Drake's "In My Feelings" should be the theme song for the rest of the playoffs. The head coach is upset that the team has been fined multiple times for bench violations. Kidd's team has been hit three times by league authorities, with each instance stemming from bench misconduct. Kidd would rather blame the media than see the issue. Kidd said before Game 3 that they don't talk about the bench. We started getting fined because you brought light to it, because you did the article on the bench. You should be paying the fine. The media is to blame. We don't complain and that's the truth. We lose with class, and we win with class. The Mavs have been fined three times in the playoffs for the same thing. Their bench players and coaching staff are either standing for extended periods, getting too close to the court, or affecting in-game action from the sideline. It has become a pattern. It is easier to point the finger than to take responsibility. The Mavs have been fined the most during the playoffs. During the Western Conference Finals and the semifinals against Phoenix, they were dinged. It's one thing to make a mistake, but it's ridiculous to get popped for that many times. You think it should be.
The quality of Kidd's work with the Mavs team shouldn't be overshadowed by these incidents, but the lack of accountability can. Kidd was dismissed from Milwaukee a few years ago because he pointed his finger at others.
Kidd knows the game as much as anyone who has ever played, but there is more to coaching than just the X and O. Players and personality are managed by head coaches. They should be aware of when their players enthusiasm might be getting in the way of what's happening on the court.
It seems like Kidd doesn't care about the antics of his bench or the fines they are spurring. I'm pretty sure his billionaire boss Mark Cuban doesn't care much either, which isn't surprising based on reports of how that franchise has been run over.
Toxic work environments can be found in professional sports if there is no accountability from the top. Kidd and his staff should clean this up. If the Mavs continued with the same behavior, it wouldn't be a surprise.
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