The standings might suggest otherwise, but the Dallas Mavericks are not a good team right now—and head coach Rick Carlisle isn’t happy about it.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Carlisle called the team’s 36-point first half during a 103-99 loss to the Toronto Raptors “embarrassing” and threatened that changes could follow.
“Look, if it’s going to be like that, these guys aren’t going to be Mavericks very long. I can promise you that.”
Although Dallas responded with a pair of 30-plus-point quarters after halftime, the poor start once again doomed the squad versus a top opponent.
The Mavericks sport a 4-10 record against teams with a winning record. Only four Western Conference franchises — three of which are at the bottom of the standings — have a worse mark.
Chandler Parsons and Wesley Matthews have performed nowhere near their full potential, largely due to injuries. Dirk Nowitzki is still a fine player, but the veteran can’t carry a team. Deron Williams is merely a step above average at this point of his career, and Dallas has little depth.
Unless the Mavs shipped off their big-name players, the return would be minimal. The biggest change Dallas needs to make is collectively giving the concentrated effort Carlisle demands.
Otherwise, the franchise is destined for yet another massive roster shuffle during the offseason, something that has become all-too-familiar for the Mavericks since winning an NBA championship in 2011.