Word just came down a few minutes ago that Avery Johnson has been fired as the Mavericks head coach.
Knee-jerk reaction by Mark Cuban? Looks like it. How often do you see a coach fired after a 51-win season and losing a playoff series in which they didn’t have home court advantage? How often do you see a coach fired one season after winning 67 games? How often do you see a coach fired two years after winning NBA Coach of the Year?
Granted, Avery has been making questionable decisions that entire time — from changing his lineup in the ‘07 Golden State series to letting Chris Paul destroy Jason Kidd for way too long before finally doing something different — but here’s the question you always have to ask when a coach gets fired? Who else out there is better? Which jobless coach would be a better fit for these Mavericks?
April 30th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
fallinup says:
This is a straight Mark Cuban jack move. He can’t fess up to the fact that the J-Kidd trade was a bad move. Just like he had to blame the refs when they got pummeled by the Heat in the Finals. Avery was bound to be out if they didn’t advance, especially after the tiff Avery and Cuban had a few months ago. Avery will find better work, because he’s that good of a coach. This is the Dallas nail in the coffin…who’s available that knows the Mavs better than Avery???
Avery to Chitown!
April 30th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Prof. TX says:
This could be another one of those summers. Bobcats, Suns, Mavs, Bulls, Heat and Knicks are confirmed so far for coaching changes. Maybe Sonics or Raptors too. If the Cavs, Pistons or Celts fall apart early then those coaches might take the blame.
Who’s next?
April 30th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Chuck says:
Avery Johnson hasn’t been coaching that long? But you can tell he has a knack for it. Yes the golden state lineup switch was questionable, and the entire J-Kidd trade was a debacle, but that was Cuban’s call, Avery is a decent coach, and he will get another chance at a gig, hopefully atlanta fires that whoopi cushion you call a coach Mike woodson and pick up Avery or maybe even D’antoni if he gets fired.
Mark Cuban is too involved anyway, that’s why he’ll never win anything, he wants to be a freakin star. Just shutup and sign the checks like Diddy.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Kobeef says:
The real story in PHX and Dallas?
You are pretty much stuck with the players you have so blame it on the coach and hope that it works-out better next year.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
hahns says:
so whast the avg shelf life of an nba coach these days…2.3 years?
April 30th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
hahns says:
sub question- who is the longest tenured coach in the nba right now?
April 30th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Chuck says:
@Hahns
LMAO!!
Less than that depending on who the coach is. Poor Van Gundy got robbed out a chip from ya boy Riley. He should have never gotten fired Just like Mike and Avery shouldn’t be, but hey that’s freakin life I guess.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Yooooo says:
Dallas’ problem was personnel related, nothing to do with the coach. They have a one dimensional team who can only win one way. Look at the other teams in the West who are successful they all can get out and run the break OR run half court sets with their personnel. In the West you have to be able to have something else you can go to if the way you play isnt working. Coaches out west are too smart to allow you to win without at least making you adjust. And Dallas doesn’t have a roster that can make adjustment. They have a whole bunch of 1 dimensional players. And that goes from everybody to the last guy off the bench all the way up to Josh Howard and J Kidd (I guess you can debate Dirk since he posts every once and a while).
April 30th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Chuck says:
@Hahns
I believe it’s Jerry Sloan and that cat hasn’t won a ring yet.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
GEE...While you was in diapers wettin your sheets, I was at the Ponderosa rappin to the beat says:
Utah’s or San An’s coach have been in the longest with the same team I think. I want to give that edge to Utah. Not sure though.
So the bigger question is who is going to get these open positions.
John Thompson II
Paul Silas
Rudy T.
Coach K.
Mark Jackson
Patrick Ewing?!?!
April 30th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Yooooo says:
longest tenured coach is Jerry Sloan
April 30th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Logan Light says:
Jerry Sloan is the longest tenured coach… I’m pretty sure anyway…
This is a dumb move. Cuban is probably going to go after Sam Vincent or steal another assistant from San Antonio. Earlier I said that I would like to see D’Antoni in New York, but Avery is just what the Knicks need to kick them in gear. If Avery can get can Dirk to stop living at the 3-point line, imagine what he could do for Zach Randolph… interesting.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Chuck says:
@Logan Light
I don’t know Zack Randolph is straight out the pj’s, Dirk is from sweden or some crap like that. Zack may pull a sprewell on Avery. LOL!!
April 30th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Sam I Am says:
I had this posted on the other site but this is DEFINITELY more appropriate….
I have a question…
Do you get rid of a coach if he can coach and enforces the basics and fundamentals to becoming a disciplined team but has players who act a fool
OR
Do you trade away the players who act a fool b/c in the end players have a short life span or usefullness on a team ? i.e. Shaq , Marion, Kidd ?????
April 30th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Logan Light says:
@Chuck - Ha! You might be right about that one… Avery’s small enough that Zach might swallow him whole.
@Sam I Am - Personally, I think you get rid of the players. I thought that Avery would stay, but that we would see Howard get shipped out to the Eastern Conference. But with Cuban holding the remote, who knows what will happen. It’s tough in the NBA cause of the million dollar contracts. Anywhere else, if a player acts a fool, you sit his butt down or let him go…
Avery is a darn good coach. The Mavericks bought into his system whole heartedly, so much that when change had to come (see Golden State), they had no idea what to do…
April 30th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
foscheezeeee says:
Avery will land on his feet very soon. I think Dallas will be very regretful of this decision because I don’t think you are going to bring in anyone that will do a better job. 51 wins in the Western Conference should not get you fired. I watch a ton of Mav games and I can tell you that the players just don’t have it no more. Sad day in D-town man. I think Cuban was sensing too much tension from fans and pulled the trigger. I just don’t see Dallas as a better team than: Lakers,Spurs,Hornets,Suns,Jazz, Rockets-with Yao back. next season with their roster. On top of that there are about 3-4 other teams in the West that will be really good next season (Warriors,Denver,Trailblazers,and the Kings will be ok).
Only time will tell, so I won’t jump to anything just yet
April 30th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
JHov says:
I’m gonna miss the “Lil’ General”..that is until next yr when he’s on the sideline in Chicago, NY, or PHX? LOL!
April 30th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
foscheezeeee says:
I’m sorry, 51 wins in the WC shouldn’t get you fired unless your name is George Karl….lol and for crying out loud, Avery was COY two seasons ago and had 67 wins last season
April 30th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Duke says:
Dumb people with money ALWAYS make me laugh. mark Cuban knows shit about basketball if he fired AJ. His roster is full of pussies with no heart. Nobody is going to do a better job than AJ in Dallas.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Sam I Am says:
Yeah I mean what gets me is the coaches who can coach..Phil Jax and Gregg Pop….and Pop don’t let anyone act a fool….Phil lets them act dumb cause he knows what he needs to do to won…
But players only have 10 years or 12 yrs max worth of game to give to a team…and you see them get traded so much that in the end if they become issues early on and don’t help in the beginning, isn’t it worth getting rid of them and finding new HUMBLE and HUNGRY talent who can play, humble themselves and lead by example ??
April 30th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
JHov says:
@Hahns Yeah it’s Sloan I saw it on TNT that there have been over 200 coaching changes since he was hired!
April 30th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Mister Sun says:
@Chuck
Dirk is from sweden or some crap like that?
you have to be the most ignorant poster here.
and if you were a real basketball fan, you would definitely know
just go and watch figure skating
April 30th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
djKianoosh says:
problem is it’s harder to move players. it’s relatively easy to move a coach and bring in somebody new. but that’s not the “right” way to build a contender. consistency and stability are way too overlooked in the NBA in this era. it’s how the Sixers with AI were able to reach the finals with pretty much average guys. They had consistency and stability until they were able to get some chemistry going. It’s why Detroit has been tops in the East for a while without having an ultra super star… why the Spurs and Jazz are constantly going to the playoffs cause they run a SYSTEM.
avery’s a good coach. he’ll land on his feet somewhere. maybe he can take over Denver and instill some defensive toughness over there. they could use some structure on both ends, as we’ve been saying all week.
time to blow up those teams, dallas and phoenix. It aint gettin any easier. NO, Utah and Portland are young teams that are only getting better. You know the Spurs, Rockets and Lakers have another run in them next year too. And maybe GS & Seattle are also on the cusp. time to go into rebuild mode, miami heat/pat riley style.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Sam I Am says:
I feel you Log 23…
It’s frustrating to watch good coaches be let go when you got dumb prima donnas always needing to be the show and also letting down their teams with their antics and selfishness
April 30th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Kobeef says:
I know we’d all like to think that Dallas and Phoenix can rebuild but ask yourself this:
After watching the first round, is there any team in the NBA willing to trade $20million worth of players for Shaq? What about $20 million for Kidd?
And the killer is that Dallas and PHX would need something of value in return (i.e. Marbury is not an option for a trade in either case).
Both teams made UNBELIEVEABLY BAD trades and are paying the price. Enjoy the ride boys!!!
NJ and Miami are laughing all the way to the draft.
April 30th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Juanito says:
The Pistons and Avery might be a good fit…
April 30th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Jim says:
“highest regular-season winning percentage in NBA history”
I don’t know that you fire a good coach without knowing you are getting an upgrade. Who is out there? Maybe he and D’Antoni should just switch and then their owners could make some more nonsense trades.
April 30th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
BxBaller says:
The Knicks need to go after Avery like seriously. Hopefully he can get them to play defendse, plus the personnel is somewhat fitted for a half court game with Curry & Randolph.
April 30th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
GEE...While you was in diapers wettin your sheets, I was at the Ponderosa rappin to the beat says:
Perhaps Avery shouldn’t have started with the Mavs as he already knew their players.
I don’t know, but a lot of times when you already know someone that becomes your boss or a higher up, the respect level is not what it would be for someone totally new coming in.
I am just thinking perhaps it was a ship bound to sink from jump street. Close reason why Patrick Ewing (first off prolly shouldn’t coach at all) shouldn’t coach the Knicks. Fans have come to know him to well in those parts. Go somewhere totally new.
I think Avery will do well again. Still think he may make a better defensive assistant than coach. Time will tell.
April 30th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Homeless J says:
It’s always the coach that gets the blame/pinkslip first.
I remember the same thing happened a couple years ago here with the Blazers and Mo Cheeks. Before they fired the idiot GM Hammond, had the upper management regime change, went through the possible sale controversy, won the draft lottery, got rid of Z-Bo and Miles and did all the miracle work in turning us back around, Mo took all the blame - and hey, it turned out great, we got McMillan who is a perfect fit for us. Who knows, maybe in two or three years this will be looked at as a good move.
I can’t think of anybody still on the market who would do a markedly better job than Avery would with these guys - maybe they’ll throw a ton of money at Calipari, even though he just signed his college contract?
April 30th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Remy Nguyen says:
Bring in Scottie Pippen.
Bring in some old Mavericks: Derrick Harper, Popeye Jones, Jimmy Jackson, Jamal Mashburn, and Toni Braxton as a consultant.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
GEE...While you was in diapers wettin your sheets, I was at the Ponderosa rappin to the beat says:
Since this is late breaking (and this ain’t exactly fresh off the press) did you all hear that:
Ex-NBA player Isaiah Rider arrested for investigation of auto theft
AP Sports
Posted: 2008-03-29 15:24:21
LOS ANGELES (AP) -Former NBA player Isaiah Rider was jailed Saturday for investigation of auto theft, police said.
The 37-year-old Rider was driving a car that failed to stop at an intersection about 2:30 a.m. in the city’s Skid Row district, Officer Norma Eisenman said.
Officers checking the license plates discovered the car had been reported stolen from South Los Angeles, and Rider was arrested, police said.
He remained in the Los Angeles County jail on $25,000 bail, according to information on the Web site for the county Sheriff’s Department.
Dangggg Homey…You used to be the maaaan homey!
April 30th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
daquest?on says:
george karl is next!!!
April 30th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
daquest?on says:
i dont think shaq’s trade was bad…….he played good plus remember he was there for only 2 months i think they will get better once a full training camp and practices in the offseason take place
April 30th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Homeless J says:
Any move is bad when you do it to win now and you wind up losing faster than you did last year.
April 30th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Chuck says:
@Mister Sun
I didn’t see you post one relevant basketball fact in response to what I said. And Yes faggot I know Dirk is from Germany, I was just trying to be funny, seeing how Dirk is so soft it doesn’t matter where he’s from anyway. He’s never going to win a chip because he’s a marshmellow.
Next time save the insults for my face and not a computer screen chump!!
April 30th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
word says:
chuck clearly you don’t remember diddy in the 90’s he is the exact definition of cuban.
well this was obvious I called it since the first week of the kidd trade where he clearly has failed. don’t really know who they should get in his place but the only surprise is how quick the verdict came down, not even 24 hours damn lol. ah well who the fuck cares cuban is a billionaire he can do what ever the hell he wants.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
word says:
on a brighter note now J Howard can get back to this
http://jugones.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/jhoward.jpg
and the blunts that he so dearly loves to blow.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
JDizzle says:
Sloan is he longest tenured coach by a long shot. I believe it’s over 20 years.
Cuban should have given Avery one more year to sort it out…at least one full year with the squad he has now. I can’t think of any better replacement for him.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:52 pm
COME ON!!!!! says:
Cuban has officially lost his damn mind.