sribb43
04-30-2008, 11:41 AM
http://www.star-telegram.com/287/story/613223.html
After-loss party drew Avery's ire
By JEFF [email protected]
NEW ORLEANS -- A late-night party to celebrate Josh Howard's 28th birthday after Sunday's Game 4 loss turned Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson livid and led him to cancel Monday's practice, two sources confirmed.
Johnson, who stressed no partying during the series, was informed before Monday's scheduled practice that Howard handed out fliers to teammates in the locker room before Game 4, inviting them to his party at a Dallas nightclub.
The two sources differed on how many players attended, either three or four, including Howard. Which players attended is unclear, although the majority of the team did not.
Upon learning of the party, the sources said, Johnson entered the locker room and asked the players who attended to stand up. Infuriated, Johnson lit into his team and then called off practice. He told the team they’d meet on the flight to New Orleans.
After Johnson called off the practice, the team then chose to conduct a players-only practice, an odd occurrence, especially the day before an elimination playoff game. Players were unavailable for comment Monday, but at Tuesday's shoot-around several players claimed nothing out of the ordinary about the circumstances that led to the coach-free practice session.
Howard declined to comment after the Hornets ended the Mavs' season Tuesday. He sat at his locker, at times with his head in his hands.
"I’ll keep that to myself," Howard said when asked about his emotions as he sat facing his locker.
The 6-foot-7, fifth-year forward had a forgettable series on and off the court. He finished the five games making just 21 of 72 shots (29.2 percent. He had 12 points in Game 5 and averaged 12.6 points in the series.
After committing a turnover that led to a Jannero Pargo layup and a 78-66 Hornets lead with 9:08 left in Tuesday's finale, Johnson removed Howard and never put him back into the game. Howard, his arms folded, stood by the bench with his teammates as Devean George stepped in and helped lead a rally that pushed the Mavs to within three points with 33.2 seconds to play.
The Mavs franchise will likely go into the off-season wondering about Howard's decision-making ability. Hours before Game 3 he caused a stir when he volunteered information about his off-season marijuana use on the radio.
Dirk Nowitzki said the distractions probably did catch up with the team in the end.
Johnson had attempted to keep the ordeal under wraps Monday during a media session in the lobby of the team’s New Orleans hotel as well as Tuesday after the team’s morning shoot-around.
Both times he clearly didn’t seem happy with the situation, but he didn’t divulge more than saying that he had intended to hold a practice, but that “something happened,” and he decided to call it off.
After-loss party drew Avery's ire
By JEFF [email protected]
NEW ORLEANS -- A late-night party to celebrate Josh Howard's 28th birthday after Sunday's Game 4 loss turned Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson livid and led him to cancel Monday's practice, two sources confirmed.
Johnson, who stressed no partying during the series, was informed before Monday's scheduled practice that Howard handed out fliers to teammates in the locker room before Game 4, inviting them to his party at a Dallas nightclub.
The two sources differed on how many players attended, either three or four, including Howard. Which players attended is unclear, although the majority of the team did not.
Upon learning of the party, the sources said, Johnson entered the locker room and asked the players who attended to stand up. Infuriated, Johnson lit into his team and then called off practice. He told the team they’d meet on the flight to New Orleans.
After Johnson called off the practice, the team then chose to conduct a players-only practice, an odd occurrence, especially the day before an elimination playoff game. Players were unavailable for comment Monday, but at Tuesday's shoot-around several players claimed nothing out of the ordinary about the circumstances that led to the coach-free practice session.
Howard declined to comment after the Hornets ended the Mavs' season Tuesday. He sat at his locker, at times with his head in his hands.
"I’ll keep that to myself," Howard said when asked about his emotions as he sat facing his locker.
The 6-foot-7, fifth-year forward had a forgettable series on and off the court. He finished the five games making just 21 of 72 shots (29.2 percent. He had 12 points in Game 5 and averaged 12.6 points in the series.
After committing a turnover that led to a Jannero Pargo layup and a 78-66 Hornets lead with 9:08 left in Tuesday's finale, Johnson removed Howard and never put him back into the game. Howard, his arms folded, stood by the bench with his teammates as Devean George stepped in and helped lead a rally that pushed the Mavs to within three points with 33.2 seconds to play.
The Mavs franchise will likely go into the off-season wondering about Howard's decision-making ability. Hours before Game 3 he caused a stir when he volunteered information about his off-season marijuana use on the radio.
Dirk Nowitzki said the distractions probably did catch up with the team in the end.
Johnson had attempted to keep the ordeal under wraps Monday during a media session in the lobby of the team’s New Orleans hotel as well as Tuesday after the team’s morning shoot-around.
Both times he clearly didn’t seem happy with the situation, but he didn’t divulge more than saying that he had intended to hold a practice, but that “something happened,” and he decided to call it off.