Kidd calls Avery "crazy"

[Deus]

Kidd was stymied by Mavs' slowdown game
WIRE REPORTS
Article Launched: 06/29/2008 08:47:09 PM PDT

LAS VEGAS — The story was relayed by someone close to Jason Kidd in New Jersey, where Kidd returned after the disappointing end to the Mavericks' 2007-08 season.

During his career, Kidd has been accused of being a "coach killer," a label he has disputed. But he's aware of the talk, so when Avery Johnson was fired by the Mavericks, Kidd told a friend: "They can't blame that one on me. When I got there, the players all thought he was crazy. And he was."

Kidd smiled easily when the story was related to him Saturday after the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team went through its first practice.

When he joined the Mavericks after the Feb. 19 trade from the Nets, he thought Johnson would employ an up-tempo style that would take advantage of Kidd's considerable passing skills. Instead, he found that Johnson was a rigid coach who was a domineering presence on the sidelines.

"We ran the first couple of games," Kidd said. "And then we stopped. A lot of times, our offense was used to set up our defense. We slowed it down instead getting out and running and putting pressure on (opponents) after missed shots or even makes."

Kidd is at his best in the open court, operating without constraints and creating easy shots for teammates. But he found that he had little freedom with Johnson.

It was noted during the season that Kidd probably spent more time looking at the sidelines for instructions in three months under Johnson than he had combined in his 13-year career. When asked Saturday if he had any problem with that observation, Kidd said: "That's fair."

This makes me feel better about Josh Howard's complete collapse at the end of the season. Looks like Avery was more of a control freak than I thought.

[HMFFL]

scramm,

provide us with a link!

If you have time to copy the paragraphs you have time to copy/paste the source.

[Captain_Obvious]

What it comes down to is simple: Kidd was a terrible fit with Avery as headcoach. I think the team and Kidd grew with the experience of Avery and his gameplan. Its a lost year, but they learned a lot and shaped their skillset IMO. But ultimately it didnt took advantage of the strengths of both team leaders/gamechangers. Dirk rarely got enough room to operate one-on-one, Kidd got burried with slow paced set offense.

edit: Scratch that!

Anyone remember those two games at the end of the season against Lakers and Phoenix? We lost late against the Lakers after leading half the game and then couldnt hold onto our lead.
We were in the middle of the playoff hunt and Dirk came back from injury.
The Phoenix game, different signs, Phoenix leads all the way and loses it at the end. Somehow Avery gets the praise for reacting accordingly after Dirk takes over late and literally plays point forward one versus five. That was the moment when the franchise player, the team captain, broke with the philosophy of the coach and didnt give a damn about the rest of the team. Pure desperation time. I came to this forum and everyone was happy here about the win, but noone dared to say what did just happen. That was the moment when Avery had lost the team. The win was sweet for the fans, the media was praising Avery for reacting right just once in his coaching career and choosing players that can defend and sink open shots, because Dirk was playing one-on-five. Pure stupidity! Nothing sweet, just bitter for Avery.

Why this excursion? Because i have to agree with Kidd, the whole team thought he's crazy. Its that obvious! Of course its not professional to leak such info to the media, but it confirms resentments. Just in a couple of minutes in that Lakers game everyone could see how unbelievable talented Dirk really is. The ballhandling of Lamar Odom combined with the elite shooting of Ray Allen fitted in a seven foot body. When they let go of Nash they called it "addition by subtraction", what Avery did was "addition by amputation" and it turned out to be no addition at all. This is a crime for every real basketball fan! If thats not crazy, i dont know what is.

Avery, of course, should have been relieved of his duties way ... way before the playoffs, Cuban wanted to do it but realized its too late for the playoffs.

Avery failed miserable

PS: Im writing this because its too long on my mind now, i had to write it down just once. Maybe noone agrees, but these are my observations.

[hph6203]

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/730197.html

Googled for the link.

[Fastbreak5633]

Another thing to remember or consider about all this is that Avery constantly said things that gave u the idea he was anti to the idea of trading Kidd. He didnt seem enthused at all. And what Kidd was sayin explained why. Because his coachin style does compliment Kidds play. What the coach says or preaches doesnt equal what is best performed on the floor by the general point blank

[JES12]

Crazy? Really?

[studcrackers]

i dont really remember avery being against the kidd trade, i always got the feeling that he wasnt all that fond of harris and i think he wanted the trade as much as cuban

[Rand10]

Another thing to remember or consider about all this is that Avery constantly said things that gave u the idea he was anti to the idea of trading Kidd. He didnt seem enthused at all. And what Kidd was sayin explained why. Because his coachin style does compliment Kidds play. What the coach says or preaches doesnt equal what is best performed on the floor by the general point blank

Avery had veto rights on any trade. If he didn't like it he should have spoken up. And if I remember correctly, he was pushing for the deal to go through the whole time. He'll probably change his mind again if Kidd plays well next year.

[ppp000]

CaptainObvious interesting thoughts about the suns game.
I for one still remember all the ranting posts I wrote about Avery all year. He just wasn't a good fit, but thank god the lunatic is gone.

I definitely won't miss his ranting and raving on the sidelines every play. Nice pics JES12.

[studcrackers]

this is what i'll always remember about avery, i remember when it happened i laughed my ass off, probably wouldnt have been as funny had we not won that game

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gLV3a4CgYLE&feature=related

[dirkforpres]

Kidd>>>>>> Avery


It never seemed like the players had too much faith in his system, so Kidd can say whatever he wants.

[italy_23]

Anyone remember those two games at the end of the season against Lakers and Phoenix? We lost late against the Lakers after leading half the game and then couldnt hold onto our lead.
We were in the middle of the playoff hunt and Dirk came back from injury.
The Phoenix game, different signs, Phoenix leads all the way and loses it at the end. Somehow Avery gets the praise for reacting accordingly after Dirk takes over late and literally plays point forward one versus five. That was the moment when the franchise player, the team captain, broke with the philosophy of the coach and didnt give a damn about the rest of the team. Pure desperation time.
...
Why this excursion? Because i have to agree with Kidd, the whole team thought he's crazy. Its that obvious! Of course its not professional to leak such info to the media, but it confirms resentments. Just in a couple of minutes in that Lakers game everyone could see how unbelievable talented Dirk really is. The ballhandling of Lamar Odom combined with the elite shooting of Ray Allen fitted in a seven foot body. When they let go of Nash they called it "addition by subtraction", what Avery did was "addition by amputation" and it turned out to be no addition at all. This is a crime for every real basketball fan! If thats not crazy, i dont know what is.

Avery, of course, should have been relieved of his duties way ... way before the playoffs, Cuban wanted to do it but realized its too late for the playoffs.

Avery failed miserable

PS: Im writing this because its too long on my mind now, i had to write it down just once. Maybe noone agrees, but these are my observations.

I think you hit the nail there. I can only agree with you, avery should have been fired way before. I know many of you dont have the possibility to see dirk play for germany, but there he is allowed to be himself. and it pays off bigtime. he shoots way more 3pointers, is more on the perimeter and in his comfort zone. and he takes over games, decides games single-handedly. he took that team further than anyone could have ever expected. my biggest hope for next season is to see rick let dirk be dirk. and let kidd be kidd btw. if he can let them play their games, maximize their skills, I still think the mavs can compete with the very best.

[dirkforpres]

Ill never forget when Avery benched Kidd in the final minute in whatever game it was last season, but it was still close. I mean, thats why we traded for him. WTF?

[italy_23]

exactly, that time avery said that he wanted kidd to acclimate first, learn his "system" and then come in in crunch time. like kidd was a goddamn rookie. big lol. what a shame, mark sould have fired avery that day.

[studcrackers]

Ill never forget when Avery benched Kidd in the final minute in whatever game it was last season, but it was still close. I mean, thats why we traded for him. WTF?

yea i remember i didnt get to see that game but was driving home from work and people were pissed and befuddled by it then i watched the tape the next day.

it was vs. the spurs no less and avery not only kept out kidd initially but took another TO to set up a play and still didnt put kidd back in

[jwa1107]

THE ASTHMA FIELD IS OVER THERE!!!