Jason Kidd’s coaching took the Mavs to the playoffs against Utah, but Luka Dončić’s absence leaves him with options – The Athletic

Sometimes Jason Kidd makes time to come to the post-game press conference. His post-game conversation with the assistant coaches held outside the Mavericks’ locker room door could stretch a little longer with laughter and winning satisfaction; his conversations with individual players could last several minutes; He might meet an old friend from the opposing team and chat with him outside of Interview Room 1 at the American Airlines Center before answering questions.

On Saturday afternoon, following the Mavericks’ 99-93 loss to the Utah Jazz in the opening game of round one, it was just minutes after the game ended for Kidd to land in front of the microphone. There was no other option but to sit down and say, “We could do better.”

Kidd treated the regular season like a laboratory, an experimental test tube, often trying out different lineups and schemes to see if they worked. It’s the postseason now; Kidd had several options that wouldn’t make sense. Without Luka Dončić, the Mavericks used only eight players; They played 44 minutes each against Dorian Finney-Smith and Reggie Bullock and kept Jalen Brunson grounded for another 41 minutes. But the third quarter was the most revealing. “Just keeping the different looks (in the middle),” Kidd explained in front of the microphone after the game. Different looks are a way to spin it. A lack of options is another.