May 14, 2008 - 8:21 PM
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Carlisle was introduced as the Mavericks' coach Wednesday afternoon less than four days after he signed a four-year contract with Dallas, which moved quickly to replace the fired Avery Johnson.
The Mavericks did not disclose financial terms of the contract. But multiple reports have stated that the deal is worth approximately $18 million.
One day after innovative offensive guru D'Antoni was hired away from the Phoenix Suns by the New York Knicks, Carlisle vowed to open up the Mavericks' offense - which features future Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd - just like D'Antoni did with two-time MVP floor general Steve Nash.
"When you play with Jason Kidd, you have to open it up," Carlisle said on Wednesday. "Our wings guys are going to have to get conditioned to really run. The thing Jason Kidd does better than probably any point guard in the league is push the ball."
The only candidate interviewed by the Mavs, Carlisle brings an impressive track record to the position, having led the Detroit Pistons (2003) and Indiana Pacers (2004) to the Eastern Conference finals.
Those credentials impressed Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
"I think he embodies all the good things the Mavs are looking to accomplish - hard work, ingenuity, creativity," Cuban said. "We're really proud and excited to have him here."
Carlisle's first order of business will be to transform the style of his roster, which had been criticized for being too slow for the fast-paced Kidd.
"If you're going to play a faster tempo offensively, there's an unbelievable physical commitment," Carlisle said. "It's probably going to be one of the tougher training camps. ... The summer our guys have - in terms of preparation and conditioning - is going to be absolutely critical."
However, despite a new found penchant for running, Carlisle stressed that the Mavericks must continue to stress Johnson's defensive principles.
"We got to be passionate and vigilant about what Avery (started) here," the coach said.
He also said that - unlike D'Antoni's perceived hard-headed ways - he's willing to be flexible with what has been given to him in Dallas.
"This is not about me coming in here with my style," Carlisle said. "This is about fitting the style to the personnel."
A former league Most Valuable Player, Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki and Carlisle already have forged a relationship - as Carlisle reportedly spent some time diagraming plays in Nowitzki's living room prior to his hire.
Carlisle, who was a former teammate of Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird, presumably will cater his offense to Nowitzki the way the Celtics did for Bird - when they aren't out on the run.
Whatever his philosophy, it will be hard to doubt the respected Carlisle, who served this season as an analyst for ESPN and owns an overall record of 281-211 in six seasons with Detroit and Indiana.
But undoubtedly, it will be left up to the talented Kidd to lead the club on the floor.
"I see Jason as a guy who can run a team," Carlisle said. "He's one of the real winners in the history of the game."
Carlisle will take over for the most successful winner in franchise history, Johnson, who guided the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and coached them to the league's best record the following season.
But despite posting a 194-70 record in his three-plus seasons with the Mavs, Johnson ultimately will be defined as a major disappointment, as Dallas consistently underachieved in the postseason under his leadership.
Dallas squandered a 2-0 series lead to the Miami Heat in the 2006 Finals and was upset by the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round of last year's playoffs.
Despite acquiring All-Star point guard Jason Kidd at the trade deadline this season, Dallas struggled down the stretch and finished 51-31, claiming the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
The Mavericks were ousted from the postseason in five games by the New Orleans Hornets, prompting emotional team owner Cuban to cut ties with Johnson.
Carlisle, 48, has had a history of unceremonious clashes with team ownership - something which may have led to Johnson's firing in Dallas.
He was fired by the Pistons after the 2002-03 season when Larry Brown became available and again by the Pacers after the 2006-07 campaign - his only losing season as an NBA coach.
Carlisle was on the sideline for the Pacers during the ugly brawl against Detroit in November 2004 that carried over into the stands and led to Ron Artest's 72-game suspension.
