Stein on Avery's job and JHo's Bday Party

[ppp000]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2 ... me5-080430


For Avery Johnson?

The Lil' General had to leave his hometown wondering if this 99-94 defeat, wrapping a 4-1 series rout for Scott's New Orleans Hornets, was an elimination game in the most literal sense.

"This is tough for me," Johnson conceded afterward, not specifically responding to a question about his job security but struggling to contain his disappointment after the Dallas Mavericks' second straight flameout in the first round.

"Obviously this is where I was born and raised."

It would defy weeks of ominous signals if N'awlins didn't also wind up as the backdrop for Johnson's last game on the Mavericks' bench. ESPN.com reported after Dallas' victory over New Orleans in the regular-season finale on April 16 (Daily Dime) that Avery's job would be thrust into serious peril if the Mavs did not get out of the first round at the very least. Sources close to the situation have since disclosed that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban actually considered dismissing Johnson late in the season, specifically after Cuban and Johnson engaged in a heated argument after a March 18 home loss to the Lakers.

Cuban uncharacteristically refused to speak with reporters after the defeat -- Dallas' ninth playoff loss in a row on the road since taking a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA Finals -- knowing what sort of questions were coming. But Johnson was fielding queries about his future as early as the morning shootaround, letting out an unmistakable pause when asked if he fears that his job is in jeopardy.

Johnson then said: "I would hope not. I love what I'm doing and I love the team. Right now I'm just focusing on coming out and trying to get this team to play as best as we can. And then whatever happens tomorrow, then we'll have to manage that part of it."

If anything gives Johnson hope of hanging on after falling to 3-15 in the playoffs since the Mavericks' unraveling against Miami on the Finals stage, it's that there's no clear-cut candidate to replace him. Rick Carlisle and Jeff Van Gundy will undeniably be names of interest, but the partnership of Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd would seemingly demand an offensive specialist to maximize their potential. And Dallas can't exactly bank on Mike D'Antoni or Flip Saunders becoming available.

There's also a chance, sources say, that Johnson might even be amenable to a mutual parting, given the likelihood that he would almost certainly become a candidate for openings in New York and Chicago. Sources say that the Bulls, anticipating Johnson's exit, have already discussed the possibility of hiring him. What we know for sure is that the last 48 hours of the Mavericks' season were among the most chaotic of Johnson's tenure ... and none of it connected to how Kidd fits in his offense. Sources say Johnson's well-chronicled cancellation of Monday's practice was an angry response to discovering that Josh Howard did not cancel a birthday party previously scheduled in his honor at a Dallas night club Sunday night after the Mavs' heavy Game 4 defeat.

In-house frustration with Howard was already at its limit, courtesy of the former All-Star's miserable shooting in this series (which continued in Game 5 with a 2-for-10 finish after a 4-for-4 start) and multiple interviews Howard granted -- one of them hours before Game 3 -- detailing his offseason marijuana use. So you can understand why an exasperated Johnson, also apparently convinced that Howard was not the only Mav out on the town after such a damaging loss, kicked the whole team out of the gym. The team then responded with a players-only meeting and a players-only practice, which their coach applauded at the morning shootaround.

"We had some of our leaders step up, which I've always wanted," Johnson said.

But Johnson also hinted at the depth of his discontent, prefacing his compliment by saying: "We came in [Monday] with the intention to practice. And then something changed."


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This series has really soured Josh Howard for me.
Not only did he suck, he didn't even give a full effort. Quit on his team. And then the whole pot distraction.
I can honestly say that Josh Howard didn't care. He played like that, his body language showed it, his effort. I know that Dirk cared, Terry cared, Bass cared. Stackhouse cared but he just really sucks. Josh is too talented to have played like he did, absent-minded, no hustle, not even getting to the FT line once games 4 and 5.

I've ragged on Avery in the past, but I kind of feel for the guy b/c you can at least tell that he tries to give it his all, unlike players like Josh Howard. And that's the one thing I've always respected about Avery--his heart. His judgment has been questionable and I truly believe a change of scenary will be good for him, as long as he takes his boys Stack and JHo with him.

[ppp000]

Star Telegram is reporting the "news" as well:

A late-night party to celebrate Josh Howard

[littlemav]

great, just more to hurt josh's trade value

[dirkforpres]

Screw the both of them.

[italy_23]

ship this guy out of town. seriously.
I have lost all respect to him, how can you party when you just lost a crucial game in the playoffs??! I dont get it.
he clearly doesnt care and that hurts. maybe he couldnt wait for postseason to smoke some weed...

[JES12]

28!




No, seriously, JHo needs to mature fast! ss_maverick and I had discussions last summer of Howard's immaturity and Howard's really starting to annoy me.

Howard should take the playoffs seriously and I think he and Avery have been on seperate pages for a while now (like since the Devin trade). I just really wonder who is the one in the wrong? Howard not listening to Avery in time outs, Howard (& Stack) both making stupid in game decisions, Howard (&Stack) having loose lips in the media)...

Ah, WTF...fire Avery, trade Stack and Howard and start anew with Dirk, Kidd, Bass, whoever we get in the trade, and a new coach.