I just saw on ESPN.com that the Mavericks have fired Avery Johnson. Not shocked. A little surprised. They played the the series against New Orleans like the message from the head coach was getting a little stale. This is an old team though and moving Johnson out should be just the first move in the offseason for the mavericks.

Should have happened last off season.

Avery brought a spark for a year, then ka-put and over(i.e. this season was a bust from day one).

What happened? To have the charisma and then loose it this quickly. Maybe look elsewhere for
the blame is all I can say.

Maybe Donnie and Dad had something to do with it. Donnie is still there. Is he not?

BTW, IO, don't be so hard on Yukon, OK. Wasn't Garth from there? I have been through
there though and did not know it. Doesn't leave much of an impression.

Yeah, I seen this coming for a while, Mark Cuban was ready to pull the trigger several weeks ago. The Mav's really played badly this season in my book. I tried to watch last night, but something about this maverick rotation just doesn't work.

Here is the story:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3375306

"Art Garcia | Mavs.com

Posted: April 30, 2008


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Avery Johnson was dismissed as coach of the Dallas Mavericks the day after a disappointing season ended with a first-round playoff exit in New Orleans. Incredible highs and heartbreaking lows marked the tenure of Johnson, who leaves as the most successful coach in franchise history by many measures.



Johnson became the eighth coach in team history on March 19, 2005 and posted a record of 194-70 (.735) during the regular season. He led the Mavs to playoffs four consecutive years, including a trip to the 2006 NBA Finals. His postseason record of 23-24 (.489) included 12 losses in the last 16 games..."

Exactly, you don't have it one day and lose it the next. Either it was all
a mirage(the Coach of the Year accolades) or it was deserved.

I say that there is much more to this story. Stay tuned....
Avery ain't that bad.

Does Mike D"Antoni(?) come over from Phoenix?...I saw a report by SI.com that he was leaving....I know he is perceived as an offensive guy, but at the same time I have always thought the Mavs lacked the defensive side..

Something to ponder....Dirk is still in his prime, but he turns 30 this summer. Jason Kidd is 35 and likely will be back since his $21 million contract is at the player's option. He has only one year left on his contract and he knows he won't get more than that on the open market.

For better or worse, the rest of the starting lineup is signed, too. That includes Howard, the only player under contract who is in his 20s. He turned 28 Monday -- and his presence at a birthday party held Sunday night after the Game 4 loss to New Orleans reportedly prompted Johnson to cancel the off-day practice that ended up being rescheduled by players.

Also under contracts that make them tough to trade are Erick Dampier ($11.5 million), Jason Terry ($9.1 million) and Jerry Stackhouse ($7 million).

Eddie Jones, who will be 37 next season, is likely to exercise a $2 million player option.

Dallas also has a team option on Brandon Bass, who at this point is the team's most promising youngster.

The Mavericks don't have a first-round pick, having traded it to New Jersey in the Kidd deal.

^ You should have copied the part of that story where they talked about Dampier, what a joke !!

The only way Avery should have been fired was if he was the one that wanted the Kidd trade. Kidd was great in his prime, but to give up Devin Harris was a hugh mistake even up. In my opinion the trade bankrupted the team.

That being said I was disappointed that Avery cancelled practice after game 4.

I was an Avery Johnson fan.

sooner or later i think markie needs to look at his players. i'm a mavs fan but howard openly admitting some of the things he has this season makes me wonder if he's a basketball player or a pothead. the kidd deal looks worse than ever with the prospect of not having a 1st round pick in the draft and the mavs not winning this season. still no center to speak of and stackhouse is getting up in age.

Well, that was a no brainer...

I always thought Avery was the best coach the Mavs have had since Dick Motta. Cuban destroyed this teams chemistry and future with the Kidd trade. Harris and Terry were doing pretty good at the point. But I think there is another reason you must consider for the Mav's finals collapse and last & this years first round exit - Dirk Nowitski - hes a good scorer but tends to disappear in crucial games and is a defensive liability, but I digress, the reason the Mavs struggle is because Cuban can't keep from playing GM or keep his checkbook in his wallet. The Mav's will never gain any continuity or chemistry with the roster turnover they've had the past few years.

Great job!

Amen!

we will see how it goes...i really didnt like the firing