
Avery Johnson was dismissed as coach of the Dallas Mavericks the day after a disappointing season ended with a first-round playoff exit in New Orleans. Incredible highs and heartbreaking lows marked the tenure of Johnson, who leaves as the most successful coach in franchise history by many measures.
Johnson became the eighth coach in team history on March 19, 2005 and posted a record of 194-70 (.735) during the regular season. He led the Mavs to the playoffs four consecutive years, including a trip to the 2006 NBA Finals. His post season record of 23-24 (.489) included 12 losses in the last 16 games.
“You’ve got to take the good with the bad,” Johnson said Tuesday night after the 99-94 loss to the Hornets that ended the series. “That is called life. There are a lot of highs and lows in coaching, but the highs outweigh the lows. The rewards outweigh anything.
“I’ve been through much worse. There are a lot of people in bad shape and I am not one of them.” (Nba.com)
I’m not in favor of this move by the Dallas Mavericks. AJ was a great coach and he was the one who had led them to NBA finals. Why not give him one last chance? He has still a lot of rooms to improve and i think Dallas would also focus on the players. Well I wish them good luck and hope they found the coach they need and see a different team next season or maybe in the 2009 Nba Finals.