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Avery Johnson Fired (it is official)
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LongIslandKnicksFan
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4/30/2008  4:19 AM
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/20516-Breaking-News-Dallas-Mavericks-Fire-Avery-Johnson
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LongIslandKnicksFan
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4/30/2008  4:20 AM
Breaking News: Dallas Mavericks Fire Avery Johnson

by Alex Kennedy (Columnist)
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April 29, 2008
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Dallas Mavericks, Avery Johnson

Just hours after the New Orleans Hornets eliminated the Dallas Mavericks from the playoffs, Mavs' owner Mark Cuban has fired head coach Avery Johnson, ESPN Radio-Dallas reports.

Johnson, the 2006 NBA Coach of the Year, was let go after the team struggled to compete with the younger and less experienced Hornets in the first round of the postseason. In the final game of the series, the Hornets led the entire way and at one point were ahead by as much as 17 points before taking the series four games to one.

After Dallas struggled to secure a playoff seed in the tough Western Conference during the regular season, rumors started circulating that Johnson could be on the hot seat.

Despite taking the Mavericks to the Finals two years ago—where they lost to the Miami Heat—Johnson has struggled in the playoffs in recent years.

Last season, the Mavericks were upset in the first round by the eighth seeded Golden State Warriors despite having the league's best regular season record and the league's Most Valuable Player in Dirk Nowitzki.

This postseason, Johnson couldn't find an answer for point guard Chris Paul who averaged a remarkable 24.8 points, 11.3 assists, and two steals throughout the series.

Even though New Orleans was the higher seed, many people thought this would be a very close series because for many of the Hornets' starters (David West, Tyson Chandler, and Paul) this would be their first time starting in a playoff series. Meanwhile, Dallas had playoff veterans Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, and Josh Howard who had a combined 224 playoff starts between them. Despite their experience, the Mavericks couldn't find a way to keep up with the Hornets and obviously, Cuban thinks it all begins with the coach.

Watching his team get knocked out of the playoffs early for two straight years must have been the last straw for Cuban, who is one of the game's most active owners.

While other teams continue fighting for a championship, Cuban will be at home looking for potential coaching candidates. It's going to be a long offseason for the Dallas Mavericks.
TheGame
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4/30/2008  6:16 AM
Man, most people at least wait a day. Dude got fired practically right after the game. THat trade for kidd was stupid. Harris was one of the best defensive pgs in the league. Why give him up when you have to play Tony Parker, Chris Paul, and Steve Nash in the playoffs. J-Kidd three years ago might have been worth it, but J_Kidd now is just too slow to be the defensive player he was in his twenties.
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joec32033
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4/30/2008  7:55 AM
Coaching search should be over within days.
~You can't run from who you are.~
Andrew
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4/30/2008  8:36 AM
I'm not sure if this is official yet.
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OasisBU
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4/30/2008  11:45 AM
You know I was watching TNT after the games last night and the consensus was that D'Antoni and Johnson should both be back - I think both should be gone. With the level of talent both squads have they should have at least won more games in their series. I will give the Suns credit, they played the Spurs - but Dallas losing in rd. 1 two years in a row is grounds for termination.

"If at first you don't succeed, then maybe you just SUCK." Kenny Powers
sebstar
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4/30/2008  12:02 PM
Posted by OasisBU:

You know I was watching TNT after the games last night and the consensus was that D'Antoni and Johnson should both be back - I think both should be gone. With the level of talent both squads have they should have at least won more games in their series. I will give the Suns credit, they played the Spurs - but Dallas losing in rd. 1 two years in a row is grounds for termination.

The Mavs were outplayed, outcoached, and outclassed in the Warriors series last year, but in all honesty the Hornets were just a superior team this year. Damn, Kidd should have grabbed a celly and called Johnny Law on CP3 the way he was getting abused.

Now, I know pro sports is all about business and P.R, so Cuban may feel his hands are tied. Cuban has to placate the fans and make it seem like the Mavs arent taking these recent disappointments lying down, so this firing shouldnt be that hard of a sell... Well, they could trade Novitzki, but they have neither the balls nor the heart for that. Plus, it seems like Johnson and Cuban have something personal going on.

If Cuban is comfortable with firing one of the top five coaches in the league, so be it. Johnson is a very good coach, who has the chance to become great. No brainer for the Knicks. Slam dunk, hire.
My saliva and spit can split thread into fiber and bits/ So trust me I'm as live as it gets. --Royce Da 5'9 + DJ Premier = Hip Hop Utopia
islesfan
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4/30/2008  12:13 PM
Avery Johnson would be a horrible fit for a team looking to rebuild over the next few seasons. He's the type of hard ass, similar to Scott Skiles, where his players will quickly start to tune him out.

The Knicks need more of a teacher who can instill discipline while not always being a hard ass. Someone like JVG. Avery has the wrong temperment.

They either need someone with a strong track record, who is willing to go through a total rebuild, or a rookie coach who can learn on the job and grow with the team. IMO, I think the latter is the better way to go. If it doesn't work out, you can always hire a coach with a strong track record when the team has greater expectations.

I still think Mark Jackson is a good choice. He can grow into the job for 2 years and I think he has a strong basketball mind, one that will be very useful when the team finally gets a good young PG to groom.

If it didn’t work in Phoenix with Nash and Stoutamire... it’s just not a winning formula. It’s an entertaining formula, but not a winning one. - Derek Harper talking about D'Antoni's System
sebstar
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4/30/2008  12:37 PM
Posted by islesfan:

Avery Johnson would be a horrible fit for a team looking to rebuild over the next few seasons. He's the type of hard ass, similar to Scott Skiles, where his players will quickly start to tune him out.

The Knicks need more of a teacher who can instill discipline while not always being a hard ass. Someone like JVG. Avery has the wrong temperment.

They either need someone with a strong track record, who is willing to go through a total rebuild, or a rookie coach who can learn on the job and grow with the team. IMO, I think the latter is the better way to go. If it doesn't work out, you can always hire a coach with a strong track record when the team has greater expectations.

I still think Mark Jackson is a good choice. He can grow into the job for 2 years and I think he has a strong basketball mind, one that will be very useful when the team finally gets a good young PG to groom.

We dont need a hard ass, so you're alternative is JVG???

I'm sure Avery is smart enough to assess the Knicks personnel and understand that his is a reclamation project. Maybe that appeals to him at this point, or maybe he wants to jump back into the fire and take the Suns job. I'm sure the interview process would sift through all that.

I'm a big proponent in bringing in Mark Jax, but in all honesty Jax could only hope to be where Avery is at already in his short coaching career (no pun intended). Again, no brainer. Avery completely revived the Mavs.
My saliva and spit can split thread into fiber and bits/ So trust me I'm as live as it gets. --Royce Da 5'9 + DJ Premier = Hip Hop Utopia
islesfan
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4/30/2008  1:28 PM
Dirk playing at MVP levels revived the Mavs.

I'm not saying that Avery is a bad coach, just that I don't think he's the right guy for a rebuilding team.
If it didn’t work in Phoenix with Nash and Stoutamire... it’s just not a winning formula. It’s an entertaining formula, but not a winning one. - Derek Harper talking about D'Antoni's System
metra
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4/30/2008  1:33 PM
The original link is from the site Bleacher Reports. If you're not familiar with it, Bleacher Reports runs on USER SUBMITTED articles. In fact, this article doesn't exist at that URL anymore.

[Edited by - metra on 04-30-2008 1:33 PM]
sebstar
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4/30/2008  1:34 PM
U have no idea if he is the right man for a rebuilding project. When Avery was handed the Mavs job, they immediately became a championship level squad (good before, but flawed in the areas of defense and toughness) but somehow you think thats just a coincidence.
My saliva and spit can split thread into fiber and bits/ So trust me I'm as live as it gets. --Royce Da 5'9 + DJ Premier = Hip Hop Utopia
Nalod
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4/30/2008  1:57 PM
Just heard an interesing take on Avery on ESPN radio that Avery is a d minded pt guard mentality and really has not liked his point guards, nor the offensive minded players. The Mavs might be better served with an offnesive minded coach who can take them to the next level.

Easier than blowing it up!

Maybe D'antoni would be better off in Dallas. Maybe Avery might be a better fit for the suns.

I'd like him for the knicks, especially if we draft a point.
joec32033
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4/30/2008  2:01 PM
I'm looking at Avery as my #1 and Mitchell as my 1a. But if Mitchell is safe for now, Avery is my clear cut #1.
~You can't run from who you are.~
PresIke
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4/30/2008  2:04 PM
ESPN News now reporting this just now as official.
Forum Po Po and #33 for a reason...
PresIke
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4/30/2008  2:05 PM
isles makes a good point about Johnson's style, and while I've warmed more to JVG since he left the Knicks, I'm not sure he's the right guy either.

That being said, AJ turned that Dallas team into a much better defensive minded squad.

He can't be worse than Isiah...?
Forum Po Po and #33 for a reason...
joec32033
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4/30/2008  2:05 PM
I see it too
~You can't run from who you are.~
islesfan
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4/30/2008  2:16 PM
Posted by sebstar:

U have no idea if he is the right man for a rebuilding project. When Avery was handed the Mavs job, they immediately became a championship level squad (good before, but flawed in the areas of defense and toughness) but somehow you think thats just a coincidence.

Come on, they're still flawed in the areas of defense and toughness. That's why they're home right now.
If it didn’t work in Phoenix with Nash and Stoutamire... it’s just not a winning formula. It’s an entertaining formula, but not a winning one. - Derek Harper talking about D'Antoni's System
sebstar
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4/30/2008  2:23 PM
Posted by islesfan:
Posted by sebstar:

U have no idea if he is the right man for a rebuilding project. When Avery was handed the Mavs job, they immediately became a championship level squad (good before, but flawed in the areas of defense and toughness) but somehow you think thats just a coincidence.

Come on, they're still flawed in the areas of defense and toughness. That's why they're home right now.

They're home because of CP3 more than anything else --- who knows if the Kidd move was the right one. One can lay some criticism at Avery's door no doubt, but I think a lot of the Mavs failures have to do with the fragile psyche of their star player. In other words, the Mavs problems are in large part on the floor and wearing jerseys.

Avery certainly put the Mavs in a position to win by shifting the tone of the squad in '06. I dont think they ever recovered mentally from that collapse. This is a golden opportunity for the Knicks.
My saliva and spit can split thread into fiber and bits/ So trust me I'm as live as it gets. --Royce Da 5'9 + DJ Premier = Hip Hop Utopia
sebstar
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4/30/2008  2:35 PM
CP3 24pts, Kidd 8pts over the series...CP3 had no turnovers the last game. How's it Avery's fault that Kidd got chumped? This firing is a complete P.R sacrifice by Cuban, a la Phoenix. Walsh needs to jump all over this. Christmas in April.
My saliva and spit can split thread into fiber and bits/ So trust me I'm as live as it gets. --Royce Da 5'9 + DJ Premier = Hip Hop Utopia
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