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Dallas fans got a real shock last year, when their team suddenly became completely different. The team that was on the verge of winning the title and that had one of the best players in the league is now just a shadow of what it used to be. Although a lot of attention has been paid to the players themselves, no one has so far asked how Jason Kidd, the coach who is facing huge challenges, feels.
The biggest moment of change for Dallas happened after the trade in which Luka Dončić, the fans' favorite, went to the Los Angeles Lakers, and Anthony Davis arrived in trade. This move marked the beginning of trouble for Dallas. First the injuries started, Davis was injured already in his debut, and later Kyri Irving suffered a serious knee injury. In addition, injuries affected other players, such as Derek Lively and Daniel Gefford, and PJ Washington could not play at all due to his problems.
Challenges with injuries and lack of playing staff
In recent games, Dallas often played with only seven healthy players, which made the situation even more difficult. These issues have resulted in the team now sitting in 10th place, last leading into the play-offs, with just 32 wins and 33 losses. The lost match against Phoenix (116:125) was another proof that the situation is getting out of control. In a press conference, Jason Kidd couldn't hide his disappointment, saying:
"I've never seen anything like this. You can't take a player out to rest him because you don't have anyone to put in."
This comment indicates the seriousness of the situation in which the team finds itself, because injuries have become so frequent that the roster cannot provide enough replacements. Even players with two-way contracts are not available.
"Usually you can put someone in from the end of the bench, but now all the players who are injured are not even in civilian clothes, some of them can't even walk," added Kidd, talking about the current crisis.
Although Kid's desperation can be seen, he remains dedicated to the team, stressing that they have to keep going, no matter what. This attitude also shows his strength as a coach, who does not allow challenges to break him.
Fan satisfaction and manager responsibility
Dallas fans are, of course, not quite happy with the current situation, and most of the criticism is aimed at general manager Nick Harrison. His move to trade Dončić for Davis seemed to many as a bad decision, which seriously damaged the team atmosphere. Harrison is now in the spotlight, as many believe that he caused the collapse of the team in one move.
English (US)