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^^^^^^^^ Rack.
Shoulda been Dunleavy.
Mavs fans crying foul over Dirk not winning the MVP award.
Sources: Mavs' Johnson honored, Dirk snubbed
10:52 PM CDT on Monday, April 24, 2006
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News
Avery Johnson will be honored with one of the NBA's two biggest individual awards today when he is named the league's coach of the year, numerous sources said Monday.
However, the league's other major piece of hardware – the MVP trophy – will elude Dirk Nowitzki, a source said. While it was unknown who will win the MVP, it will not be Nowitzki, who was lumped with Phoenix's Steve Nash, Cleveland's LeBron James, Detroit's Chauncey Billups and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant as legitimate candidates.
Johnson, in his first full season as Mavericks coach, won the nationwide ballot of media members, besting, among others, Detroit's Flip Saunders, San Antonio's Gregg Popovich and Phoenix's Mike D'Antoni , who won the award last season.
Johnson is the first winner of the award in Mavericks history. He broke the NBA record for fastest coach to 50 wins (50-12) and best record after 82 games (66-16). He was coach of the month in November and January, in addition to winning the award in April last season after taking over for Don Nelson. His career record is 76-24.
"He got a great opportunity, and he's a great coach who took that opportunity and ran with it," Nelson said from San Francisco, where he was preparing for a speaking engagement, unaware of the pending announcement. "He deserves the coach of the year, and I couldn't be happier for him. Not everybody gets a chance to step into a winning situation like this.
"It's a terrific honor for him and his whole staff. They helped make it happen."
The Mavericks finished 60-22 this season, tying the franchise record for victories. They had the third-best record in the NBA. The team also had only one All-Star – Nowitzki – which probably worked in Johnson's favor. Each other coach of the year candidate had at least two All-Stars on his team.
Throughout his playing career as a gritty point guard, Johnson was known as the "Little General." He appeared in 1,054 games, one of only two players shorter than 6-0 (with Calvin Murphy) to appear in more than 1,000 games.
As a coach, Johnson prefers to drop the first part of his nickname and simply be known as "The General." He served as an assistant coach for most of the 2004-05 season before Nelson, a three-time coach of the year with other teams, retired last March.
Nowitzki became a legitimate MVP contender by averaging 26.6 points and nine rebounds this season. He hit a career-best 48 percent from the field, including 40.6 percent from 3-point range.
However, the compe ion was stiff for MVP this season with five players producing legitimate credentials. Nowitzki is, however, expected to be first-team All-NBA for the second straight season.
In addition to Nowitzki, Jerry Stackhouse was a prime contender for the league's sixth-man award, but he, too, came up short.
^^^^^^^^ Rack.
Shoulda been Dunleavy.
This makes me feel good...
I was right.
Considering how far the Timberwolves fell without Cassell, it's a safe bet that he's more the reason the Clippers are in the playoffs than Dunleavy is. Same for Chris Paul with the Hornets.
Now all the needs to happen is for Dirk to win the MVP and it will be two straight years we go after the MYP and COTY
Nah. The same source said Dirk isn't going to win MVP.
In one year Avery took the Mavs from a run and gun jumpshooting team with no defense, to a more defensive, half court team that can still run some...and they won 60 games despite having almost half their team out for the month of March...
They only won 2 more games than last year, but they got to 58 wins last year due to the 16-2 run under Avery to finish the season...
Avery deserved it...no question...
Bravo AJ.
Avery has done a great job.
On a side note, my neighbor just flashed me a pair of huge tatas! I told him enough is enough and kicked over his garbage can. That'll teach him.
Mazel Tov to AJ and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Death, taxes, and AJ Hatas
Congrats A.J.
I think Cassell is important to the Clippers and has helped to elevate that team. But the notion that Cassell's arrival diminishes the job that Dunleavy has done in LA is difficult for me to understand. Coaches who win coach of the year awards often have players who make a difference for their teams. What's remarkable to me about the Clippers is that Dunleavy was the force that compelled that organization to start doing the right things -- to pick up the right players and pay them what they should to be compe ive. On top of that, while Sam Cassell has NEVER been known as a great defender, the Clippers were in the upper part of a tough Western Conference this season because Dunleavy demanded that those guys, including Cassell, become defensive-minded and, in turn, have become a great defensive team. Players help the effort, but Dunleavy's philosophical changes in LA should not be so lightly disregarded.
maybe of this thread was bolded mouse would see it
Grats Little General!
Congrats AJ!!
So long as it doesn't go to D'Antoni.
Nice.
Does this count as a Kluby?
13, what of it?
Congratulations Avery. I predicted the Mavs would win 60 games this year. People were laughing at me but with all the young talent on this team I thought it would happen. Avery has brought a more disciplined offense and focusing more on defense. Rebounding has improved a ton though.
Johnson received 419 points, including 63 first-place votes .... Mike D’Antoni of the Phoenix Suns was second with 247 points (27 first-place votes) and the Detroit Pistons’ Flip Saunders was third with 223 points (18 first-place votes).
124 total votes.
Last edited by CubanMustGo; 04-25-2006 at 02:32 PM. Reason: found it
The Spurs can send the COY fishing just like they did in 03 with Hubie.
Maybe they can cast a line into a COY pond.The Spurs can send the COY fishing just like they did in 03 with Hubie.
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