Would anyone else want Avery Johnson as head coach??

[Nolsen31]

First of all I am so stressed about this whole moving situation, but I am praying we can keep the team, so how some way.

I was wondering how you guys would feel about having Avery Johnson as head coach, assuming eventually he well be leaving the Mavs. I think he is a good coach and can help us with D!

[djthesonicsfan]

If it was a choice between Avery & PJ it's Avery every time. But I'm actually thinking it should be Boston's assistant, Mr Tibs, as I've already stated in the Roster thread.

[BBen]

Put me down for Dwayne Casey. We as a city owe him a shot and I think he has a terrific basketball mind unlike PJ "I'm famous for getting strangled" Carlissimo.

[Ex-hippie]

On a young team like this, it might not be a bad idea. The knock on Johnson is that he's a control freak, and when you've got a team full of veterans who have already learned to play and win and contend for NBA titles, the players will bristle. But there might be merit in the idea of having the youngsters learn to do things right before they freelance. Maybe even Johnson and the players can all mature together -- Johnson can learn to relax as his bond of trust grows with Durant and the rest. There's no doubt that Johnson was a very smart player and knows the game extremely well. He seems born to coach, like Nate McMillan was, and it's a shame that it isn't working out in Dallas.

[big L]

I think he'd be a pretty good fit for bringing the young guys around, but not over the long haul.

[Nolsen31]

What about between Avery and Coach Mike D'ANtoni?? Just a couple years ago we all wanted some of Phoenix's assistants, I am also curious about this guy from Boston?

[colombianbrew]

My concern with D'Antoni would be having Durant develop in a zero defense system. I would prefer a coach would could educate him about being a complete player.

[BenjaminH]

Now that Avery is reportedly fired, I would be all for him.

When we wanted Phoenix's assistants, I take it, you (Nolsen) are referring to Iavoroni. We didn't think he would implement the same "7 seconds or less" offense. He was an assistant for more traditional coaching staffs before Phoenix. But seeing Memphis's (lack of) success this year, and Iavoroni's (seemingly nonsensical) rotations), I think it is a good thing we didn't sign him.

Columbia Brew, I think that D'Antoni would be a fine coach. I see your concern, but that could be easily remedied with a defensive assistant coach. Doc Rivers was never a great defensive coach, but the Celtics are one of (if not the) best defensive teams. This is because of Tom Thibodeau. And yes, Rivers was really smart to defer defensive systems to him. Say, if we got Dwayne Casey to be an assistant under D'Antoni, for example, I think that would be a perfect balance. Of course, I doubt we'll be able to retain both of them (or perhaps even either of them) ...

To be perfectly honest, I would be very surprised if we have a coaching change. Why would Presti fire PJ? I think that the best we can hope for is to improve our assistant coaching.

[djthesonicsfan]

To be perfectly honest, I would be very surprised if we have a coaching change. Why would Presti fire PJ? I think that the best we can hope for is to improve our assistant coaching.

Sadly, I have to agree with you. Although I'm all for trying to rock the boat as much as possible because PJ is a (Please Use More Appropriate Word) monkey.

[BBen]

It all depends on who owns the team. If Bennett retains ownership it's PJ and I don't care anyway. If it's Seattle ownership I would see Casey as a very viable option. Remember though that Avery Johnson played his first two seasons in Seattle.

[D5150]

^^^^^^

and that qualifies him how?

i dont care if he played his first two seasons in russia. is he a good fit moving forward? that is all i care about.

[SnoBrdrRob]

Avery Johnson over PJ any day of the week. Carlesimo sucks. Avery Johnson has proven ability as a team leader as a player in winning a championship with San Antonio, and took the Mav's to the finals his first year as coach. He would give the team credibility as the guy to lead this team. If you are going to take advise, you going to take it from somebody who has been there before or watched it?

[D5150]

and his team got bounced in the first round two seasons in a row while showing a total lack of toughness. he is the prototypical guy who comes in, pumps guys up, motivates, etc. then the players realize he just wont shut the hell up and they tune him out. are you shure that is the guy you want at the helm?

[BenjaminH]

I think your assessment is a bit hasty, D5150, and rather superficial.

I agree with you that Johnson talked a lot and motivated his roster immediately after he took over for Nelson. But he was pretty reserved during the Mavericks' season last year, which was one of the winningest seasons ever. Also, I never saw any evidence that his players tuned him out this season. They always seemed to respect him. You seem to be describing Scott Skiles more than Avery Johnson.

Sure, the criticism against Johnson is that his team has been knocked out in the first round the last two years. And I agree with that 100%. But that is not solely the coach's fault. I think his adjustments were usually pretty good, the players seemed adequately motivated, and so on. He is a pretty good coach qua coach.

(The only coaching criticism I can come up with this year is that it took him a while to figure out how his PG rotation. He never really figured out how to use Jason Kidd; Kidd did better in the less structured offense. Also, Johnson never really got the most out of Terry. Terry played the best when he was starting, though he also played extraordinarily well at the beginning of the season when Howard was injured. Not to mention, Terry was one of the late season saviors. I think that Johnson should have played Terry a lot more in the playoffs, though that would have been tough defensively against the Hornets' guards ... In any case, Johnson can't be entirely blamed for his guard rotation because of the late season Kidd trade and the constant injuries to the big-guard rotation.)

[D5150]

then why was he fired?

[BenjaminH]

Rhetorical questions are not arguments. Why do you think he was fired? I don't know why. I thought it was pretty surprising. Didn't you? As far as I could tell, there was no obvious reason. (I am asking you earnestly. This is not a tu quoque response.)

Perhaps it was just to make a major change, without a real problem with coaching, which teams occasionally do. (Perhaps the way George Karl left the Sonics. That is what I seem to remember, but I was very young then.) However, I think we can try to abduct a better reason.

We might speculate that the Mavericks fired Johnson because they want to adopt a different coaching philosophy. That is what I thought at first. Perhaps they want to move away from a defensive oriented team. Move away from a grind-it-out offense which depends on mismatches. That does not use Jason Kidd's skills very well. He plays better in a less structured offense. So, it made sense when there were rumors that the Mavericks were after D'Antoni. But with Carlisle, I don't know In any case, it is pretty safe to assume that a number of roster changes will follow. After we see the roster changes, perhaps we will get a better idea why Johnson was fired.

[D5150]

my response was not rhetorical in nature but rather an earnest and sincere attempt on my part to gleen insight and understanding into your thoughts on why he was fired.

but i think its obvious that something just wasn't "right" in dallas. mark cuban and donnie have put together a roster that has a small window of oprotunity to win it all. while the team was winning 50+ under johnson, they where not advancing in the playoffs. the ring is what the mavs are after, and when you get bounced in the first round two seasons in a row, the coach is likely the guy to be shown the door.

i think johnsons style would get old with the players pretty quick. christ, just the sound of that guys voice makes me want to stick an ice pick in my ear.

[wiff]

and his team got bounced in the first round two seasons in a row while showing a total lack of toughness. he is the prototypical guy who comes in, pumps guys up, motivates, etc. then the players realize he just wont shut the hell up and they tune him out. are you shure that is the guy you want at the helm?

I'd take Avery over PJ in a second.

At least the "Little General" motivates, PJ just sucks.

[BenjaminH]

D5150, at least we can definitely agree that something was misfiring if the team was eliminated in the first round two years in a row. Whether the problem was coaching, I don't know.

I guess where we might disagree is whether there is anything blameworthy in his coaching style. I agree, the sound of his voice is kind of annoying. But, again, I think you're describing Skiles more than Johnson. He seemed pretty reserved this season and it did not seem like his players tuned him out. In any case, this is pretty irrelevant. Something was misfiring.

Also, Wiff, I agree with you 100%. At least we know that Johnson is an above average coach and he has been successful. Specifically, I agree that he has been a successful motivator. Like you, I am still not sure what Carlesimo's positive qualities are.

[Dick Tate]

KJR had a Dallas beat writer on the morning before AJ was fired and he said Avery had lost the team during the playoffs. Josh Howard threw a birthday (pot?) party after AJ had asked him not to. The players also held their own practice without him after AJ had wanted them to take a day off.