Christian Wood Vs. Coach Jason Kidd: Can Mavs Overcome ‘Conspiracy’ to Save Season?
DALLAS - With just 14 games remaining in the regular season, the Dallas Mavericks' situation with seventh-year big man Christian Wood continues to be bizarre. His minutes have dwindled since the trade deadline despite the Mavs having a 3-5 record in that span.
Given how well Wood played in the first three months of the season – especially as a starter, averaging 20.4 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 51.7 percent overall and 37.1 percent from deep in that role – many have wondered why Wood's role has been suppressed when the Mavs need every bit of production they can get in order to secure a playoff spot in the West.
Could it be his lack of defense? Maybe, because coach Jason Kidd alluded to that being an issue early on in the season. But the Mavs are 23rd in defensive rating and have stayed at that mark since the trade deadline, so it's not like playing Wood less is helping the Mavs be a better defensive team overall right now. However, he has a 121 offensive rating as a starter and just a 113 offensive rating as a reserve.
We likely won't get any real answers on what the issues were on both sides until after the season is over, but in the meantime, Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green had Mavs' veteran JaVale McGee on his The Draymond Green Show and hinted at something that fit Wood's situation without actually mentioning Wood by name.
"If you actually understood the business, like if you took the time to actually learn the business, your outlook on it would be totally different," Green said of fans and media speculating on players' situations. "You'll see certain things going on, you'll better understand them. You'll understand guys' rotations. All of a sudden this guy isn't playing because he's on a contract year and a team wants to lower his number (because) they can get away with it."
Whether Green was talking about Wood or not, Wood apparently took it to heart regardless, as he liked the tweet of Green's podcast clip.
Whether Kidd, Wood or the Mavs' front office is more at fault doesn't really matter at this point in the season. What's done is done, and all parties must come together and make the most of these last 14 games and, hopefully, the postseason as well, before thinking ahead to the offseason.
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