrew]

Who would they get for Howard and Terry? I'm sure there'd be interest from other teams if they were made available but which stars do you anticipate being on the trading block?

[Fizdale]

Michael Redd, T-Mac, and Arenas comes to mind Sir Andrew.

[Andrew]

Howard/Terry for Redd would work under the salary cap without any other players, Howard/Terry for McGrady wouldn't though. Arenas has already announced he plans to opt out and become a free agent so he'd have to want to go to Dallas in a sign-and-trade, otherwise the Wizards probably won't make trading him a priority.

[shadowgrin]

Michael Redd, T-Mac, and Arenas comes to mind Sir Andrew.

Since when was Andrew knighted?

I doubt Dallas wants T-Mac with his history of injuries.

[Andrew]

Redd may be more likely given the Bucks have a new GM who may decide to clean house but probably isn't overly eager to deal Redd. I would assume the Mavericks wouldn't be too eager to do a Howard/Terry for Redd swap either, I'm sure they'd prefer to give the Bucks one or the other.

[Matthew]

I'd love to see Redd and Dirk together with Jason Kidd running that offense.

[benji]

They almost had Redd a few years ago, and probably would've won a title if the Bucks hadn't matched.

But giving up Howard and Terry for Redd? Really? Who's the other forward then? Start Bass? Where's the depth? Etc. al

[Lamrock]

Didn't Redd start at SF in the Bucks 2004 playoff run?

[benji]

Then who's the other guard? My point was unrelated to Redd's ability to play the small forward position.

[GoHornets]

If Howard and Terry are sent to the Bucks, Mavs' starting lineup would be:
Dampier
Nowitzky
Stackhouse
Redd
Kidd.

[benji]

Which is what I assumed, but that would surely be a step backwards.

EDIT: did some rotations...

[table][mrow]55-57 wins[mcol]MPG[mcol]PPG
[row]nowitzki,dirk[col]36.1[col]22.9
[row]howard,josh[col]33.7[col]17.9
[row]kidd,jason[col]33.7[col]9.2
[row]terry,jason[col]31.3[col]14.9
[row]bass,brandon[col]31.3[col]12.7
[row]stackhouse,jerry[col]26.5[col]11.2
[row]dampier,erick[col]24.1[col]5.8
[row]hassell,trenton[col]7.2[col]1.1
[row]barea,jose[col]7.2[col]2.9
[row]jones,eddie[col]4.8[col]0.9
[row]george,devean[col]4.8[col]1.1[/table]
I used Kidd from his time with the Mavs only...which is perhaps assuming he'll play too well...
[table][mrow]48-49 wins[mcol]MPG[mcol]PPG
[row]redd,michael[col]36.1[col]21.0
[row]nowitzki,dirk[col]36.1[col]22.9
[row]bass,brandon[col]33.7[col]13.7
[row]stackhouse,jerry[col]33.7[col]14.2
[row]kidd,jason[col]33.7[col]9.2
[row]dampier,erick[col]24.1[col]5.8
[row]george,devean[col]14.4[col]3.3
[row]barea,jose[col]14.4[col]5.8
[row]jones,eddie[col]7.2[col]1.3
[row]hassell,trenton[col]7.2[col]1.1[/table]

[hova-]

Actually I do not think it is a good idea to give away two "above-average" players for one "All-Star". Like Benji said it costs you a lot of depth.
Moreover I dont like the idea of Jerry Stackhouse starting. Although he seems to be more effective when he starts, he struggled almost the complete season, especially in the Playoffs.

And if you take a look at benjis rotation you clearly see that a sixth man is missing.
Neither Dampier (just a lack of scoring which I expect from a sixth man) nor Devean George (same point) or Jose Barea (just a benchwarmer for me) can have an impact on the game off the bench.

Is it sure that the Mavs are gonna resign Stackhouse?

[Andrew]

You could say nothing is sure until pen is put to paper on a new deal but it seems a reasonable assumption.

[Mayerhendrix]

The Mavericks can't let it all implode right now. The Carlisle hiring's a good move at the moment and maybe a few other slight adjustments, but Jason Kidd wasn't used well enough in the rotations and plays by Avery Johnson. Hopefully Carlisle is better at coaching Kidd.

Still, was hoping for Carlisle in Chi-Town.

[Andrew]

No coach can change the fact he's 35 years old and not as athletic as he used to be though.

[benji]

We keep hearing this "Johnson didn't use Kidd properly" stuff, but how was he supposed to use Kidd? He upped the pace, letting the team (which wasn't designed to) run and let Kidd handle the ball like everywhere else. What else was he to do?

[Mayerhendrix]

Kidd was clicking in New Jersey, before the deal, though. Sure, the Nets weren't even close to where they were in years before, but Kidd was at a strong point in his game and if anything it was Kidd carrying the rest of the Nets team.

[benji]

Kidd was playing horribly in New Jersey. Most turnovers of his career, worst shooting since his second season, second worst offensive rebounding of his career, while looking 34 on defense. He was rejuvenated in Dallas.

[Mayerhendrix]

Still was lifting the team though, comparatively he was the #1 doing it all and getting it done for NJ.

[benji]

I have no idea what that is even supposed to mean. He sucked and was an inefficient loser.

[BigKaboom2]

Still was lifting the team though, comparatively he was the #1 doing it all and getting it done for NJ.

You should be the narrator for any NBA retrospectives on ESPN Classic - you've got the schtick down perfectly.

[SpaceFlare]

Still was lifting the team though, comparatively he was the #1 doing it all and getting it done for NJ.

If anything I think it was Richard Jefferson who was lifting that team. He averaged 23 points per game pre-all star break. Kidd has been horrible this season and had a resurgence late in the season with Dallas. And Carter, I don't even want to start on this slouch...