In the worst of his 10 seasons in Dallas, Rick Carlisle’s coaching genius has not been tarnished, simply redefined. A man praised for coaching the Mavs up to 50 wins is busily piloting this team down to perhaps 25.
After years of getting the most out of what he was handed, Carlisle has willingly gone the other direction. He doesn’t broadcast it. There’s no joy in announcing that an entire season is a lost cause, just in case fans didn’t figure it out when Dallas lost its first two games to Atlanta and Sacramento back in October.
The mighty Kings took down the local squad again Tuesday in a one-sided game that was close only at the finish, 114-109, allowing the Mavericks to hit the All-Star break tied with the Hawks for the worst record at 18-40.