FireAvery.com - A Dallas Mavericks Blog

By JParas on Apr 24, 2008 at 9:04:17 pm

I have posted many times on this site…And as much as I love it…and I agree with the idea that the players have tuned out avery, I really hope that the 6th man shows up for tomorrows game…and I don’t mean stackhouse…I will be there and for anyone who reads this blog and also goes to the game, please support your mavs…I went to the playoffs agaist GS last year (at Oracle and in Dallas) and and it was like going to the Byron at the AA…the diffrence in the atmospheres was like night and day…PLEASE Support your team regardless of if you hate Avery…

By sappy on Apr 24, 2008 at 9:18:52 pm

I like Dirk and Brandon. The rest can pack their bags of nothin’ and shove off. But I will show up and support the German and the Beast.

By FIRE AVERY on Apr 24, 2008 at 9:48:48 pm

Whoever shows up…
Please also remember that it is our right to make our voice heard….
Dallas is our team and we all love and support them regardless…
However I’m asking everybody who will be at the game to join me and yell out “Fire Avery!!!” if he dares to embarrass us in our own house… support or not we need to voice our displeasure with how he’s slowly killing the team and everything around it…

By ric rules on Apr 24, 2008 at 10:20:49 pm

Guys Guys Guys
your intentions are valid, you are just directing them in the wrong direction.
Avery Johnson is not at fault, how do you motivate the unmotivated, its kinda of a two way street for anyone trying to motivate. Lets talk about who really needs to be fired.
ANd his name is Donnie Nelson, this is the guy that got rid of Diop, and that is the direct reason we are getting our asses handed to us so far in the playoffs. Not hitting open shots has so little to do with the head coach. At this point i feel it has everything to do with the moron, that got a job because of his daddy, who scouts and signs the players to help Dirk. Avery deserves another season, with some players that want to win and fit his style. Presidents should take just as much blame as the coach. In this case it is our front office that needs to go, not our head coach.

By ric rules on Apr 24, 2008 at 10:23:56 pm

Oh and about Larry Brown, first off he probably wont sign here, second, why the hell would we want to get rid of our current coach, for an older version of him??
And not just an older version, a version that doesnt preach free shooting, or pushing the ball. Larry Brown is a grind it out coach, that doesnt provide a lot of liberal offensive strategies. This would be a big mistake, There is no one out there worth replacing a guy that won 200 games in just over two season. These rants of Fire Avery, this whole website is poorly lead, and misguided in its quest for someones job.
Lets change the name to Fire Nelson and then it will make more sense ok.
I dare the creator of this site to challenge me on why AVery should be fired. I gaurantee i will eat your lunch and if you let me i will convince you that it is Nelson not Johnson who should be canned!!

By drew on Apr 24, 2008 at 10:36:12 pm

ric rules:

That’s what I was trying to say in the previous post. I think just the drastic conclusion of firing a coach is just stupid. Give Avery an off season to build the team with Kidd included instead of throwing him in after the halfway point. If they start the season without beating .500 plus teams, then start looking at your alternatives and possible replacements. They have the talent and I still think Avery can be a good coach. I think he’s better than Nelson. Sure Nelson has been around forever, has a ton of experience but his style nowadays will never win a championship. I like Nash but even his style was leading us no where, look at the Suns, they’ll never win by not having any type of defense in mind.

And as much as I like Larry Brown, yeah, he’s just as worst and he’s the type that when things don’t go his way even the slightest, he’s already packed his bags before the owner even finds his resignation letter. How many teams has he coached for and how many years at each post? And now he’s resigning again from his post?

By Jambo on Apr 24, 2008 at 10:44:02 pm

Open your eyes,ric !

By mrtwister on Apr 24, 2008 at 11:51:29 pm

Hey Ric,

I’m not saying you’re wrong, this is an opinion based website.

But surely you can see that isolation plays aren’t what Dirk needs to be at his most effective. This is a case of your head coach insisting on running plays that he prefers even though they don’t suit your star player.

So……..who do you wanna keep, Avery or Dirk?

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 1:17:02 am

Ric Rules,

You’re right about Nelson, Jr. In my mind, the problem is much worse than that, though, because it really can’t be corrected. Mark Cuban needs to sell this franchise.

Cuban (with Donnie at his side) failed to re-sign Nash and severed ties with Daddy Don “Last Laugh” Nelson - the guy who actually “saved” the franchise (with the help of Cuban’s Cash, of course).

Nelson himself knew he had gotten all he could out of that team as a coach, and in his bada$$ wisdom, was ready to settle into the GM role and keep making sure we were getting the best talent we could.

Cuban ran him off, and what he left us with was Donnie, a mid-term apprentice without his mentor…in addition to leaving Avery without the assistance of one of basketball’s most inventive strategic minds.

Since then, we’ve seen a mostly talented, inconsistent, underachieving squad.

Cuban’s an egomaniac who is unable to be a good owner without making sure his own personality is all over the public face of his product. I used to think he was a lame jacka$$. Now I hate him.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 1:29:23 am

Johnson would’ve been a better coach if Nelson had stayed around. Nash is an average defender at best, but his presence does not necessarily dictate that the entire team be subpar defensively. He went to the Suns because he’s a wet dream for any offensive-minded coach. He would also have done JUST FINE on a Mavs squad that was built for a better defensive presence to complement his and Nowitzki’s offensive prowess.

Nelson’s plans had worked so far, i.e., develop Nowitzki’s skills and his chemistry with Nash (plans he put into motion BEFORE Cuban bought the team), to name one. He knew Johnson preferred a greater emphasis on defense, and wanted the opportunity to help construct that squad.

It’s like if you have a great musical group, then the record company fires the group’s main songwriter and expects the same record sales.

Cuban pulled the rug out.

By DallasTheFlaccidPhallus on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:01:01 am

Avery is out of his element, it’s clear. But man, please don’t go to that game and do more damage to the city’s national reputation of having some of the worst fans in pro sports by doing something as pointless and patently negative as chanting, “FIRE AVERY.”

Get a hold of yourselves, for Chrissakes. If we tank this series (and we probably will), Avery’s job will be as at risk as a job could possibly be.

Plus, while nobody’s wrong to question Avery’s skills or his right to have that job, most of you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, anyway. You’ve never been at a practice or in the locker room. You don’t REALLY know what this team’s problems are.

Avery’s one of them, I think, but could you please try and take the high road and not inject more negative energy into the Mavs’ atmosphere than is already there?

By DallasTheFlaccidPhallus on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:07:21 am

Just because he’s a crappy head coach doesn’t mean he deserves to have scathing public scorn and meanness heaped on him in the middle of a game. How would you feel if thousands of people did that to you?

You think he and Mark Cuban aren’t both aware of this website and the mounting public opinion against Avery? The point has been made.

Don’t go out there and act like trash.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:21:19 am

I understand everyone can voice their opinions, and thats what this site is for. But if the direction of this site is wrong then, you can bet i will be in here letting you all know it as much as possible.
Im not saying that if you think Avery should be fired you are not a mavs fan. In fact you are a good mavs fan, as misguided and poorly thought out as this website is, i pretty much get the sense that it thinks its in the Mavs best interest.

Like i said the issue is its not well thought out. What? Players are looking at the scoreboard so you think they are not paying attention. How many of you have been in that situation in high school, college, or the pros. Looking at the score board is a common practice by players focusing and not focusing alike.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:24:59 am

There are no reporters calling for his job, that have any inside information to prove Avery is actually on the hot seat. Its a speculation, and not a very good one. Nelson put together a good team? Really thats what you want to go up against me with? He payed Damp 70 million and he gets at least 10 million a year untill 2011, he traded for Kidd which was an upgrade at pg, but he gave away our best big defender in the process. Terry, Howard they dont back up Dirk or help Kidd at all, and they are supposed to be the supporting cast. All signed to big deals by Nelson. You have Stack and George not wanting to go in a trade, to a team that did have a shot at the playoffs, and you think the players dont wanna play for Avery?

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:27:36 am

Let me tell you something, nobody and i mean nobody in this site, nobody writing or yapping on the radio, has any legit idea about whats going on behind closed doors.
No reporter is claiming they have any sources backing their “opinions”
Your calling for the job of a former coach of the year, a coach who won 60 games two years in a row, who has won virtually 200 games in 2 and 1/4 season. A man that has been called a, and i qoute “partner” by Mark Cuban. He took us to a finals.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:29:11 am

I know all this has been said before, i dont know if i am really trying to change anyone’s mind, but you need to listen to what i say. Avery has a certain way he coaches, he needs tough minded players that can take the criticism he gives them and turn it into a positive. Clearly Howard, Terry and the formentioned Dampier can not do this.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:32:46 am

Avery is signed through 2011 in a deal worth between 20 and 30 million, you think Cuban is gonna want to buy him out right now? When i think its obvious Dampier needs ot be bought out. Along with signing a big name scorer, like an Arenas, or maybe Brand. The timing is so bad financially with all that requires urgent attention. Avery not coaching well is on the back burner. Like i said give this guy a team with tough minded players, a good shooter that isnt afraid of open shots, and some defenders that can do it on both ends and keep their heads in the game, and he wins 60 games again. Obviously if Avery Johnson has players that are desperate to win, like he did in 06 and 07 then he can win our great city a championship.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:36:32 am

I think somewhat more importantly, who are you going to replace him with? When there are comments on this site, alerting us all that Larry Brown is available it makes this cites credibility sink even further. What is Larry Brown gonna do? Give us tougher defense? You think Dampier will respond to the 67 year old Brown and not Avery? I hear so many complaints about the offense being simple and conservative, are you kidding me? What all of a sudden after 3 plus decades of coaching and a couple titles Larry Brown is going to drastically change his offensive approach? The theory or hopes that Brown will come to Dallas are the perfect expample of how this site is false and misguided.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:38:04 am

For godsake the creator is on here asking fans of this team to heckle the head coach during a playoff game. There is clearly a strong bias against Johnson, and that is clouding the judgement and opinions of most on here. Thats is so disrespectful to cheer another human beings demise!

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:45:16 am

It all comes back to Cuban. He’s the one who should be on the ‘hot seat.’

He doesn’t mind making a public jackass of himself by sitting right by our bench and yelling at the referees. I wish he’d take some of that enthusiasm and energy, and direct it in a more productive way, like, say…publicly apologizing for the mess he’s made of this organization.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:45:44 am

As for the question asked to me, whether i would want Avery or Dirk, due to the offensive playes being ran fo rhim. Well we went to a finals with those plays being run. Dirk is avg. 30 points in this current series against the hornets with that strategy. Open your eyes and you would realize that if others would feed off Kidd the way Dirk can, and hit some open shots that it wouldnt even be an issue. I have never thought Dirk to be a player that can get it done by himself. In fact the rumors that AVery asked to trade him in the offseason speak volumes for Avery. If Nelson refuses to bring in another big scorer to help him, what is the point of keeping him? He will never be a great defensive player,and that needs to be brought to this team in the form of a big free agent. Our owner has the money and the savvy to get this done. But if they do this, and fire Avery in the process, i gaurantee a much longer wait untill we are on top again.

Guys its sucks we won 67 games, we were in the finals before that, and now we are being whipped by a less experienced team. But firing a good coach, a winning coach like Johnson is not the answer. SO please give me some good reason why, not this illegitimate claim that the players are not listening or that our coahces strategies on how to win games is weak. Dirk is not sitting around ignoring Avery, disrespectin Avery, and neither is Kidd. Howard was the one who voiced his dislike with the Harris trade. Howard is the one not showing up in big games, and complaining about not being an all star. He is who needs to go, along with Dampier. Those two for sure, and as much as i respect Jet Terry he brings value and is not the mold of player to fit Avery’s style. By the way the style Avery teaches is the same one the 4 time champion Spurs use.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:47:50 am

Free Dirk, Cuban can be volitale i agree, but he haas brought our lowly franchise to the top,and i think putting up with his actions is a small price to pay. He has calmed down a great deal, and seems to be more interested in winning than getting his point across. And unfortunatley owners are never on the hot seat lol. If any metroplex owner should be on the hot seat it is Tom Hicks.
So seriously Fire Avery, come up with some better reasoning or start another website, called FireDonnie.com

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:50:26 am

We need Mark Cuban as our owner for as long as he lives. The guy is willing to put up the cash end of things. Now he just needs a better advisor or advisors on who to pay the cash too. And that is what he pays Nelson for, and he ahs done a very poor job with that. No one can hit on a great player everytime, but even I could do a better job than Donnie Nelson.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:56:37 am

Those of you saying im not worth arguing with, your bias, and have no real response to what i am saying. You make my point for me every time you cop out to “its pointless to argue with me” Back up your theory that Avery should be fired. Dont just say “open your eyes” give me some legit reason, besides the opinions of story hungry reporters. Give me the reasons, that you know for sure, make Avery a bad coach. I dont think you can. You wanna denounce his iso offense, fine, but it makes no sense, that offense has worked for years and years for many different players. That offense won our star an MVP, took us to the finals. Took us from being a run and gun team, to a title contender in less than a year. If someone has a problem with Avery i would say Cuban will side with Avery
Getting rid of two ro three players inst thattough. Get Nelson up off his lazy ass and put him to work. Or get someone in here with the know how to fix the issues we have. Getting rid of AVery makes things worse not better. I will not sit here and type only one or two things. I will go and go untill someone can convince me im wrong, or untill this website changes its attitude into something more positive. This website has met its match, and you can qoute me on that.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 3:08:31 am

ric rules,

I simply disagree that Mark Cuban is the one who revived this franchise. Don Nelson had assembled Nowitzki, Nash, and Finley before Cuban came into the picture.

Yes, Cuban’s money helped, in addition to some of his clever marketing schemes. It’s not like Mark Cuban’s arrival as owner made Nash and Nowitzki both develop into MVPs. They were already here, and Nelson was already doing that work.

Again, Cuban’s money was great, but it was Nelson’s prodigious foresight and eye for talent that gave us the core of players that started winning games for this franchise. That was the most important element in the “revival.”

Cuban got cocky, and Nelson told him to piss off. Plain and simple. And yes, owners cannot be in the ‘hot seat,’ which is why I said previously that this is a problem that can’t be fixed.

It’s rare that an NBA owner doesn’t want to put up cash. What’s more important is having an owner who knows how to surround himself with basketball wisdom, then knows when to shut the f**k up and listen to that wisdom.

Nash and Nowitzki had a chemistry unlike any I’ve seen in basketball. You can’t put a price tag on that. Don Nelson knew that, and it’s the type of knowledge that doesn’t come as easily to a person who’s never really been a player or a coach in team sports, so Cuban thought his own approach was better.

And yeah, Donnie sucks.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 3:20:34 am

The jury’s still out on Avery, in my mind. I’m not ready to see him get fired, and our entire system have to start from scratch again. Mostly because, having played a good bit of sports earlier in life, I know enough to know that - as you said - average fans like you and me have absolutely no insight into what’s really happening with a team when the media’s not around.

So, I’m still not convinced that the success of those first two seasons can be heavily attributed to Johnson’s coaching, but I do think he has merits as a coach.

This organization is flawed in very complex ways, and I think it’s far too much for Avery to overcome by himself. Phil Jackson wouldn’t even be able to make sense of this mess.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 3:35:20 am

I’m not convinced that he’s really all that great, nor am I convinced that he’s the piece of sh*t that this website claims he is.

I think what we’re seeing here on this site is something that history teaches us to expect from human societies: A society, government, or other organization fails to live up to expectations, and eventually, ‘mob mentalities’ start to gain momentum as average people look desperately for scapegoats, for simple solutions.

By mrtwister on Apr 25, 2008 at 4:15:32 am

Well, as far as hiding behind a trip to the Finals goes in justifying isolation play after isolation play, that’s just crazy. If Dirk is your primary scorer, and your only consistent one lately, why continue to run the play?

Let’s face it, the isolation play is not new, as you said, the Mavs have run it for years, and it’s not surprising anybody. The majority of the time, it ends up in a double or Dirk picking up his dribble. Now this is all well and good, but who’s taking the shots now? Howard. Stack. Kidd. Is that what you want from this play? Noone is cutting to the basket, they’re just standing around waiting for their defender to run at the guy that the pass from the double goe to so they can have an open jumper.

Surely with the passer that Kidd is, the iso should be put on the shelf and some sort of double screen or motion offense be developed to create movement and have Dirk, your scorer, be the one that takes the shots for the majority of the time.

My point, Avery has not done this, he has stuck to what has worked in the past but he shouldn’t be. Defences know how to guard the iso play so he needs to be changing it up. I have said all along, the plays need to change to incorporate the skills of the players, namely Kidd at this point OR get some players that will cut, that will set big screens to get someone else open, that will do what they’re paid to do.

The strength of this team is not heir defense but they way they’ve played the first 2 games it’s not their offense either. So where does that leave them.

Like I’ve said, get Jamison, get Arenas, get Maggette, get Green, just get someone that will get it done with Dirk. As for Avery, get real, plan to your team’s strengths or plan an early June summer holiday.

By Herbie on Apr 25, 2008 at 8:59:41 am

There are some reasons for Avery deserving a good firing.

Most are discussed on this site over and over again, like misusing Dirk with stupid Isos or turning the rotation into a mess. Examples: Bass in his doghouse/out of his doghouse, messing around with Damps playing time, playing Malik Allen way too much, forgetting about Antoine Wright who has potential, having Jet/Stack in/out the starting lineup without any plan, sitting Dirk and Kidd way too long and in clutch situations…Rotation is a complete mess!!

Next to all those basketball-related reasons (much more on this website, look them up yourself) there are some issues that make AJ questionable as a person, thus as a good coach. Avery taking credit for Dirk’s MVP-development is a HUGE joke. I’ll give it to Dirk himself and surely a huge amount to Holger Geschwindner, but Avery demanding the praise is ridiculous.
On the other hand Avery NEVER takes the blame. His “if we miss free throws”-address was a disgusting fake action. He takes the blame? What a joke!

Avery seems just overchallenged and immature to me, I don’t wanna have someone like this as the coach of my favorite team.

And concerning his “success”: The Mavs have been the laughingstock of the league in the last 2 playoff series, with Avery looking like a fool next to Riley and Nelson. Enough said.

Last thing, about firing Donnie Nelson: I don’t think this guy has a lot to do with decisions made in this franchise, Cuban and Avery plan the trades, Nelson arranges them at the most. That’s my guess, at least.

By T on Apr 25, 2008 at 9:29:59 am

When Avery lost Del Harris as a mentor he went wheels off. Avery is not yet ready to be a head coach and Del was probably the head coach behind the scenes. Somewhere along the line Avery thinks he is the greatest coach in the game and probably wont take advice from anyone like Westphal now.

By Kirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 9:53:29 am

Based on the times of the posting, I’m going to guess that Ric Rules was having a rough night.

The only time I want people to heckle avery is if we are getting crushed by 30 again. I’m going to a sports bar tonight here in Washington DC and I’m going to spend money I can’t afford, so the Mavs damn well better win and win convincingly.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 10:11:57 am

If we’re losing by 30 again, and you can’t bring yourself to exercise the self-control not to vocalize your frustrations in the middle of a game, then at least direct it where it belongs, at Cuban.

“LYNCH CUBAN! LYNCH CUBAN!”

Either way, it’s a no-class way to act.

At this point, I’ll take a loss, as long as we don’t look like a bored prostitute rolling over for the fifth trick of the day (like we did in the 2nd half of Game 1 and all of Game 2).

Johnson needs to go, probably. I agree, for the most part. But, in the words of George Carlin, “I think somethin’ else stinks around here.” And it’s Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson, and a good handful of these players who can actually look themselves in the mirror - or worse, watch themselves on tape - after the kind of worthless, despicable performances they’ve turned in.

Man, I agree that Johnson is deficient, but at this point, it’s players like Josh Howard and Jerry Stackhouse who deserve this kind of scrutiny. If they’re out there tanking games because they don’t like their coach, then they’re WAY WORSE than Avery. They should go play for the New York Knicks, where they belong.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 10:50:54 am

I’m sure some of you suck at your jobs. Does that give anyone the right to come treat you hatefully in public, in front of your coworkers? Hell, no.

Get a hold of yourselves. It’s basketball. Like I said before: If we tank this series, Avery’s job will be sufficiently at risk, without any of you going out there and embarrassing our city with classless behavior.

By drew on Apr 25, 2008 at 10:53:17 am

FreeDirk,

I agree mostly. I don’t lay blame totally on Avery. If players aren’t doing what he says cause they don’t agree, they should go elsewhere. As a coach, that’s their job, to coach the team. If players aren’t listening for any reason, they’re just taking the rest of the team down with them and that’s uncalled for.

Think of it like your own work, if you don’t like your boss or how he runs things and you don’t follow his directions, you find yourself jobless. He has his own boss to answer to and if he’s doing everything he can to get his workers motivated, he’s done his job to the best of his ability. Now if everyone on the team says Avery is taking the team in the wrong direction, then they should bypass their coach and go to the guy above him, express their concerns to either fix or replace.

Basketball is no different than any other job. Each has their own role. If half the team is doing what Avery tells them do to but the other half aren’t, then I would have to lay blame on the players that aren’t doing their part to support everyone. Same could be said if one or two players are dragging their feet and the rest of the team is affected. It only takes one person on a TEAM to drag the rest down to their own level.

By drew on Apr 25, 2008 at 10:56:34 am

I also agree that anyone that goes out to a game to heckle a member from the team they say they’re a fan of, well then, they’re really no fan at all.

I’m open to discuss things on a site like this about a team or players but doing it in their face during their season is just tacky. Stay at home if you’re only going to show up at the game to boo, unless you’re there to boo the other team and even I think that’s just as tacky.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 10:57:40 am

Moreover, if Avery needs to be fired, that’s a decision for Mark Cuban to make. It’s his team (unfortunately).

He offers a product. If you don’t like it, then don’t buy it. Simple as that. That’s the effective method of consumer protest.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:00:32 am

drew,

Nice to hear someone else thinking for himself, and not getting wrapped up in this mob-mentality nonsense.

By drew on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:02:39 am

I vote to not turn the Mavericks organization and it’s fans like the Knicks. Sure Thomas deserved the boot, I would have booted him for the harassment suit alone, not his losing team. But their fans just suck to show up only to boo their team. I don’t care if they’re just booing the coach, boo one person, you’re just booing the team as a whole.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:02:57 am

My suggestions for websites that might actually address some problems:

1. whatthehellhappenedtojoshhoward.com

2. whenwillthemavsacquireadecentpostplayer.com

3. freedirk.com

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:05:11 am

drew,

That’s my point. If these people show up just to boo, then why do they bother showing up? It seems that, if they hate the product so much, then they’re the idiots for buying it!

Nothing sends a message to a team owner like empty seats for weeks.

By drew on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:07:37 am

FreeDirk,

Yeah, I’m a fan (Been one since the days they were no even getting 20 wins and they gave away tickets) but it’s not the end of the world. At the end of the day, it’s just a sports team as entertainment.

Some people just don’t seem patient enough and draw the conclusion that some drastic action needs to be taken like a firing which could only set the team back even further. I want a championship as much as anyone but firing a coach that has a .700 winning percentage and a team that doesn’t show up in the postseason is not grounds for a firing to me, not yet at least.

By Dave B on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:08:06 am

I can’t believe I actually used to support that little worm. Everything he says is either sarcastic or against his players. And lol at freedirk.com, I like it! Someone start that up.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:20:33 am

drew,

Yeah…I said before that this is something that history teaches us to expect from human societies. Scapegoating, basically. Things go wrong, and average people start looking for the simplest solution, which leads them to find a scapegoat and - in a mob mentality - start acting like animals toward him. It has always happened, and it always will.

It’s simple-minded thinking, and I really hope that it’s not the kind of logic that’s being used in our front office (although I fear it is).

By drew on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:24:20 am

I think some of what Avery says is taken out of context. A coach as his place on a team, without a coach a team is worthless. If the team or part of the team aren’t executing what the coach provides, they’ve literally broken the team where they are no longer a team.

A coach can only do so much. He can’t force a player to make their shots, but only work on them to improve their shot and anything else to execute the plays he draws up. If a player doesn’t do what he says or fails, he benches them. Nellie did it to Byron on their final game of the season. He had good reason too, Byron was the worst one out there not making any contributions as a team player, so he took him out and benched him, only getting criticism from the fans.

If the team fails, you blame the whole team. If you can’t work with one of your co-workers then they should be handled on a case by case basis. Like I said earlier, I doubt some of Avery’s actions but who knows really what is going on behind the scenes. Let him do his job, if his boss doesn’t like it, let them handle it.

In game 2, Avery said they should attack the basket, make more inside paint shots in the second half. The first shot attempted was Dirk from the perimeter, that isn’t executing the coaches plays to me. I’m not blaming Dirk, he probably took his own action under the circumstances but then again, they really didn’t attack the basket for the remainder of the game.

By Ronald on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:30:44 am

To everybody here pretending to take the higher moral ground on us… Give me a break please…
When I go to that game and we’re getting destroyed by 30 because Avery thinks that isolation plays that finish by an awful jump shot is the way to go… or he has the genius idea of having a line-up that includes Eddie Jones, Juwan Howard, Stackhouse on the floor at the same time and sit Dirk for 7 minutes during a quarter while we’re getting our asses kicked (To Ric: tell me all these aren’t decisions that Avery has made… and instead of spending what looks like a whole night in a useless monologue attacking the creator of this website go back to the previous discussions when we were discussing coaching decisions that were made during the games and challenge our points there that will be more helpful)…
Then you know what I’ll do guys… I’ll boo with all my heart…
I also hold my season tickets like you do… and I’m as loyal as it gets regarding the Mavs… Which is why I care enough to show that I care…

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:35:03 am

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:

Phil Jackson wouldn’t even be able to make sense of this mess. We have a poorly constructed team. Period. Yes, there are some good players, but Avery Johnson is the only person near our front office with any actual basketball wisdom, and that’s why we have the team we have.

Maybe Avery needs to go back to being an assistant for awhile. If I were him, I’d be chomping at the bit to get the hell out of this organization where your owner consistently hijacks operations and forces everyone into situations that are destined to make them look bad. If I were Dirk, I’d feel the same way, too.

By drew on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:38:31 am

Greg, I think the heckling started from this comment: http://www.fireavery.com/2008/04/22/this-team-is-done/#comment-1222

As for any firing, yeah, firing a coach is the simplest way cause you can’t fire the whole team but to me isn’t always the answer. If it’s any player and all it takes is one to not step up, follow the coach and everyone else on his team, perhaps you can deal with that player.

One player that comes to mind is Josh Howard. Don’t get me wrong, I like Josh, I want him to be good and improve. I was happy he didn’t get traded but now I’m having some doubts. He has not done anything since the trade, he has not improved his game or play and he seems kind of like he’s not willing (judging by his on court stats). Like I said before, when an All-Star shows up for the first quarter only, that displays some issues. That’s not an All-Star to me. That’s the reason I’d rather see Bass start in his place, at least he seems to be trying every minute he’s on the court.

My uncle is a coach. He benched his best player for two games straight cause he gave him attitude and wouldn’t execute the plays. Those two games while college scouts (including Bob Knight) were attending gave him a wake up call. Perhaps some players need some well deserved attention for failing to win as a team, not just the coach.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:47:07 am

Ronald,

Nobody has to pretend to take the higher moral (or intellectual) ground on some of you. It’s an effortless thing to do, with the way you people are behaving.

I don’t give a sh*t what this site’s name is. What I object to is how a bunch of people who have NO FREAKING CLUE what actually goes on in that organization, most of whom have never played, coached, or been any in way involved in a basketball game other than as spectators, deciding they have diagnosed EXACTLY what the problems are and stirring up a mob mentality, frothing at the mouth like rabid dogs to get this guy’s job. It’s pathetic.

Fine, dude. Go boo Avery Johnson at the game. Yeah, right. That’s your duty as a season-ticket holder. Someone with some actual class would show he cares by not forking over the money for season tickets next year, rather than making a public a$$ of himself at a playoff game.

If I was at the game, and you were seated near me, and you started encouraging people to stoop down to that pathetic level with your boos, I’d confront you about it. Not violently, but with reason, and I’d hope there were some kids around to learn a lesson about how NOT to act.

Of course, you’d probably then threaten me with violence, which is probably what you were going to do until you read this sentence, but now you’ll act like that’s not true.

But yeah, go ahead and “boo with all your heart.” If you wanna go act like a classless moron, I guess it’s your right as a bonafide American classless moron.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:54:38 am

And by the way: I agree about his lineups and substitutions. I’m totally confused by his decisions in that regard, and I’m frustrated about it.

But booing at a playoff game is merely - as I said before - making a public a$$ of oneself. If that’s what you decide for yourself, fine. I just hope somebody near you is brave enough to call you out to your face when you do it.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:54:58 am

Well, i have read over the comments since my last post. Just like i thought a bunch of unfounded reasons, mostly about the iso offense. Just so you know, those of you making that arguement are losing credibilty quickly. It makes no sense, we have won playing the very same way. These might be your reason for hating on Avery and thats fine as it is your opinion, but just konw you are wrong, and it is not a good point you are making. As for the creator i apologize, someone with the name Fire Avery was the one encouraging people to act like idiots. I assumed it was teh creator and i was wrong so i apologize there.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 11:58:29 am

Free DIrk and whoever else thinks Avery has an opinion on players brought in yu are right. What you dont seem to understand is that Donnie Nelson has the final say, his job title holds him responsible for who is signed to this team, who is let go from this team, and who this team trades and recieves in trades. I am dissappointed as most of the responses and reasoning im am reading still seem to be the same old crap, over and over. Like i stated previously there is clearly no point in arguing Avery’s brilliance as a coach, because someof you are blinded by whatever bias has a hold of you, and refuse to even try and see it. But just so you know, from someone who actually understands the game of basketball it is there. His offensive philosphy is fine, and his defensive coaching and philosiphy is fine. These are both styles that have won many titles for numerous teams. Go look it up if you think i am blowing smoke.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:03:05 pm

So since some of you are just to blinded to see the real problem in that light, i will explain it to you in a different fashion. Who are you going to replace Avery with? Larry Brown is a joke, dont even try and go there, as i will rip that answer to threads. Who else? Rick Carlyle, another similar coach to Avery, you will all be in a website called firerick, within months of that hiring! You wanna go see if Fratello or Van Gundy will step away from their broadcast jobs, dont think they have even hinted they are ready to do that. Who next, Hubie Brown lol, he is older than Larry Brown. Both of whom would only stay with thsi team 1 to 2 seasons at the maximum. Whats left? Maybe some unproven young assistant coach, you really wanna get rid of the credentials Avery brings to the table for some unkown, and inexperienced coach. Or maybe we can go sift through the college ranks for somebody, i tell you what unless Cuban can entice Coach K to leave a place not even the lakers could get himto leave, its not worth it and history is on my side there.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:07:03 pm

So now that i have established how weak and limited the coaching options would be, on the the reality side of things, or maybe you wanna call it the financial side. Avery is locked in through 2011, he will be owed a ton of money if Cuban decides to fire him this season, and with all the player changes needed i dont see that as a logical option, at least not for this season. Like i have been saying, the obvious,simplest, and cheapest way to deal with the issue is to fire DOnnie Nelson the man responsible for our problems right now.

COme on guys i expected much more from this site, these complaints about Avery are weak and unsubstantial. Is this the best you have to offer.

You can tell me all you want, that this site is for people who dont like Avery, to me its starting to look more and more like a lynching party.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:13:57 pm

Dude, ric, how many times do I have to say that I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT DONNIE NELSON?!? I also agree with some of these people about being puzzled by many of Avery’s decisions. I also agree that the Spurs-style, Iso-driven offense has worked very well for some teams, including ours in some cases. I also agree that Avery’s philosophies are not the problem.

The problem is Mark Cuban. He has put together a mess of an organization, in which almost eveyone below him is in a situation in which they can’t succeed. This team is not built well for Avery’s philosophy. There is no unifying thought or real basketball wisdom in our front office. That goes for Cuban, and it goes for Donnie.

Avery was a very promising coach, and he was thrust into the limelight from the very beginning. Along with poor performances from a lot of players, Avery’s inexperience showed against Pat Riley. His philosophies are fine, but his inexperience in making strategic adjustments in a tough, 7-game playoff series was exposed against Riley, and against Nelson. Period. I like Johnson, but Cuban set him and everyone else up for failure.

Oh, and as someone who grew up surrounded by coaches (my father and his friends), I also happen to disagree that you’re the only person blogging here who “actually understands the game of basketball.”

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:22:33 pm

Greg he took our team to the finals, he won 60 games two years in a row, he is young, healthy, knowledgeable in regards to how to win basketball games. It is clear the players are not tough enough for his style of play, Dirk is, Kidd is, but the rest of the major contributors are just not consistent enough. If a player is missing open jumpers who is at fault? How can you blame Avery for that. If your president trades your best defensive big man, and your 70 million dollar backup isnt smart enough to get back off a trap so that the low post is defended, who is at fault. Sorry my friend but it is my strong opinion that the head coach is not at fault for these things. Sure you can find some flaws in Avery’s style or choices he makes in a game. You could do that with Red Auerbach, so its a moot point.

As for free dirk being puzzled by AVery’s decisions, well bud, that is something all of us deal with, and i can and will tell you why! Its because he knows how to coach basketball games better than any of us. And we may think Brandon Bass needs to be in more, yet at the same time we seem to miss that Brandon is still a fresh young player out there, and has mental slip ups on defense. Which would be considered by Avery as a liablity to winning games. I think Avery has once again done a great job of bringing along young talent,and is giving Bass ample time out there to show what he can do.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:25:26 pm

My point is this: you’re all wrong. The problems are just more complex than you all want them to be. Firing Donnie won’t fix it. Firing Avery won’t fix it.

The best thing that could happen, at this point, would be to restructure our front office and get someone who actually spent a life in basketball, hope that Cuban will listen to that person, and make the best trades we can with some of these players that can’t seem to bring their games with them anymore. Johnson is a decent coach. Brilliant? I don’t think I’d go quite that far yet, but I do think our best shot right now is to give him some better players to work with for the remainder of Kidd’s tenure here.

You’re right, Ric, that there’s no one else available to coach this team. You’re right that, if Larry Brown were brought in, firelarry.com would start up eventually. fireric.com, too, and on down the line, because there is no unifying basketball wisdom between Mark Cuban and his front office.

Bottom line: this is a BIG MESS. Fire Avery, and what you’re going to have is an old, moderately talented team draining the best years out of Dirk Nowitzki and waiting until Jason Kidd is just too old and slow to even practice anymore. With a new coach (which doesn’t exist on the market right now, as ric pointed out), this squad will look even more confused next year than they do now.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:26:06 pm

Greg when you ask a question like “what has Avery done”, then say you cant state his winning pct. Well that seems a bit unfair to me. I understand your point about the playoff losses, and im sure you can recall the heartbreak these players have brought on themselves the last two seasons of playoffs. Obviously that is not somethign Howard and Terry are going to come back from, and Dampier never showed up in the first place. Just remember Avery did win all those games, and if you dont like those numbers, then maybe you will respect this. He took a team that was offensive minded and tried to make it tough defensivley. He succeeded for a season and a half or so, and now these players just cant live up to his expectations. I would rather have a coach with the expectations Avery has, than a group of players that run and hide at the first sign of adversity. Wouldnt you??

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:28:03 pm

Free Dirk, you dont think Donnie Nelson has spent his life in basketball? Or Del Harris for that matter, there are guys in place. The issue with Nelson is his decision making, its poor very poor. He has blown millions of Cubans money, and it hasnt panned out to much.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:29:36 pm

We are all frustrated, and the Mavs org. is not going to listen to what we think the team needs. But at this point, the weakness’s are being exposed and even if Donnie Nelson is still in charge this summer, i have to believe that they will make the right signings and bring i the players a great coach like Avery needs to win.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:40:27 pm

Man, ric, BUD, the main reason I’m puzzled about Avery’s substitutions is because he is, too. He has such limited personnel to work with. Almost every option he has at his disposal poses major liabilities. If I were him, I wouldn’t know what the hell to do about a lineup, either.

Once again, you’re right about Bass. He’s young, he needs time to develop, and he does make mental mistakes out there that hurt his team sometimes. Can you name one player on our roster that isn’t making mental mistakes on defense? 60+-point halves happen when there are complex, major breakdowns in a team defense. So, that’s what Avery’s got to work with. A bunch of guys with varying degrees of talent and skill, with varying degrees of age and energy, who are all f**king up their defensive assignments on a regular basis.

If it were me, I’d be in the position where I felt like the best I could do was to play the guys who are showing me that they are hungry to be out there playing hard, period. If they’re going to be making those mistakes, as a coach I’d rather see them making them with some damn passion and drive in their games, rather than the drivel we’ve seen from pretty much everyone but Dirk, Bass, and Kidd. Kidd is playing like the seasoned professional he is, but he just looks tired out there, to me.

We are overmatched by New Orleans. We can’t match their talent, and they’re probably going to win this series, as a result. Our best shot at this point is to play the guys who are out there showing some heart, regardless of whether or not they’re the most talented or experienced players on the team.

Another reason New Orleans is kicking our ass. Look at how well-structured their offense is. It’s not just Paul’s talent. It’s Paul’s talent and skills combined with a cast of supporting players who complement him, eachother, and the coach’s system very well. The front office and the coach were on the same page when putting this team together, and they are maximizing the results from their personnel.

We simply don’t have that kind of organization. What we have is a disorganization, and it shows, hence NO being the #2 seed, and Dallas being the #7 seed. It’s no accident.

By Ronald on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:50:56 pm

FreeDirk:
You actually made me laugh… Just finished read over your post and I’m actually not sure you’re talking about me… or if you even read after yourself…
So let me quote a few excerpts from this guy whose comments I was reading recently, his nickname is FreeDirk in case you don’t recognize your own posts:
“Johnson would’ve been a better coach if Nelson had stayed around. Nash is an average defender at best, but his presence does not necessarily dictate that the entire team be subpar defensively. He went to the Suns because he’s a wet dream for any offense etc…
…Avery’s gotta go, yes. He needs to go pay some dues as an assistant. I truly never thought it possible to see such egregious mismanagement of a roster from an NBA coach. Why the hell are we paying Tyronn Lue, when Avery is obviously determined to make Jason Terry a point guard? Etc…”

Yet the same FreeDirk is telling everybody stuff like (again in his own words):
” …don’t give a sh*t what this site’s name is. What I object to is how a bunch of people who have NO FREAKING CLUE what actually goes on in that organization, most of whom have never played, coached, or been any in way involved in a basketball game other than as spectators, deciding they have diagnosed EXACTLY what the problems are and stirring up a mob mentality, frothing at the mouth like rabid dogs to get this guy’s job. It’s pathetic.”

So unless you’re in bed with Cuban in which case you do have a FREAKING CLUE what actually goes on blablabla… What exactly were you doing then?? Looks like you’re doing some diagnosing yourself…
Lol… I’m not even mad at you dude… listen, like someone said before, this is a website for people to give their opinions (Greg correct me if I’m wrong) and that’s exactly what we were doing until you started judging… and our opinion is that Avery is the main problem with this team because of his lack of coaching skills… I repeat our opinion!!! So I’ll ask you guys again to go back to all the points that were made in the various discussions and challenge them… that’s all we’re asking you to do here…
So please stop with the personal attacks and stay civil… the enemy here is New Orleans… we both want the Mavs to win…

Again all I meant guys is please don’t act superior and pretend like you’ve never heard boos from fans when their team gets their ass kicked big time 3 times in a row in a playoff series… Have you actually been following basketball at all??
Let me give make you a promise here, even if we get run out of the gym and destroyed by 30 again… I promise not boo… you have my gentleman’s word here… So no need to confront me, you actually sound more violent than me… but also I’m ready to bet whatever you want that you will hear boos… whether I start them or not… but I guess you’re just better and classier than everybody else…

As far as not renewing my season tickets… Check!!! Don’t worry my friend if Avery stays you won’t have to teach me how dissatisfied customers need to react… but it won’t change anything in the fact that Dallas is my team and I want them to win it all …

And for the “If you wanna go act like a classless moron, I guess it’s your right as a bonafide American classless moron.” Comment… that one is even funnier because I’m not even American… so I’ll take it that you’re not talking about me and I’ll let the Americans here answer you…

By bball499 on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:51:38 pm

Geeze..ric rules sounds like he must be incognitto so we don’t find out that in reality he is really Avery’s agent. Seriously though, to agree to disagree is fine. But next week after another first round exit, how many feel comfortable that the Mav’s organization can do what needs to be done to be able to compete in a Western Conference that has totally evoloved in the last year to the point that the current Mav’s look sooooo slow and soooo unathlethic. is not that what we were hearing about the Spurs two years ago. They seem to have been able to find that championship magic with the same core players and a coach that knows how to utilize what his players bring to the table. If Avery can not change and adapt to his players then all you have left to do is either blow up th ecurrent roster or find someone that can coach this group. No matter what happens please please please find a center that is worth what they are crrently paying this no talent, non-motivated, concrete hand waving salary cap hogging Dampier…..UGGGGGH…Jason Kidd puts the ball right into his hands and he dribbles it off his foot, leg or simply whiffs and watches it go out of bounds. James Donaldson would be a better option at this point than continuing to run that guy out there every night. Oh…one more thing…why would you try and use Dirk and Dampier to trap Paul when they have got to be the two slowest and least nimble of foot players in the league, not to mention that this has left West and Chandler freedom to roam the lane against whats left to defend the interior.

Still a Mavs fan though…so GO MAVS!

By Ronald on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:53:12 pm

And by the way, I find it funny (actually ironic is a better word) that people who are preaching a “Like it or Don’t buy it” type of attitude are here all involved in a website called FIREAVERY.COM when their sentiment is that Avery shouldn’t go anywhere… lol… So why are you posting a zillion comments overnight if you don’t like what the website is about… how about you act like the customer you’re asking us to be and not log in here anymore because I’m pretty sure all you’re going to be reading are comments about firing Avery… Go start a KEEPAVERYFOREVER.COM website and see if I come preach firing Avery there…
With this I’m also done with this conversation… Hope the Mavs win tonight!!

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 1:04:17 pm

My assertion that firing Avery is an unwise suggestion at this juncture does not lead to my wanting to “keep Avery forever.” I just don’t think things are as SIMPLE as all of these moderately informed spectators want them to be. The problems are COMPLEX, and will require very complex solutions.

Also, I’m not a ‘customer’ on this blog. The customers are the advertisers. I thought this was a free exchange of ideas. Angry mobs rarely react well, however, when someone jumps in attempting to inject a little bit of reason. If the “FIRE AVERY AND WE’LL BE CONTENDERS NEXT YEAR WITH OUR REPLACEMENT COACH THAT DOESN’T EXIST” philosophy had any inherent wisdom in it, you wouldn’t feel threatened by opposing opinions.

Did you actually think that people weren’t going to try to start a debate about the issue? You’d obviously just prefer that you all have this site to yourselves as eachothers’ and the blog owner’s yes-men, feeding one another’s rabid frenzy.

Nobody seems to be comprehending my point. Maybe Avery should go. DEFINITELY some of the players should go. My point is THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE MORE COMPLEX THAN A BUNCH OF ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACKS CAN DIAGNOSE FROM THEIR COUCHES, AND WILL REQUIRE MORE COMPLEX SOLUTIONS THAN FIRING OUR COACH, WHO IS UNFORTUNATELY THE BEST COACH AVAILABLE TO US RIGHT NOW.

You don’t like listening to my dissent, fine. Have your silly blog back. I’m out.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 1:09:06 pm

My problems with Avery right now:

1. Why isn’t Tryonn Lue getting any playing time?

2. The trapping defense is killing us. It doesn’t work. We don’t have the personnel to pull it off.

This team is finished, guys. Go ahead and bring in a new coach, though I’m not sure who that person could be. They’ll still be weak.

For real, though: I’m out. Peace.

By Ronald on Apr 25, 2008 at 1:18:30 pm

Dude by all means stay and give your opinion… just don’t patronize everybody else with comments like ” we think we can disect a team and see everything that’s wrong etc…” while you’re obviously doing the same thing…
And I also don’t see this team winning this series… I hope they find a way to do it but I just don’t see it happening…

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 1:25:17 pm

Crap, just read your long, previous post, Ronald and had to leave one last comment.

Yes, I’ve gone through periods of thinking that Avery could be the main problem, but I know enough to know that I can’t possibly see what’s really going on.

Like I said, this team’s problems are complex, and I’ll admit that watching this team confuses me. Others can assert that means I’m stupid or don’t know basketball, but I assure you that neither is the case.

I see problems on the court in games. The problems cause me to ask questions. I raise those questions, but understand in the process that I can’t really know what the solutions are. I didn’t get involved on this site until I saw people calling for “FIRE AVERY” chants in tonight’s game.

I’m not convinced, like most of you, that Avery is an incompetent coach. I’m also not convinced, like ric rules, that he’s anywhere near “great” or “brilliant.” I do know that neither conclusion means the guy is a total piece of sh*t who deserves public humiliation.

The one thing that’s easy to diagnose: Mark Cuban puts his fingerprints all over this organization more than an owner should, which is why we don’t have Steve Nash, which is why our PG situation has been shaky for the last three seasons.

We all want the Mavs to win. You’re not American, and probably not a moron, and I need to get back to my life and work and quit obsessing about the most disappointing franchise in sports.

Peace.

By DB on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:17:00 pm

If you think the coach isn’t a huge difference maker, look at the Rockets. My problem with Avery is he doesn’t coach the team he has. He tries to make the player fit his system. Bobby Knight recruited players to fit his system at IU and was very successful. Look back to the 67-win season. Avery ran the guys into the ground so they had nothing left in the tank for the playoffs. This year doesn’t seem to be much different, they just won 15 fewer games. I had pretty much decided Phil Jackson wasn’t the Zen Master Coach after all, but this year he should be coach of the year. If you look at the Laker roster, their role players aren’t anything special, but Jackson’s game plan gets the most out of them. Avery’s game plan - trapping the point guard at mid court with Dampier and thinking he can get back to the paint to defend is just plain stupid. As fast as Harris was, he still couldn’t outrun a pass.

By Spurred1 on Apr 25, 2008 at 2:53:27 pm

Let me clarify-I did suggest that people boo Avery at the next game. Don’t do that. That was classless on my part to suggest it-I’m frustrated by what I’m seeing this team do to itself. But frankly, I get the sense that fans will be booing if the Mavs stink it up-they’ve done so in the past. It happens at every game when the home team gets blown out of the building.
Anyway,ric rules- You pointed out that this play system works for the Spurs. Yes, but the Mavs are not the Spurs, which is one reason why it fails. We don’t have a decent center-Damp is awful. Our pf is a nontraditional pf who prefers perimeter shooting. Our bench doesn’t contribute anything. We made a huge trade for a guard that doesn’t fit in. We have a sad squad- Popovich would try to make some adjustments rather than staying with what has proven to be a failure.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 3:00:15 pm

Spurred1,

Your frustration is understandable and shared by anyone who really loves this team. I’m impressed that you’re able to take a step back and realize that booing Avery isn’t the right thing to do.

I say, if this team tanks tonight’s game like they did the last two, go ahead and boo. Boos are more generally directed at the whole franchise, rather than singling out one person.

But if they fight hard and lose, we need to just resign ourselves to the fact that this team is poorly constructed, and simply not up to the task of high-level playoff performance.

By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 3:00:23 pm

Well guys, from reading the most recent comments, responding to me and Free Dirk, i have to say, everyting is still the same! A bunch of comments saying the same things, repeating the same facts and stats over and over again. The reasons you all have point more to Donnie Nelson being the problem. Yet you still want to shift it all on Avery for some reason. Its not about convincing me, and its not about me convincing you. What i am saying is, if you want Avery gone, come up with a logical reason for that to happen. Saying that we lost a game or lost a game in the playoffs, or regurgitating what you have heard on sports talk radio or television, well thats simply not good enough. You wanna look at the Rockets DB? Ok lets look at them, they have not gotten out of the first round, and even with a new coach, who i respect very much, they still dont look like they will get out of the first round. But the difference between the Rockets and our Mavs, is that the Rockets have the players with the ability to play on both ends of the court. I think it is clear we do not have the defensive talent the Rockets do, and our players dont have the same drive to win as theirs do. What exactly is Avery supposed to do to motivate these players? Take them all to six flags, or a movie? Im sorry but when you are on a team that makes the playoffs and you make multiple millions for an 82 game season, i dont believe you should have to depend on the coach to motivate the players. Avery says all the right things, he keeps his compusre tries to express to his team that they should have conifdence in themselves. What else should he do? If a player is tuning out the coach he should be punished not the coach. Like i have said numerous times, Averys philosiphy is a winning philosiphy! And to take a comment by Dirk, and put words in his mouth, even admitting that you are putting words in his mouth, claiming to be able to read between the lines of another mans thoughts, well that just sounds to pshycic hotline to me. I saw nothing in the comments from Dirk that would hint to him not paying attention or caring what Avery has to say.

You cant argue the facts, and the facts are the iso, giving Dirk the ball and running the offense through him took us to 67 wins a finals appearance before that. Sounds like it worked just fine to me. So like all other professional sports, other teams and coaches will figure out what you are doing and adjust to it. SO we bring in Kidd a compitent point gaurd who creates open shots for those around him. Well now our shooters, with the exception of Dirk, will not hit the open shots created for them. Seems to speak to the fact that Dirk and Kidd are trying to win and everyone else is just lack luster with their attitudes about winning.

Im not saying your wrong for having your own opinions, but your theories and reasoning are weak, and easily overturned. I am no genius, but when i respond to the comments on here you might think i am, reading with an impartial attitude of course.
it has become clear to me that this is just a frustration venting website, full of comments that have no real logic to them.

Come on, cant anyone say something that hasnt already been said? I am not seeing it, and it just proves more and more that i am one of the few reasonable people posting on this site.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 3:31:07 pm

Both sides have some valid points. That’s why I’m saying this situation is complex and more confusing than we’d like it to be.

I think Johnson’s philosophy has proven to be effective, defensively and offensively, in most cases. No coach’s philosophy is so bulletproof that his team won’t lose games at times, even important games.

He was instrumental in our 67-win season, and in our trip to the finals the previous year, as were some of the players. He was also instrumental in the embarrassing breakdowns this team had in its last two playoff series, as were the players.

Johnson is still a promising coach, I think, but he simply didn’t have the requisite experience or training to deal with the high-stakes adjustments game that is the NBA Playoffs. The team overachieved, until we met up with two coaches whose superior experience exploited both Avery’s and our roster’s weaknesses.

I believed this four years ago, and I still believe it just as firmly as I did then:

Anything short of a team structured around Nash and Nowitzki complemented by strong interior and defensive presence and two or three more good shooters, overseen from the GM chair by Don Nelson, is a failure on Mark Cuban’s part to make prudent decisions about his franchise, and puts this team in a position where, in order to succeed, they have a lot to overcome.

I think that, given time to gain more playoff coaching experience with a truly solid roster and Don Nelson and Del Harris as consultants, Avery Johnson and our team would be in a far better position now. But chasing away Nash and Don Nelson pulled the rug out from under what was shaping up to be a very strong team.

Cuban thought he and Donnie could pull it off, and my ultimate best guess is that they couldn’t, and that’s why we are where we are today.

By Spurred1 on Apr 25, 2008 at 3:45:29 pm

Greg,
There has to be someone that will take Howard. Damp and Kwame Brown both have the same level of talent, no one in hell would take Damp and his contract.My four year old nephew would have more success than Damp-he’s very aggressive. But isn’t there anyone who might be interested in Howard or Terry? We could have gotten Maggette for Terry a few months ago, except that Donald Sterling vetoed it. I get why ric rules thinks that Avery’s stale formula works, since the Spurs use it. However, we do not have the team for this type of play. Who gets the blame? Let’s see:
Donnie Nelson- Partially responsible-helping making these trades and contracts for players that don’t work well.
Avery- He has one mindset, the players don’t have it. He can’t adjust and the players won’t. Seems like a deadlock.
Cuban- Attracts so much negative attention due to his idiotic antics. He makes people want to root against the Mavs. I know he loves the sport and the team, but he is contributing to the problem. He’s better off sitting in his VIP box; players have asked him to do so-he won’t. He gives crappy players big contracts (Damp).
The team- The players don’t look like they give a crap about the games. We’ve got Dirk and Bass contributing and trying. That’s it. Some of you expect Dirk to take 30-35 shots a game and win the game all by himself. Sorry, he’s an amazing player, but he is not Kobe or LeBron. He is not an athletic freak of nature. He needs players that are capable of contributing. Kidd can’t contribute, but Howard and Terry should be able to. Why the hell aren’t they?

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 3:46:39 pm

We should’ve had Devin Harris spending his first 4 or 5 seasons playing backup PG and studying under Nash. Harris had a lot of promise, but like everyone else in this franchise, was put in a ridiculous, compromised position after the Nash/Nelson Mistakes.

I mean, come on. Nash plays like the best PG in the league while he’s here, then gets let go and PROVES he’s worth paying more than any other PG at the time, and Cuban/Nelson, Jr. put Harris in the position to try and fill that void as an inexperienced young player? Ridiculous, in addition to putting Nowitzki in the position to start learning to create all his own shots, when his incredible development as a player had, up to that point, been spent completely in tandem with Steve Nash’s playmaking abilities.

The events of that off-season were, in my mind, monumental f**k-ups that Mark Cuban will never live down. The Kidd trade was his last-ditch attempt at living it down, and I don’t think it’s going to work. Too little, too late.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 3:53:14 pm

Spurred1,

Good points. I think that, while Dirk is a very different type of player than Kobe or LeBron, he’s still on the same level in terms of value to a franchise.

Like Kobe or LeBron, he is a player around whom a successful team can structure their entire offensive approach, and around whom opposing defenses will have to structure their approaches.

But even Kobe, LeBron, Shaq, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, etc., etc., couldn’t do what people are expecting Dirk to be able to do, which is carry this team night after night, game after game. Dirk has, in fact, done a more admirable job of that on his own than any of those others have been able to. Compare the success of Dirk-led teams with less-than-stellar supporting casts to Kobe’s, Garnett’s, LeBron’s, or T-Mac’s. He took those teams further than any of those other guys were able to take theirs.

By Spurred1 on Apr 25, 2008 at 4:06:49 pm

FreeDirk,
I wasn’t taking away from Dirk or his abilities. He’s very valuable-he’s not a typical big man, though. What I think the Mavs should have done was look for a legitimate center, one who could score in the post. Avery trying to turn Dirk into a post scorer isn’t going to work. Dirk is nearly 30 and ten years into his career. He is a shooter, and Avery should have worked with that and tried to adjust accordingly. That is not entirely Avery’s fault. No one got the players who could do that. Al Jefferson comes to mind as that type of player.
Does anyone work with Dampier to try to make him any better? Someone needs to remind him what he’s there for.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 4:39:46 pm

Spurred1,

I have the same questions about Dampier. It’s hard for me to imagine that his coaches haven’t done their best to maximize his value to the team, which leaves me with the conclusion that he’s just kind of a head case, and the world has seen the best he has to offer.

I always talk about the tragedy of Nash’s departure, and when I do that, it’s with the added complaint that all we ever needed to do was complement Nash/Nowitzki’s strengths with a solid inside/defensive presence. So, I agree with you there, too.

It all made so much sense before Nash and Nelson were gone: Bring in a fresh new coach who has studied under both Popovich and Nelson, who will implement a stronger emphasis on defense, while still taking advantage of the offensive prowess of Nash and Nowitzki. Build a better defense with the help of Nelson’s great ability to find talent.

So, yeah, why were we unable to find a single valuable center? I think Diop would have made an excellent backup to someone who is a little stronger than him. The first time I saw Tyson Chandler play, I wondered why we never made a move for him or someone like him. Al Jefferson, sure. I haven’t done enough research to point to exactly the guys we would’ve had a chance at and should’ve made moves for, but surely there was SOMEONE. Dampier is like Shawn Bradley, in terms of his overall production, but way more frustrating, because he has all the physical traits to be so much better. He’s a head case.

Cuban/Nelson, Jr. forced their coaching staff to stretch Dirk way out of his comfort zone, to stretch Harris way out of his comfort zone, and by extension to put more pressure on the entire team to do more than they should’ve been expected to, with their particular skills and abilities.

It’s certainly not entirely Avery’s fault, and I suspect it’s not his fault, at all. Do you think that, with Avery’s system, he wouldn’t have LOVED to have a tough defender/shot-blocker at the 5-spot? It’s not Avery’s job to find talent.

It is his job to do the best he can with what he’s got, but his bosses have given him such a difficult equation to solve. Having said that, I would really like to have an answer to these same questions:

1. Why do we pay Tyronn Lue to suit up, but still use Jason Terry as our 2nd team PG?? Why?!?

2. Why do we structure our defensive strategy around something that neither we, nor anyone else in the league (except Utah, maybe), can pull off: neutralizing Chris Paul? It won’t happen. We just need to focus on defending the rim and effective rotation on the mid-range shooters and Peja.

3. The stylistic headbutting between Kidd/Avery is already really, really old to me. Why haven’t the powers that be just sat down and made a hard decision about it? Either we play to Kidd’s strengths and try to structure our offense (and our defense, to an extent) around an open-floor approach, or we do what we’ve done to all these other guys, anyway, which is ask Kidd to stretch his abilities beyond what he’s used to having to do. Why can’t we, at least, employ some motion offense to give Kidd opportunities to do his thing? This is where I disagree with many of the fierce Avery supporters. If he is in fact simply insisting on running a heavily Iso-based offense, then he needs to be more adaptable than that. Period. If we’re going to continue this Iso-based offense, we might as well have Harris’ speed over Kidd’s superior ability to see the floor. Frustrating.

By Spurred1 on Apr 25, 2008 at 4:52:18 pm

I thought that Kidd was being brought in specifically to take over and run the floor. I keep reading that the Mavs don’t have athletic enough players to finish or for Kidd to run with. Well, Dirk did plenty of running with Nash, he’d be fine with Kidd. Howard should be able to finish, but he’s not for whatever reason.(Side note-Howard has admitted on radio shows that he smokes pot in the offseason, but it does not affect his game.I think he’s smoking right now.)
The Kidd/Avery playstyle conflict should have been addressed before the trade. It would make sense to consider possible problems as well as benefits of trades. Guess no one did that. The FO gets the blame for that.
I don’t know anything about Lue, but if he has a remote chance of keeping up with Paul, try it. I can’t understand why Avery wants Terry to handle the ball so much. He simply can’t do it.He’s proven it countless times. So have Lue handle it and Terry score. Terry is starting tonight, according to the DMN blog, I believe.
The Mavs probably thought that Chandler was a head case, due to past problems on former teams. Maybe that’s why they didn’t pick him up. At this point, I don’t care if a guy is borderline psychotic as long as he can play well. Ron Artest would be a terrific addition to this team-he scores and defends.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 5:33:46 pm

I was working as a Concierge in a luxury apartment building in LA once, about two years ago, when Ron Artest came in to ask me where the nearest Target and 24-Hr Fitness were.

Of course, knowing what we all know about him, and faced with his ridiculous size and build up close and personal, I was terrified at first to talk to the guy.

But I gotta say: He was soft-spoken, polite, and gracious. Totally irrelevant, I know, but an interesting anecdote, I guess.

Also met Mike Tyson. He came in one night around 1 am with Jamal Rashid, a known pimp and drug dealer who lived in the building. They reeked of good chronic and had two very obvious upscale LA hookers with them. That was pretty terrifying, too, but Tyson said, not looking directly at me, (imagine his voice) “Could you pleeth unlock the elevateth?”

Anyway, some mildly funny anecdotes…

Back to business: Maybe Avery is planning to give Lue a shot tonight, since Terry is starting. Hope it’s not too late for him to be comfortable with the team and the offense. Here’s some info on Lue from his wikipedia page:

“Lue excelled in the 2001 playoffs. Due to his quickness, he was specifically used to guard Allen Iverson during the NBA Finals. With his help, the Lakers won the second of three consecutive titles.”

Seems to me that he might be the most obvious choice for a Maverick that has any hope of staying in front of Chris Paul. He’s never been anything more than a very solid backup PG, but isn’t that what we need?

If Howard smokes pot in the off-season, I have a really hard time believing he’s able to completely abstain during the season. Just my opinion, but nevertheless, that shouldn’t affect his play, as long as he’s not high during the games or partying late nights before games. There’s no excuse for the useless minutes he’s been giving us.

By mrtwister on Apr 25, 2008 at 5:36:03 pm

According to the NBA.com Game Preview for tonight’s game, Lue is hurt? First I had heard about it.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 5:38:43 pm

The obvious problem with the Lue issue is that, when he’s in the game we gain a more capable defender on Paul, but we also lose having a PG who can possibly counter Paul’s assist production. Lue is a pretty good passer, but not near the level of Kidd or Paul.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 5:39:38 pm

I hadn’t heard that yet. Guess that answers that question!

By Spurred1 on Apr 25, 2008 at 5:42:32 pm

I think Ron Artest has mellowed a bit over a year or so. I honestly would not mind having him on the team as long as he stays out of trouble. Sac will really want to keep him, though.
Tyson’s a scary fellow, and he’s got the record to prove it. Artest is nuts, but he doesn’t scare me the way Tyson does.
I think Howard admitted his pot use to point out that it really doesn’t harm anyone. It does kill brain cells, though. He is showing increasingly poor judgment both on and off the court. We’ve got Stack wanting to fight Scott, Howard admitting to smoking pot-what’s next, Dirk admitting he likes to kill people?

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 5:43:51 pm

How about Dirk admitting he likes to smoke pot, because he does.

By Dick Chambers on Apr 25, 2008 at 5:43:55 pm

I just want to let all the mavericks fans who are attending tonight’s game at the AAC, it’s time to rise up. Throughout times in our great nation’s history, there have been situations were the people stood up and said, “enough is enough”. During the riots following the rodney king arrest, the boston tea party, and vietnam war protests. This my friends, I hope I’m not reaching here, just might be the time to stand up. I feel that a mob mentality is healthy based on the appropriate situation and nature of prior events. I was involved in the rioting and looting during those Dallas cowboys parades in downtown dallas. We were justified then that no public institution (public schools) should tell us to be in class while other fans got to enjoy it. Once again “enough was enough”.

Violence is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. We will begin chanting “Fire Avery!, Fire Avery!” right after tip-off. We plan to chant “Fire avery, fire avery!” during timeouts. This being the nationally televised 2nd game of a triple-header, and knowing full well that most people will be tuned in from the mid to late fourth quarter as they get ready for the suns-spurs game, we are asking that everyone in the arena, join our thousands, and make the decision to fire avery come as soon as the game is finished.
We would appreciate huge signs, with large font (preferably held by women so as to get more attention from the nationally televised cameras). On a final note, if the mavericks do end up losing the game, barring any miracles, We are asking that you chant “Avery must go!, Avery must go!, Avery must go!” as you exit the arena from any side, at your convenience.

Once again, We look forward to and appreciate your time and assistance in this matter. Thank you…

By mrtwister on Apr 25, 2008 at 5:54:08 pm

Yeah, I hadn’t heard about it either. But that just begs the question, what about Jose? Hive the boy a chance, what do you have to lose?

By Spurred1 on Apr 25, 2008 at 5:56:21 pm

Free Dirk,
Hope you’re kidding that Dirk likes to smoke pot. If he does, I hope he keeps that revelation to himself. Avery has to be pretty annoyed with this latest situation. Do you think he’ll bench Howard?

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 6:24:06 pm

Dick Chambers,

Let me be the first to let you know that you are reaching. This is not the future of America’s political, economic, or cultural landscape at stake here. Get a hold of yourself.

I’m pretty convinced this team is doomed, but I’m still pulling for them to do something miraculous. I don’t think I’m alone, and I’m sure most of the people who have paid big money for their seats would like to see a win.

If you and others show up and chant, “Fire Avery,” you’re automatically working against the team and the coach in tonight’s game. I’m well aware that YOU THINK you’re acting in the best interest of the franchise’s near future, but your plan couldn’t be more pointless. Everyone’s well aware that thousands of fans are opposed to Avery Johnson.

There is nothing remotely productive about showing up and embarrassing yourselves and the city of Dallas. All you’ll succeed in doing is distracting the coach and players from the task at hand tonight: winning this game.

I’m a pretty dedicated civil libertarian myself, but inciting violence in the streets of Downtown Dallas over an argument about an NFL team’s victory parade? Come on, dude. Get a hold of yourself.

Petty, pointless, misguided, classless, embarrassing, damaging, ineffective. That’s what your little delusion of grandeur is.

By Come on now on Apr 25, 2008 at 6:27:58 pm

Dude,

Obviously the guy is just kidding.. loosen up man..

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 6:30:47 pm

If he was, I guess it wasn’t so obvious to me. The sarcasm didn’t translate within the context of a website built for any crazy a$$ off the street to voice his half-cocked opinions.

By FreeDirk on Apr 25, 2008 at 6:33:13 pm

I’ll loosen up (about the Mavs) when this team starts winning some playoff games.

By MFFL on Apr 25, 2008 at 8:34:23 pm

Seriously, some of you who don’t think Avery has no part in this team’s downward spiral are deluding yourselves. Yes he won a lot of games his first few years as a coach, but do tell me another coach that got such a high caliber team for their first gig??
Fire Avery, and TRUST, we can’t do worse!

By DB on Apr 26, 2008 at 11:46:17 am

By looking at the Rockets, I meant look at how much difference Addelman makes versus Van Gundy. JVG didn’t get them out of the first round with a healthy roster. Addleman may not, but he doesn’t have Yao, either. They finished with a better record than the Mavs without their center. I’m saying, while the team and/or players may be perfectly capable and competent in one system, they might really shine in another. If Avery is really the caliber coach they say he is, he would be equally successful every season, provided he has essentially the same roster. His erratic substitution patterns and one-dimensional system aren’t the best for the personnel he has. I don’t see him as being composed, either. I see him stomping around, screaming, and trying to orchestrate every little aspect of the game from the sidelines. I think, like last season, he just drains the life out of the team.