NBA Takes: Special Edition – The saga of mutually parted ways coaches
Rick Carlisle just said, “bye.”
This is the news that turned this whole piece around. Coaching changes almost make for much better news than the playoffs.
On Thursday, Rick Carlisle walked into Mark Cuban’s office and said, “I won’t be returning to coach next season.” Carlisle walked away with two years remaining on his contract. According to sources, he didn’t say why just bye. Days before that, the Mavs front office “mutually parted ways” with General Manager Don Nelson, who had worked with the organization for over 20 years!
More than likely, Carlisle left because 1) the players were unhappy with their first-round exit, and 2) Some say he didn’t get along with team star Luka Doncic. I hear there are others (Kristaps Porzingis) he doesn’t like.
Meanwhile, it took less than two weeks for Carlisle to land a new gig in Indianapolis.
Did Don Nelson say goodbye?
There had been rumors (sometimes I think the NBA is run on rumors) that there was trouble (right there in Dallas city) in the Mavs front office between owner Mark Cuban and Nelson. Cuban had this to say after Nelson was let go,
“Donnie has been instrumental to our success and helped bring a championship to Dallas. His hard work, creativity and vision made him a pioneer. Donnie will always be a part of the Mavs family and I wish him all the best.”
Don Nelson brought you Dirk Nowitski and scouted the Slovenian Luka Doncic since he was 14 years old. Dallas’ only championship was a product of Don Nelson and Rick Carlise’s hard work! There is talk that Haralabos Voulgaris was diminishing Nelson’s role. Voulgaris is the team’s director of quantitative research and development, and Doncic doesn’t like him.
What’s quantitative research?
I looked it up, for those like me, who have no idea what a quantitative research and development director does. From Sage Research Methods, I found this:
The purpose of quantitative research is to generate knowledge and create understanding about the social world. Quantitative research is used by social scientists, including communication researchers, to observe phenomena or occurrences affecting individuals. Social scientists are concerned with the study of people. Quantitative research is a way to learn about a particular group of people, known as a sample population.
This was the only definition I could understand. So the Mavs are using this to study the social interaction of their players. Huh?