From The AP:
"The Dallas Mavericks fired coach Avery Johnson on Wednesday, the first of what’s likely to be many offseason moves after the team with the league’s highest payroll again flopped in the first round of the playoffs.
Johnson leaves with an impressive resume after three-plus seasons, but Mavs owner Mark Cuban couldn’t tolerate two straight years of first-round exits—or the fact that Dallas has gone 3-12 in the playoffs since blowing a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA finals against Miami.
The Mavericks followed that 2006 disappointment by the embarrassment of being ousted by Golden State in the opening round last season in one of the biggest upsets in league history. And they were just dumped in five games by Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets.
Dallas didn’t win a single road game against the Heat, Warriors or Hornets, an 0-9 skid that was too much to overcome.
The final mark during Johnson’s tenure: 194-70 in the regular season, 23-24 in the playoffs."
Where May Avery Johnson end up next? The New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls are among the teams needing coaches, and both might want a young, proven coach who preaches defense and discipline. He has had teams that can make the playoffs, but the last time he won a championship wasn't as coach of the Mavericks: It was as A Player for the Spurs in 1999.
I Still believe Dallas made a mistake by trading for a 35 year old Point Guard in Jason Kidd when they had a good young Point Guard in Devin Harris. Harris kept New Jersey in the Playoff Picture until the very end of the season.
Guess What? Dallas made another mistake by letting Avery Johnson go. He was a good coach who has had the misfortune of watching his team crumble when they were in the playoffs or had a big lead.
It's this simple: The Mavericks live and die with Dirk Nowitski. If he's having a great game, the Mavericks will win, but if he struggles, Dallas will lose.
It's not Avery Johnson's fault other teams stopped the Motor of the Mavericks in Dirk Nowitski.
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