Thursday Notes
April 24th, 2008 Posted in Avery JohnsonJust a couple of quick links for today.
Read this quote from Dirk about Avery taking the blame carefully.
“A coach is always going to do that to protect his players, but the players have to ultimately be out there and get the job done,” Dirk said. “Whatever the systems are or whatever the defense is, we’ve got to scramble more and we’ve got to make some stuff happen out there. It’s really up to every player to get himself ready and get himself fired up for this big game.”
I like the part where he says that have to play “whatever the systems are.” There’s a good chance I’m putting words into his mouth, but it sounds like Dirk’s not too happy with the offensive game plan so far.
Jennifer Floyd Engel has some interesting thoughts on Cuban’s and Avery’s relationship right now, along with a FireAvery.com shout out.
Let’s start with Avery because he is the guy everybody seemingly wants to fire. www.fireavery.com was humming Wednesday as was much of the blogosphere.
Interestingly, neither blogmaverick nor Mark Cuban has jumped into the argument with a heartfelt defense of Avery. He’s not souring on his coach, is he?
This is something to watch, especially if this series stays on its present course. A divorce might be coming, by mutual agreement.
Bob Sturm from BaD Radio on The Ticket had this to say about making adjustments between games 1 and 2.
Seriously, have any “between game adjustments” ever gone any worse? You had 72 hours to figure out the Chris Paul riddle, and that is what you came up with? I think we can all agree that wouldn’t qualify as a real precise adjustment. Avery may not have the personnel to handle certain complicated deployments, but by now, Avery should be aware of what he has to work with, and if he can’t make those pieces fit well enough together to hold New Orleans below 127 then you may need to fire your coach.
That’s what it comes down to right now. If Avery can’t figure out something to do against this team over the next few games, he has to go, doesn’t he? This will be three straight series that he’s been out coached, all during Dirk’s prime.
Henry Abbott with TrueHoop thinks hard fouls on Chris Paul are going to be part of the plan for tomorrow night.
The Mavericks had plan A to stop Chris Paul, and it failed, so they went to plan B.
That failed, too.
So now they soul search a little.
Without having the slightest clue what Avery Johnson and the Mavericks have been thinking, I would assume that one of the things on the table is the same thing that teams threw at Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and everybody else who has ever been able to carry a team to a playoff series win.
Hard fouls.
A lot of teams would consider that.
I’m going to be at the game tomorrow, so I’ll put up a game three post where you guys can talk about the game. And a big thanks to everyone helping to spread the word about this site. The last two days have had the most views since the site has been up. Keep spreading the word, leaving comments and letting everyone know that it’s time to fire Avery.
Loading ...
Subscribe to the RSS feed
35 Responses to “Thursday Notes”
By drew on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:02:59 pm
This is what needs to happen Game 3, first the starting lineup:
Dirk Nowitzki
Erick Dampier
Jason Terry
Brandon Bass
Jason Kidd
And here are my reasons:
Dirk Nowitzki as always should start. He’s been the only consistent player to score. His defense still lacks but he’s never been a huge defensive player.
Erick Dampier is not a scorer but if Kidd finds him down low and he learns to post up a little better, Erick can be a better all round player if he learns to not foul as often.
Jason Terry should start instead of Josh Howard. Josh I think was in Dallas the past two games. He starts out hot and then just fizzles away. Perhaps bring him into the game starting half way through the first period or maybe start the second period when the Hornets starters are resting, perhaps this will help keep or take the lead if they’re down or the game is close. His (Howard) defense just sucks altogether so he needs to just drive to the basket, draw the foul and hopefully score. The Hornets have no big blockers, the Mavs should not have such a problem driving the ball to score or draw the foul each and every time.
Brandon Bass plays very little minutes but can score. He can post up down low and he seems like he’s the only one who actually follows up to retrieve the offensive board if he misses. Second chance points when you only shoot 30% field goals can actually help, I promise, it really can.
Jason Kidd needs to drive and shoot more. Yeah, he’s not the scorer he use to be but damnit, stop thinking about the assist and help the team if no one else is making shots.
Players that should stay on the bench are Eddie Jones and Juwan Howard. Yeah, they were good 5 years ago but they should do their part on the bench as veterans, where they’re more effective. Each time Jones came onto the court it seemed he caused some type of turnover. Sure he can hit 3’s but everyone expects that so he’s never open, old and slow.
To stop Paul though, they need to make him pick up the ball when they double team him but also make sure to cover any guys camping outside the 3 point perimeter. I can’t believe how many open 3’s the Hornets have made cause Dampier is out trying to double team a guy half his size and about 100 times faster. Dampier just needs to camp next to the guy he’s guarding.
I think the only thing going for the Mav’s is the Hornets haven’t won in Dallas since 1998. This doesn’t help the Mavs when they don’t have home court advantage.
The Mavs have more experience, are more talented and should be breezing past Chris Paul and the other newbies.
And as for Avery, every coach is to blame for every loss. That’s their job. They also get credit for wins. My uncle is a high school basketball coach who’s been on 2 state championship teams. He once said, no matter what, the coach is always to blame.
If Avery can’t get past the Hornets, I say give him a half a season next year with the team unchanged, so they can really adjust to Kidd accordingly without picking up a new quarterback half way through a season. If they still fail to beat .500 plus teams (something they were doing quite well before Kidd), give him the boot and bring in a new coach. Beating .500 or less teams doesn’t win championships.
By Ho Chi Many on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:08:47 pm
Drew, you had me until your last paragraph. You’re suggesting we piss away another season with Avery at the helm and the same players in the mix? Dude, our one reliable player, Dirk, is not getting younger, how can we afford to let another season pass without any substantive change?
By Sam on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:12:48 pm
No way do we go into 2009 with the same cast of characters. Cuban will never settle for the lifeless/clueless performance he’s seeing from this team.
By The Aristocrat on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:19:09 pm
Rest assured that Dirk isn’t the only Maverick who’s reached the conclusion that Avery’s insipid system of iso’s doesn’t have the magic he thinks it does. Trying to work everything through Dirk as opposed to properly setting Dirk up is a horribly flawed strategy.
He’s a scorer, not a playmaker. Say it over and over again until you get it. Playmakers can create their own shot; scorers need to be set up. Avery is an idiot for trying to make Dirk be either a playmaker or a great passer. He’s neither. But he’s a hell of a scorer if put in the right system.
This coach is incredibly arrogant to think that a) his system works with this group and b) that this group hasn’t already formed its own opinion on the folly of his system. You think the heartless way they’re playing is any indication of their level of conviction?
By aj on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:20:09 pm
greg, thanks for putting up a site where we could vent about Avery, and and i put up a couple of “go to fireavery.com” on some blogs.!
By Fred Krueger on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:20:40 pm
Right on, Drew.
The only problem I could see is Bass getting into foul trouble early because of his inability to defend properly. But there is a counter argument just like there is with anything. We will just have to see.
I think the bottom line is that Kidd needs to dominate. I was at the last season game and it was great. I had been to a few games and my girl and I were PRAYING we’d see Kidd’s 100th at one of them, We were happy when we did and the place blew up! I was sitting by Hornets fans who were pissed!
Kidd needs to run it and get back in his low post also.
I like seeing dirk take it to the rim. That is key also.
I think we have a shot. Maybe the last home win will rekindle the fire that was started on that last season home game.
Pray. Hope. Believe.
GO MAVS!
By selke99 on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:26:49 pm
Ah, remember the days when J-Ho would provide so much energy? He would follow his own shots up, get a handful of offensive rebounds, hustle for loose balls and steals. What happened to that guy?
By Cha Cha on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:30:13 pm
selke99…he got paid. That’s what happened to him.
Then he proved himself to be a guy with very little heart. With his body and skills, it’s so obvious what he should do…drive to the rim over and over, punish with a few (very few) jumpers and play crazy ass defense.
He knows this is the formula. Doesn’t have the heart to execute it.
By Fred Krueger on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:31:51 pm
That JHo is dead…
Also I have a friend who goes clubbin with Josh and she says he gets out of control. In fact he’s having a pool party or something this next week. She says he parties hard and everyone teases him saying “Is that why you lose your games” and he just laughs.
I read an article about him smoking pot in the offseason and he was admitting it. I bet he does it during the season too. He should see by now it kills your brain…
and your jump shot
and your slashing
and any knowledge of basketball.
No kidding, we need to trade him to Memphis for Mike Miller and take him away from the talent that he’s bringing down here in Dallas.
By DB on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:38:45 pm
Paul plays to his strenghts of quickess and ballhandling. Why doesn’t Kidd play to his second advantage when they can’t run the ball? He’s 6′4″ and 220#, while Paul is 5′11″ and maybe 190#. Put him in the post and let him beat Paul silly scoring down low and maybe get him in foul trouble.
And, Larry Brown resigned from the 76ers today.
By Fo Real?! on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:40:29 pm
Fred, you serious? He’s partying during the season and laughing about the results?
Too much money = too much chronic = too little effort
By drew on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:40:32 pm
Ho Chi Many:
I’m not saying piss away another season. What I’m trying to say is the trade half way through the season was a bad idea. Avery needs to adjust to Kidd’s playing style. The team needs to learn to work with him, not Kidd learn to adjust to the rest of the team and Avery.
When Harris arrived at NJ, the coach told him, “this is your team” and he took to that. That’s what Kidd did while he was there and it worked better for the team. I honestly see how Avery thinks this is his team but there are limits when it comes to coaching. Let the players make some of the decisions. You can draw out as many plays as you want but as a player, if you see that plan fail at anytime while executing, it’s time to take matters into your own hands, re-adjust on the fly to make it work for you.
Point Guards are like Quarterbacks. They should have a say in calling the shots. They’re not on the sidelines, they’re right smack in the middle of the game.
I think the team could go far as they are, unchanged physically but there needs to be other changes. I honestly think Kidd could make Dampier better and a lot of the other players. It does seem though that Josh Howard hasn’t adjusted but then again, it does seem like he’s non-existent after the first quarter. Maybe he should drink some Red Bull instead of water or whatever they have for them.
And again, keep Eddie Jones off the damn court, his job is to keep the seat warm for the starters, hand out towels and drinks to the players. He has contributed absolutely nothing to this team and he’s got more playing time than Jose Juan Barea. I’d rather see him out there than Eddie Jones. Jones and Juwan Howard play like they’re just out there for a paycheck, they don’t care if they win or lose.
And Josh Howard should be the 6th man who plays the 2nd quarter, get a quick 15 points and then watch the guys who keep their head in the game for the remainder of the game.
By Ho Chi Many on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:51:19 pm
Drew,
You think this coach is going to allow the flexibility and freedom for Kidd that you’re describing? I mean, really, Avery is going to give up control? Control is the warm blanket of on insecure ego. And he ain’t gonna give it up.
By Da Killa on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:54:58 pm
Go Ho Chi,
If we want Kidd to have the freedom to improvise like an on court leader, we’re going to need a coach who can foster that environment. That coach isn’t Avery.
DK
By drew on Apr 24, 2008 at 4:56:01 pm
Ho Chi Many:
That’s when Mark and company fire him. Like I said, some changes need to occur. Avery has a boss, several above him in fact. If he can’t prove to win with a HOF point guard starting from a fresh season, then he’s got to go and they can bring in a coach that has more experience and pick up things on the fly, faster than the rookie Avery could.
By Ho Chi Many on Apr 24, 2008 at 5:01:54 pm
I guess we’re in agreement. I would just fire him immediately after the NO series so that I save myself a half-season of unrequieted optimism next year, which after firing him midway, means I’ve given up a full season.
By drew on Apr 24, 2008 at 5:03:22 pm
I try to stay with an open minded approach. Sure, Avery got a new point guard half way thru a season. I could easily see how hard it would be to adjust a whole team to one guy rather than have that guy adjust to how the team’s been playing all season before he arrived.
That’s why if they piss off this season which it’s turning out, starting next season with more adjustments with new point guard could prove worthy, despite the coach.
Honestly I think Avery can be a good coach. Hell, look at his record as a coach. He took them to the finals for the first time and we all know who really won that series.
We don’t know what goes on in the locker room, we only see their faces and what they say on camera. Interviewing the players during the game and after the game always reminds me of the movie “Bedazzled” when he wishes he’s a pro basketball player, it’s all the same mumbo jumbo crap every player says.
Unless there’s a really good replacement out there who has proven to pick up a team right where they left off, a new coach could also be disaster and we’d just end up pissing away the next season no matter.
I honestly say, keep the team and coach, if we start losing to the .500 plus teams in first month, start looking for that replacement.
By Carl on Apr 24, 2008 at 5:08:16 pm
Drew…I think you’re giving Avery too much credit.
“We all know who really one that series…”…hell yes, we know, the Miami Heat won that series and the Dallas Mavericks, under Avery Johnson, lost it. Then they fumble their way with Golden State last year.
How is it we still think this guy is a good coach? If we do, we’re acting with the same urgency as the team that’s spiraling into mediocrity.
By drew on Apr 24, 2008 at 5:09:59 pm
I would almost vote to trade off Josh Howard before hiring a new coach as well. I mean, honestly, let him get his 15 points in the first 10 minutes then yank him for the remaining of the game cause it’s like we only have 4 players when Josh is playing in the 3rd and 4th quarters.
All the players got new shiny contracts at the beginning of the season. That spells disaster for most teams. They’re getting paid better, they don’t have to play as hard any longer. The only player who seems to stay consistent is Dirk. Bass makes less than a million a year, he hustles cause he wants to prove himself to make more and play more. If he stepped up his defense, he seems like he could be better than Josh. I actually like him more than Josh after this season.
By Carl on Apr 24, 2008 at 5:14:39 pm
I’d make both moves. Sh*tcan Avery and ship Josh somewhere else. J-Ho has worn out his welcome here; perhaps a new environment will inspire him to play with some passion on defense like he did 3 years ago and drive to the basket like he did 2 years ago.
I won’t miss either of them.
By drew on Apr 24, 2008 at 5:17:40 pm
Heat won cause Dwayne Wade was blowing Stern. I could pull out some serious conspiracy theories but honestly, the Heat series was such a joke on the ref’s part. When one guy from opposing team goes to the line more than the other team, there’s something seriously wrong.
The Mavs won 6 straight games against them and then lose 4 straight, most by just a few points in the last few minutes.
Now the Golden State series, I worried about them all season. We actually couldn’t beat them at all. Their coach mentored our coach and knew everything he was going to do. He knew what Dirk would do under every circumstance. It was like he had a carbon copy of Avery’s playbook. He told his team that the Mavs were the better team and they shouldn’t be there anyways. His approach worked, he beat it into his players heads to just go out and show no fear, so they did, and they won. Then they lost horribly in the next round. It was more revenge than anything on Nelson’s part against Cuban.
I just hate when people focus on one thing but don’t picture the whole package. This team and coach can work, I have faith. I feel they need to make their adjustments in the off season and if they can’t make it work, of course, the coach always goes first, not the team.
By Ho Chi Many on Apr 24, 2008 at 5:17:48 pm
Next year…
Larry Brown as coach. Dirk, Kidd and Bass as the keepers. And try to piece together a team that could make a run again by 2010.
By Carl on Apr 24, 2008 at 5:19:27 pm
ok, i’m out on this discussion…you introduce conspiracy crap and we can’t logically continue. good luck
By Fo Real!? on Apr 24, 2008 at 5:21:10 pm
Drew, good luck with that Mavs faith thing. Rub that wooden nickle often, see if you can make it shine. Facts are facts, man. And they aren’t on your side.
By Ho Chi Many on Apr 24, 2008 at 5:23:11 pm
So the Golden State mess was purely an example of Nelson genius?? Avery has no culpability??? He tried to go small ball with a small ball guru and a small ball team!! I wish that was Nelson being clever, but it was Avery being an idiot.
By Janet on Apr 24, 2008 at 6:01:50 pm
Yes they need to get rid of Avery….and Terry and Stackhouse and everyone else…except maybe Dirk…but if they keep Dirk they need to get a playmaking superstar and not one that is over the hill (Yes, I’m talking about Jason Kidd…he wasn’t doing a thing with the Nets in the sorry eastern conference and any point guard could do well on a team as nicely tooled…Lebron, Kobe, Carmello and Co…as Team USA)
When are you people going to get it…as much as Avery is to blame on the bottom line…getting rid of him is NOT going to make this a championship team…
This team needs…wow I wish I knew…or at least I wish one of you knew…
By T on Apr 24, 2008 at 6:06:35 pm
http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewforum.php?f=12
Josh Howard is a pot head and it is showing on the court now. Sure his stats are overall good but he is constantly making dumb decisions. Read the story a little over half way down the forum.
By T on Apr 24, 2008 at 6:13:58 pm
Its time to blow up the team starting with Avery. The Mavericks will probably win at home tonight and everyone will be drinking the Maverick’s Kool-Aid but they wont win this series. Mavs are old and worn out. Keep Dirk, Kidd , Damp and Bass. Bring in eight new young athletic players to surround them. They don’t need to be big names just have big potential and upside.
By sarcosuchus on Apr 24, 2008 at 9:40:25 pm
Drew, Avery refused to adapt to Dirk in all these *years* - what makes you think he’ll adapt to Kidd in the next half a season? All of a sudden he’ll be flexible? Not likely.
Time to blow this team up. The rot has well and truly set in. I always knew the window was closing as soon as Avery took over but I’m shocked to discover it closed nearly a year ago.
By drew on Apr 24, 2008 at 10:22:34 pm
Avery adapt to Dirk? It’s been Dirk’s team ever since Nash and Finley left. I give Avery some credit for trying to make Dirk a better all round player. It’s not all about scoring. Dirk is a scorer but honestly, I think he’s a better defensive player now and makes more assists but still actually needs some improvements if he’s the leader for this team.
And for Carl who says he’s out cause it can’t continue logically is just silly about the conspiracy theories. I’m actually all about logic. I honestly think those who just think Avery needs to be fired aren’t thinking logically, rationally or have never run a basketball team to understand the complexity that is probably involved. Just drawing the conclusion to fire someone this late into a season is just stupid, even if it’s Avery’s, Cubans or the players fault.
As much as I like Kidd, that trade would have been better during the off season. I think just a little more time is needed, it’s just too premature. Sure Avery seems to have made some stupid or illogical coaching moves lately but damn, personally I’d fire Josh Howard right now and get rid of the million dollar veterans who are wasting away cash for actual talent on the team if I actually had the power to do so.
By jp on Apr 24, 2008 at 10:50:50 pm
Drew are you actually watching some of the line-ups avery is playing, his offensive sets, the way the players are responding. If they go out in the first round, I would say avery goes and Josh Howard, eddie jones, the other howard, and stackhouse, they all suck. I don’t know how you can not ascribe the two biggest post-season collapses in all of basketball history in some way to avery johnson, certainly in terms of last year’s collapse against golden state, avery is to blame for changing his starting line-up, and reacting to what the eigth seed was doing, instead of imposing his gameplan on the other team. Also, the golden state warriors were the only team dallas did not have a winning record against in the western conference and they had a chance to knock them out of the playoffs and avery and his arrogance decided to rest his starters. Avery was a good motivator but it looks like the team is quitting on him.
By mrtwister on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:06:16 am
There is room for plenty of talent to join this team, financially. This season was a cash cow for a lot of people. Check out the following website.
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/dallas.htm
Once Bradley, Finley, Stackhouse, Howard X2 (Josh’s would need to be picked up by another team of course) and Jones’ salaries are removed, there’s plenty to use.
I say chase Jamison, Maggette or even Arenas. Gerald Green could develop into a great slasher and defender with some good coaching by the assistants. But make sure you have enough cash to acquire a decent back up centre cause Damp ain’t a 30 minute a night player and Bass would be great in the 4 spot.
By drew on Apr 25, 2008 at 6:34:39 am
No one can say if they lose this year it is a huge collapse in the playoffs. The Mavs are the 7th seed. I never expect a 7th seed to beat the 2nd seed, no matter what each records indicate. They won only 2 times against .500 plus teams after Kidd arrived. Anyone who thought this was their year is just crazy and should see a doctor.
I want the Mavs to advance each and every year, but after the Kidd trade, I knew I’d be waiting til next year before he was effective.
By ric rules on Apr 25, 2008 at 12:14:52 pm
Floyd Engel has my respect as a journalist, but even with her deep resources, her opinion is just that, an opinion!! She has no clue, just like the rest of us, what is going on behind closed doors. Yet to continue to bash the Mavs and Avery she will make these statements. As for Cuban not getting on here or anywhere else to defend his coach, well thats just weak. Why would he dignify this website or anyother saying similar things. Im not sure if he has been on here before or what, but it does not matter. I have been sifting through the past comments and main articles posted and none of them give any legitimate reason that Avery should be fired. And i believe that is one of the main objectives of this site, correct? It all sounds so much like a witch hunt, if i was Cuban i wouldnt dignify this either. As for the reporters more power to them, they do a great job all over the world, and especially in the metroplex, but they will always be looking to stir the pot. Looking for that next big breaking piece of news, and the sports world being the sports world you can double those efforts.
These are not opinions that should be taken seriously, unless one of the reports is citing unamed sources as their launching point. So far i have not heard that once this season. Avery and Cuban have yelled at eachother since day one, it means absolutley nothing. SOrry folks this is just not the right time to fire Avery, and barring a melt down by one of the more composed coaches in the league it is not going to happen this summer. Try again next season.
By MFFL on Apr 25, 2008 at 8:19:30 pm
I think this website should say “Fire Avery and Get rid of J-Ho!”
J-Ho needs to go! Maybe that could be another website. The only time he has any sort of passion is when he is getting his stupid technicals. I especially remember a game a while back when Terry was seen imploring him to play better…Terry kept saying, c’mon dude, c’mon!
Seriously, he actually said during an interview, it doesn’t matter if he’s making 5 out 20 shots or 7 out of 8 (or something asinine like that) as long as the Mavs win. J-HO - you’re supposed to be the second leading scorer, how are the Mavs supposed to win when you’re playing like that??? Obviously he’s been smoking pot a lot more these days.
I absolutely agree with comment above, if Memphis would allow it, we should get Miller for J-Ho! J-Ho is thinking he’s all that because he made one All-star appearance..and to think he was mad he didn’t get in this year too…that’s just too laughable. Get a clue dude!