DALLAS -- In the aftermath of Monday's 105-101 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle took the blame for the loss.
After this morning's shoot around at American Airlines Center, Carlisle said he has to coach his players harder in order to prevent them from coming out lethargic like they did in the loss to the Hawks.
"Look, it's important that our guys understand that I'm going to have the meter on 10 all the time, trying to help them get better, trying to do everything possible to get them any edge possible to win a game on a given night,'' Carlisle said. "If they see that there is any slippage in that area, they're going to have an excuse to have some slippage themselves, and I'm not going to let that happen.''
To prove his point, Carlisle was faced with a situation during this morning's shoot around which he ultimately addressed head-on.
"We were a little lethargic today, so I got into some guys today,'' Carlisle said. "This is unfortunately one of the symptoms of our team.
"We have some guys that are not self-starters, they're guys that are not energy guys categorically, and I've got to convince them that they do have that in them and that they can bring it out and that it can be consistent.''
As the coach, it's Carlisle's job to squeeze the best out of his players each and every game. And he said they know he's going to be honest and direct with them.
"I tell the guys all the time I may be a (butt)hole, but I'm not a bull(expletive delete). I tell them the truth.
"One of the things you got to do in this job, and I've said this three times this week, is you've got to be demanding.''
One of Carlisle's main attributes is he's very demanding. To a fault.
"You especially got to be demanding if you have guys who's natural tendency isn't to bring it all the time,'' Carlisle said. "I'm going to be enthusiastic and I may be a dumb(butt) thinking that they can.
"But until this season ends -- however it ends -- I'm going to approach this every day feeling like every one of these 15 guys can bring us high energy when they step in that door every day. And if I don't, then I'm doing a disservice to my owner and I'm doing a disservcie to our fans.''
-- Dwain Price
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