Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 3:09 pm  |  74 responses

The axe falls on Avery Johnson

This is happening at record speed. Lose a series, ya fired!

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  • Cheryl Posted: Apr.30 at 3:12 pm
    ya slow, mutoni. we’ve already covered this on the “mavs eliminated, looking for excuses” post.

  • henry Posted: Apr.30 at 3:13 pm
    yes, we took care of this already… next story..

  • Rasheedionics Posted: Apr.30 at 3:14 pm
    Hope it’s not too late for Avery to sign with Spurs as their back up PG for the rest of the playoffs and take his revenge on Hornets in the next round.

  • The Second Coming Posted: Apr.30 at 3:15 pm
    cassell was gonna do that first.

  • Sam Rubenstein Posted: Apr.30 at 3:17 pm
    Mutoni is not the slow one in this case. I am. Oh hi, I’m Sam.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Apr.30 at 3:21 pm
    JasonKidd!!!

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Apr.30 at 3:22 pm
    And stop giving Sam a hard time. Not every single slamonline reader has spent all afternoon on the “Mavs eliminated” post. Some people might be checking the site for the first time all day…this needed to be its own item for sure.

  • SMK Posted: Apr.30 at 3:26 pm
    Josh Howard has something to cheer him up

  • The Second Coming Posted: Apr.30 at 3:28 pm
    indeed, ben. And some points needed to be reiterrated. Like the fact that the mavs are underachieving, the trade was bogus and reactionary, and the reigning MVP and his merry men stunk up da joint.

  • albie1kenobi Posted: Apr.30 at 3:30 pm
    nice one, Rasheed!

  • Co Co Posted: Apr.30 at 3:30 pm
    He’ll land on his feet sooner rather than later.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Apr.30 at 3:32 pm
    Can’t wait to see who the Mavs’ll bring in who’ll do better with that bunch.

  • The Second Coming Posted: Apr.30 at 3:32 pm
    man anyone got some extra red bulls? I’m crashing right now from all these late games. damn east coast…

  • peteb80 Posted: Apr.30 at 3:32 pm
    Thank god. This makes sense.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Apr.30 at 3:34 pm
    Word up, Russ. The Mavs are going 42-40 next year.

  • The Second Coming Posted: Apr.30 at 3:35 pm
    top candidates: 1. paul westphal
    2. PJ
    3. rudy tom they shoulda done this when skiles and LB were still available.

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Apr.30 at 3:39 pm
    Deep down i bet avery is glad to be away from the meddling mark cuban and half man-half woman dirk ..

  • Rasheedionics Posted: Apr.30 at 3:44 pm
    I’m with Khalid. This was just a stepping stone in Avery’s career as a coach. Now that he got this on his resume he can go and get a job coaching real team. Sorry Knicks.

  • The Second Coming Posted: Apr.30 at 3:44 pm
    lol@khalid. They should do a face/face commercial of dirk and JET going “you know, i’m not really interested anymore. Let’s go see what’s on TV…I heard Ironman is out…”

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Apr.30 at 3:49 pm
    Lol, i’m just baiting the dirk fans. i don’t hate him that much

  • albie1kenobi Posted: Apr.30 at 3:49 pm
    avery will move to a better situation, mavs will plummet because of their personnel. i feel really bad for a good friend of mine who’s a mavs fan.

  • G Diesel Posted: Apr.30 at 3:49 pm
    Avery will coach the Nuggets soon. You can bet on it.

  • albie1kenobi Posted: Apr.30 at 3:50 pm
    Khalid, which “him” do you not hate that much?

  • B. Long Posted: Apr.30 at 3:54 pm
    Little General would be a great fit for the Terri-Bulls. I wouldn’t wish the Knicks job on anybody.

  • phil Posted: Apr.30 at 3:57 pm
    Bring in Nellie and trade for Nash and Finley.

  • G Diesel Posted: Apr.30 at 3:58 pm
    By the way, the COY award doesn’t mean sh*t. An award that can be won by Sam Mitchell is useless. What’s the last time that Phil Jackson won it?

  • B. Long Posted: Apr.30 at 3:59 pm
    As much as I think Diggler is overrated and chokes quiet often you really can’t dump on him like last year. The Hornets were probably the worst possible matchup that Dallas could have drawn in the first round. J-Kidd trying to guard CP3 is like a present day Deion Sanders trying to cover T.O. As much as he was a great player and still has alot of experince you can’t teach speed.

  • Kevin Posted: Apr.30 at 4:04 pm
    the Josh Howard birthday party during the middle of a series thing has me baffled. i don’t think i could ever root for this guy again.. f*ckin retards in the NBA. jesus……

  • Donn Posted: Apr.30 at 4:04 pm
    Hey Russ..would you consider Avery coaching your Bulls?

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Apr.30 at 4:17 pm
    albie i mean dirk. What i meant was yes i think dirk sucks and i would not want him on the sixers (he would be the teams best player, which for him/us is a bad thing). however i don’t hate him that much, he isn’t my least favorite player ever or anything. that would be darius miles

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Apr.30 at 4:18 pm
    Not interested in Avery coaching the Bulls. At all. We already had Avery when he was named “Scott Skiles.” One control freak per decade, please.

  • Chou Posted: Apr.30 at 4:20 pm
    I kinda feel bad for Avery and i don’t know why.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Apr.30 at 4:20 pm
    Also, I wish Li’l Larry would get canned so Kidd could set a record for getting two coaches fired in the same season. But it appears that Li’l Larry is the Teflon Don out in the swamp. Even though he absolutely should have been fired. How do you not make the playoffs in the East with Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, and Half-Man Half-Migraine Half-Season?

  • Tommy Patron Posted: Apr.30 at 4:26 pm
    Yes, Russ, no damn Avery Johnson in Chicago. He’d be Dave Wannstedt 2008.

  • JP Posted: Apr.30 at 4:29 pm
    Not his Fault. Dirk is slipping, J Kidd couldn’t hold CP3, Josh Howard was high, Dampier is a joke. He’s a good coach for the NBA. Basic X’s and O’s and players love to play for him. Cuban needs to chill, who’s gonna do a better job? Mike D’Anonti?

  • albie1kenobi Posted: Apr.30 at 4:33 pm
    Khalid, so your constant “dirk sucks” is really just fire starters then. that’s fine. at least i won’t think you are just being one of those juveniles who come to this site to annoy. (in a way it is, but now i understand the reasoning)

  • The Promise Posted: Apr.30 at 4:34 pm
    Avery never was a good coach and never will be.

  • davidR Posted: Apr.30 at 4:38 pm
    paul silas? rick carlisle?

  • namik Posted: Apr.30 at 4:50 pm
    Question-Are the Mavs underachieving this year or did they overachieve the past 2 seasons?

  • B. Long Posted: Apr.30 at 4:58 pm
    This team needs a complete overhaul before we can even talk about who should be the coach. Why do you think JHo is actin an ass? He and Bass are the only young dudes they got with any talent and neither guy is the type of player you build around. Please don’t bring up Dirk either dude is damaged goods and will be until he gets a fresh start. If Cuban has any type of grip on reality he will blow this team up and start over because they have already peaked as is. Depending on what they they get done this offseason I’d like to see Paul Silas get another shot. Does anybody else see Avery taking over for Pop when he retires?

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Apr.30 at 5:03 pm
    no albie i’m not starting a fire. I’m saying i do actually dislike his game. Both artistically and from a get it done basketball sense. I feel he is the most overrated player in the L hands down. However on the right team or with the right player he would be amazing. He would succeed in a peja role as a shooter who isn’t counted on for too much else. but as a franchise guy, as the best player on your team kinda a guy i feel dirk is unqualified. thats not fire starting, thats how i feel for real, dead-ass serious.

  • Jolst Posted: Apr.30 at 5:12 pm
    So Avery and D’Antonio can switch teams now.

  • B. Long Posted: Apr.30 at 5:13 pm
    Khalid: Ditto, Dirk is a better shooting version of Lamar Odom. Great Role Player, Horrible Go To Guy.

  • The Promise Posted: Apr.30 at 5:32 pm
    Im with Khalid and B. Long

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Apr.30 at 5:55 pm
    35 and 15 in a Game Seven road win over San Antonio in ’06. Nope, can’t trust him to do anything. Averaged 27, 12 and 4 against New Orleans while Josh Howard shot 21 of 72 for the series and Jason Kidd got torched by Chris Paul. All Dirk’s fault. Averaged 25 and 9 last year while shooting 50/40/90 and winning 67 games. Total role player. The Mavs should trade him for Luol Deng or Mike Dunleavy or somebody. He’s only led his team to the Finals ONCE. How embarassing.

  • haz Posted: Apr.30 at 6:03 pm
    So who should be the go-to-guy? JHo?

  • phil Posted: Apr.30 at 6:05 pm
    Don’t forget when Tim Thomas called him a p*ssy in the Western Conference Finals and he dropped 50-12 on Phoenix.

  • John E. Sanford Posted: Apr.30 at 6:26 pm
    Dirk actually burned the Spurs for 37 pts, 15 boards, 6 assists in that game 7. Dude was a beast that series.

  • The Promise Posted: Apr.30 at 6:35 pm
    @Russ: what has he done the last 2 years? Lost?(I mean choked?) Thats what I thought.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Apr.30 at 6:38 pm
    You’re right, it had nothing to do with matchups, or the fact that his team made a huge trade in the middle of this season, or the fact that most of his teammates didn’t show up, or the fact that Josh Howard shot 21 of 72, or the fact that his coach was a micromanaging control freak that just got fired, or the fact that his owner is a publicity-seeking nutjob. And he didn’t shoot 50/40/90 last season enroute to 67 wins and a well-deserved MVP. Nope. IT’S ALL DIRK’S FAULT. HE’S THE BIGGEST CHOKER IN THE HISTORY OF SPORTS AND HE SHOULD GO BACK TO GERMANY INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO BE AN EMBARASSMENT TO ALL OF BASKETBALL.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Apr.30 at 6:51 pm
    Might as well double-post this. Dirk Nowitzki has led a team to the Finals as many times as Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Grant Hill, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Gilbert Arenas, Pau Gasol, Baron Davis, Caron Butler and Carlos Boozer combined. But he sucks.

  • Captain America Posted: Apr.30 at 7:06 pm
    Can’t fire cubes I gather

  • B. Long Posted: Apr.30 at 7:11 pm
    @Russ: See 3:59 comment. I think part of the animosity aimed at Dirk has to do with the MVP award last yr. right after scoring 9 in the deciding game they handed him a trophy that basically called him the league’s best player. Its not that he just totally sucks but that David Stern and Cubes have been shoving this guy down our throat so much that when he fails it is mangnifed because of how he is being marketed. I honestly feel sorry for him.

  • David Posted: Apr.30 at 7:14 pm
    How long before Cuban formally announces himself as coach?

  • B. Long Posted: Apr.30 at 7:22 pm
    Cubes don’t have the cubes for that. Who would he blame his horribly assembled roster’s failure to get past the first round on?

  • youngmuggsy Posted: Apr.30 at 7:59 pm
    wtf is this? avery wasn’t the one shooting bricks last night.

  • Bubba Chuck Posted: Apr.30 at 8:37 pm
    Fire Coach Karl!

  • Krishan Posted: Apr.30 at 8:49 pm
    Cuban should just make dirk their player-coach, ala lenny wilkens, so he gets blamed more for every loss. Seems to me he gets off too easily.

  • Dacre Posted: Apr.30 at 8:53 pm
    I’d like to see avery come in with the Suns. Draft a defensive guard – you know one of those second round types that look like they’ve been in the league for 4 years…. (the 15th pick so it can be done..) and use the damn bench DJ Strawberry should start along side Nash.

  • albie1kenobi Posted: Apr.30 at 9:30 pm
    people seem to forget that the warriors were the mavs’ nemesis for two years even before last year’s series started. nellie was the coach who groomed dirk so obviously he knows exactly how to take away his strength and magnifies his weakness. anyone remembers avery changed their starting lineup against the warriors in the playoff as a panic move? or what about the late season dallas/GSW game that could have knocked the warriors out of the playoff if avery played the regulars? and last i check, chris paul and the hornets are the number 2 seed and the mavs were the 7th seed. isn’t the 2nd seed SUPPOSED to advance to the next round?
    i’m no dirk’s fan, but some of you people are blind.

  • JOE Posted: Apr.30 at 9:46 pm
    I WISH THE BUCKS WOULD HAD GOT HIM INSTEAD OF SCOTT SKILES!

  • John E. Sanford Posted: Apr.30 at 9:55 pm
    I’m sorry, but there really wasn’t too much more Dirk could have done against the Hornets. That Dallas team was a team in turmoil. As far as making his teammates better, there wasn’t much he could do about that either. Josh “Pass the L” Howard had checked out on the season mentally and the rest of his teammates aren’t that good to begin with. A majority of that squad is either too old(Jason Kidd) or too bad(Erick Dampier). The real culprits for this 1st round flameout are Mark Cuban and Avery Johnson. Just my humble opinion.

  • Jason Posted: Apr.30 at 10:49 pm
    I can’t beleive that a Coach like Avery gets fired…yet Coach George Karl still has a job in Denver after going 3-16 in the playoffs over the last 4 years. SMH

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Apr.30 at 11:44 pm
    Wow, Avery should definitely not have gotten the blame for the Hornets beating the Mavericks. Seriously, Avery Johnson is a good coach, make no mistake. Maybe the Raptors can get him for the coaching position.

  • Dacre Posted: May.1 at 2:23 am
    albie1kenobi….. I’m taking by that your not backing the ATLANTA HAWKS to do much then? Dirk was meant to make more of HIMSELF. Thats all thats been questioned here… that and I think EVERY player wants to stay away from Mark Cuban nowadays.

  • Dacre Posted: May.1 at 2:26 am
    Russ, would Mike D be a good fit in the bulls outfit?
    ^_^
    Hey and B. Long…you can teach speed….you’ve not much strength and conditioning training??

  • Dacre Posted: May.1 at 2:28 am
    On behalf of the PHOENIX SUNS organisation I would like to welcome Rick Carlisle to Arizona.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: May.1 at 2:31 am
    Mike D wouldn’t be right for the Bulls. At least I don’t think so. I don’t see them as a fast-breaking team. I’d rather see them bring in Carlisle, I think.

  • Darksaber Posted: May.1 at 6:51 am
    CUBES should be fired. Dumb prick

  • B. Long Posted: May.1 at 11:22 am
    Dacre: you can’t teach speed to a 35 yr. old vet playing on a bum knee. Is that better?

  • ericmontross Posted: May.1 at 11:35 am
    Avery Johnson stepped into one of the best situations in basketball. He got handed one of the best offensive teams in basketball and convinced it to play defense. That is why he had success early. He then slowed down the offense and turned it into a half court offense controlled by himself. He was consistantly out coached by veteran coaches in pressure situations (Riley, Nelson, Scott). If he doesn’t land on a tallented team with a point guard he can bully he’ll be the next Scott Skiles

  • albie1kenobi Posted: May.1 at 1:43 pm
    Dacre, not sure what you mean by not backing the Hawks. if you mean do i expect them to win, then no, of course not. if you mean do i root for them, then that’s a no also because KG is my man, even though i’ve never like the celts.
    what i was trying to say is that logically a team with better record is usually the better team, and that i don’t understand why people said he choked because the mavs lost to the better team. if it wasn’t for dirk, they’d have gotten sweeped in blow-outs every game. i’m pretty sure he elevated his game, as evident by scoring more and grabbing more boards than during the season.

  • haz Posted: May.1 at 2:09 pm
    true that albie

  • youngmuggsy Posted: May.2 at 4:40 am
    bit harsh blaming kidd cause he couldnt guard paul. pauls arguebly the best player in the league right now.

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