Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd believes the league is pleased to see teams like the Timberwolves and Pacers make the conference finals, according to Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com. The league has been striving for parity, rather than a few powerhouse teams winning all the championships.
“The league loves it,” Kidd said on Monday. “It’s great. It’s great for the league. I saw a question today: is there any more dominance? Is there ever going to be another dynasty? With player movement and the league being so young, we’ll see. But it’s great. That (the parity) gives everyone the opportunity that they truly believe they can win a championship at the starting line of this marathon.”
The Mavericks, Timberwolves and Pacers were all 20-to-1 or higher to win the championship prior to the season among most wagering sites.
We have more on the Mavericks:
- Big man Maxi Kleber will remain sidelined for at least the start of the series against the Timberwolves, Sefko reports in the same story. Kleber has been out since May 3 due to a right shoulder injury. “Still out,” Kidd said. “Looked good today. He looked good on the treadmill. We’ve done it already in one series (playing without Kleber). We’re going to have to do it again until he comes back. But that gives other guys the opportunity to step up and we truly believe everyone in that locker room is going to hold it together until he gets back.”
- Kidd was one of the NBA coaches on the hot seat entering the season. He’s quieted his critics as the season has unfolded. He received a contract extension earlier this month and now has his team in the conference finals, Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News writes. “Our goal is to win a championship; that’s what we’re trying to do, but sometimes you guys don’t see that,” Kidd said. “And it’s all right, you’ve got to do your job. Because we really don’t care. That’s the beauty of our culture, is that we’re not affected by what’s written negatively. We just go out there and play and play for each other. And that’s what’s going to win a championship.”
- Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively will face a major challenge against the Timberwolves’ bigs, Schuyler Dixon of The Associated Press writes. They will have to deal with the Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid. ”One thing for sure, we got to make sure we stay out of foul trouble,” Gafford said. ”Really, just stay patient. We’re not going to keep them from scoring points, but staying to our tendencies and just sticking to our principles is something that’s going to help us throughout this series.”
Kidd, like most coaches, athletes and management don’t think a negative word should ever be written about them or a difficult question asked. They’re like those 21 year old influences who show everything God gave them on Tik Tok and if you male a comment they don’t like they get butt hurt and go off for body shaming them. Oh you can praise and adore and compliment them….but you have no right say anything negative. That’s what it’s all come to….men in professional sports are just a bunch of Tik Tok girls.
Look at me! Love me! Praise me! Worship me! What do you mean I look fat in this uniform? You can’t say mean things…you hurt my feelings.
Kidd should save his victory speech for after they lose to the Wolves. Not a chance the physically fragile Luka and the mentally fragile Kyrie can get past a team like that.
Mavs in six it is then, thanks for the tip
Tbf, the Wolves also have the mentally fragile KAT and the physically fragile Conley lol