| You have to dress for success. (Getty Images) |
The Dallas Mavericks are going in a bad direction right now. They've lost six straight games (all against playoff-caliber teams), and Dirk Nowitzki has been shooting the ball horribly in his brief time back. The Dirk problem will sort itself out eventually, but the rest of the team needs an injection of talent or chemistry or energy or something to get back on track.
Rick Carlisle is doing two small things to try to get everybody on the team to fight a little more and act a little more serious about their jobs. Via Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News:
The first one was to recall rookie Jared Cunningham from the Texas Legends. The rookie averaged 18.1 points in seven games while at the Frisco farm club for the Mavericks.
In another move, Carlisle instituted a dress code for everybody on the team’s chartered flights. No more sweatsuits. Starting with today’s trip to Washington, it’s business casual for all players, staff and ancillary travel personnel.
I don't think there's much secrecy to the thought that Carlisle hasn't been very happy with his point-guard situation this season. Darren Collison is constantly being tested by his coach and being forced to fight for his playing time and the responsibility of running this offense. He was been supplanted by Derek Fisher once this season, and now Cunningham will be given a chance to earn some minutes with his defensive ability and energy.
The dress code is interesting, though. When you're seven games under .500 and falling, it's probably time to take things a bit more seriously. Carlisle is using a subtle touch to coming to games to get players to think more about the jobs that they have to do. The same goes with his staff and everybody involved with travel for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks get a chance to break their losing streak against the Wizards on Tuesday night. We'll see if they are able to act a little more businesslike in their dealings on the court.