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Who the is Martin Johnson? Sounds like he was hard up for a column idea.
http://www.nysun.com/article/59968
Johnson Must Succeed To Avoid Texas Boot
By MARTIN JOHNSON
August 7, 2007
Is Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson on the hot seat?
The question may seem absurd, as Johnson has a regular season winning percentage of .786, the best of any active coach. But Johnson's postseason tally is merely average at .524 (a 22–20 record). In each of the Mavericks' last two postseasons, they've gone from the odds-on choice to win it all, to exiting the playoffs with a spectacular thud. The Mavericks' offseason moves, particularly in contrast to their last two summers, suggest that the chair in Johnson's office may be warming up a bit.
Usually the Mavericks are one of the most active teams in the summer as they furiously retool their team for another run at that elusive le. They engineer draft-day swaps, add salary, move promising young players for veteran savvy, and the like. This summer, barely a peep was heard out of the Mavericks offices. Yes, they gave casual pursuit of free agent prizes Grant Hill and Gerald Wallace. They've also been mentioned as a possible destination for Kobe Bryant (though I doubt anyone takes that too seriously).
Barring a bolt from the blue, the Mavericks' off-season player moves have only consisted of adding three second-round draft picks, picking up the option on center DeSagana Diop, and re-upping with aging swingmen Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George. This weekend, they all but finished this series of tweaks by inking free agent forward Eddie Jones to a two-year deal.
After the Mavericks roared to 67 wins last season — only to bow out in six games during a first-round rout by the Golden State Warriors — you might have suspected major summer changes. Instead, the team has stood pat.
Furthermore, it isn't as if this is a team with a lot of expiring contracts that can be reshaped over one summer. Instead, these are the Dallas Mavericks for the rest of the decade. The team's officials weren't shy in talking le all of last season, as if the team owed one to the fans after frittering away an excellent chance against Miami in 2006. Their moves — or the lack thereof — are big votes of confidence in this edition of the roster. If further changes will be made, they most likely will be on the sidelines.
That's the cir stantial evidence pointing to Johnson's hot seat, and there's also some compelling direct evidence. Both against Golden State a few months ago and against Miami last spring, the Mavericks struggled to match tactics against their opponents.
In game 4 against the Heat, Pat Riley changed the Heat's defensive strategy to surround forward Dirk Nowitzki and force the other Mavericks scorers to beat them. Dallas was slow in adjusting to the new defense and spent the remainder of the series finding their secondary options — Stackhouse, forward Josh Howard, and guards Jason Terry and Devin Harris — only as the shot clock wound down. As a result, the Mavericks went from having a le in their grasp before the end of game 3 (up two games to none with a doubledigit lead in the fourth quarter) to the short end of a six-game series.
The Mavericks failed to tailor their strengths against the Warriors to capitalize on that team's weaknesses. Golden State played a small lineup that was prone to be being over-powered near the rim. Rather than run plays for the 7-foot Nowitzki near the basket, they insisted on getting him the ball in at the elbow and other spots away from the hoop, enabling the Warriors' double and triple teams to bottle him up and strangle the Mavericks' offense. By contrast in the next round, Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan all but eliminated the part of the Jazz playbook that called for power forward Carlos Boozer to take midrange shots against the Warriors, and instead called one play after another that simply fed him the ball inside until he'd worn out every Warrior defender. As a result, the Jazz won the series over Golden State in five games.
Many critics singled out Nowitzki for the Mavericks' playoff failure, but it wasn't as if Boozer and Nowitzki have radically different inside games. Both have averaged about nine boards a game during their career, though Boozer is thought of as a bruiser and Nowitzki is regarded as a European softy. Nowitzki has a deadly threepoint shot and Boozer is a somewhat better rebounder. But there was nothing stopping the Mavs from trying the Utah strategy — except that, evidently, no one thought of it. Rather than tailor their strengths to their opponents' weaknesses, the Mavs again went down by sticking to their regular season offense.
That's the second reason I think that Johnson's seat is getting warmer. The third is that the team hired Paul Westphal, an experienced head coach, to be Johnson's lead assistant. Del Harris, a veteran head coach who is also on staff, has said he's not interested in another head coaching job and it's no surprise why, as he is 70. Westphal is 56 and still wants to run a team.
I don't expect that we'll soon see Johnson doing color commentary on TNT while his agent looks for possible vacancies. While his tactical failures have come on a big stage, they are the usual growing pains of young coach. It's just that most young coaches don't take over le ready teams, and not many young coaches beat either Pat Riley or Don Nelson on their first out. This is Johnson's fourth season running the show in Dallas. If he learns from his mistakes now, then he'll be there a while. But if he doesn't, and the Mavericks make another dramatic playoff face plant, expect Johnson in the broadcast booth: He certainly won't be the first coach to learn his lessons the hard way.
Who the is Martin Johnson? Sounds like he was hard up for a column idea.
He makes some valid points.
I read an old Sports Illustrated from March that had, right there in black & white, the phrase "Don Nelson thinks Nowitzki is vulnerable off the dribble, others feel swarming him with smaller players works".....some slap at SI can figure that out but Avery can't, or he refuses to adjust when it happens?
A) Dirk's numbers were way down after the All-Star break. It didn't start with Golden State. Going back to the beginning of the 05-06 season, he hadn't had any time off, the previous season not ending until June, and then a stint with the German national team. It doesn't excuse his subpar play against the Warriors, but it certainly helps explain it. He'd been playing basketball without a break for 17 months straight. The way this team is constructed, Dirk has to put up 27 and 12 for us to win. He put up 19, 10 and 3 in the Warrior series.
B) With Dampier out with a torn rotator cuff, Dirk slid over to C. We all know Dirk is a decent help defender but lousy on the ball defender. You can criticize Dampier all you want for putting up 7 point and 7 rebounds in exchange for $10 million a year, but I'd rather him out there guarding opposing bigs than Dirk. When you put Baron Davis and four 6'7 wings out there, who is he supposed to guard?
I don't think there was much for Avery to do, considering his star player was not at his best and Nellie had the personnel to turn him into a liability on the other end of the court.
By the time the playoffs roll around, everybody is tired. It's all about mental toughness and sheer will at that point. Dirk being "too tired" to perform well in the playoffs only lends support to the theory that he's not mentally tough enough to lead a team to a le.
Also, not being able to play Vagina Dampier is no excuse whatsoever. If Rasho (pretty much equivalent to Dampier) was out with an injury, would Popovich have thrown up his arms and said "Well NOW we're ed!"
And Dampier couldn't have guarded Biedrins/Harrington any better than Dirk anyways. He wouldn't have helped any more on offense than Diop. He's no excuse.
Avery made mistake after mistake in that series. It's hindsight now but this is two years in a row where he's been taken to school by a better coach.
How many of those guys have played 17 months straight as opposed to 8 months straight? The Warriors don't tend to play past April. Fresh legs have nothing to do with mental toughness.By the time the playoffs roll around, everybody is tired. It's all about mental toughness and sheer will at that point.
Dampier is >>>>> Rasho.Also, not being able to play Vagina Dampier is no excuse whatsoever. If Rasho (pretty much equivalent to Dampier) was out with an injury, would Popovich have thrown up his arms and said "Well NOW we're ed!"
Oh, yes, he would have. Dampier would've done a much better job at protecting the rim from dribble penetration than Dirk. Matt Barnes won't posterize Damp.And Dampier couldn't have guarded Biedrins/Harrington any better than Dirk anyways.
True, but we don't need 20 and 10 from Damp to win.He wouldn't have helped any more on offense than Diop.
Avery's a young coach. It's not that much of a mark of shame to get schooled by Nellie or Gordon Gecko. Say what you will about them, but those guys can coach.Avery made mistake after mistake in that series. It's hindsight now but this is two years in a row where he's been taken to school by a better coach
after 82 games nobody has fresh legs. I thought the whole point of sitting Dirk that last week (against Golden State among others) was to give him fresher legs?
Not saying I want Rasho, but Dampier isn't >>>>>> than anybody.
That explains why Biedrins put up such huge numbers against Dallas in the regular season....because Dampier owned him so bad.
and? this isn't about what he can do, it's about what other people can do just as well or better than him (which is damn near everything).
and this team is on the verge of a le. Can we afford for this young coach to make young coach mistakes with a le-caliber team? I'm not saying get rid of Avery, but this team has a 3 year window for a le, and unless he's gonna get his together and figure it out right ing now, then maybe we do need to get a coach with enough experience to take advantage or our small opportunity.
we handed over the keys of a Maserati to a very smart and enthusiastic 16 year old....there's chances he figures things out quickly and drives it just fine, but there's an equally great chance that he'll run that thing into a telephone pole.
It's relative. Considering Davis had missed 19 games, Richardson had missed 30, and they were absolutely the driving factors in that series win, then yes, they had fresher legs than Dirk.after 82 games nobody has fresh legs. I thought the whole point of sitting Dirk that last week (against Golden State among others) was to give him fresher legs?
If Dampier had been back to protect the lane against dribble penetration, it would've increased our chances of winning. I never said Dampier was the second coming of Bill Russell, and >>>>>> is laying it on thick, but he's a useful player. Most of the criticism directed his way is because he's a MLE player making near-max money.That explains why Biedrins put up such huge numbers against Dallas in the regular season....because Dampier owned him so bad.
To the question, the answer is 'no'.
That was easy.
Now that I know Shank speaks with some authority, I find this answer reassuring. I like Avery, I think he has a great coaching career ahead of him.
another postseason flameout and maybe he ought to be.
i like Avery, but we can't have him learning on the job while this team's small window for a le slams shut on us.
Small window?? Dirk is 29, Josh is 26, Devin is 25, Diop is 23, Jet is 30. That's the core. This team's window is five years.
Once upon a time, the Kings thought they had a five year window too. One catastrophic injury later...
The difference being, injuries are something you can't predict. Even if the unthinkable were to happen to a member of our core (knock on wood), Avery has shown he's coach material. Some of his weaknesses will only be mitigated with more experience. Like the team, the coach is young himself.
I'm sorry but the Mavs put together this 'championship' squad, got AJ to tell winners secretes from ole San Antone, and they still choked.
When can you just realize the blame doesn't fall on one person, coach or player, it falls on the whole damn franchise. It's cursed. Seriously...
Pixie dust and magic! Curses!
Coke and s is more like it. Just ask Dirk.
If that's the case, then we got about 3 les to look forward to:
Poor mavwreck fans, can't put any spin on choking to the 8th seed.
Great post. Pat yourself on the back.
Sweet. Larry Brown's next job.
When Pop is ready to step aside, I'm hoping AJ is available.
Come on Mavs, mess this up somehow
For what it's worth, Mark Cuban's PR spokesman has responded:
http://dallasbasketball.com/newmainArticle.asp?id=204
In the immediate wake of the Mavs’ Dismay by the Bay, there was an equal and opposite knee-jerk reaction. Cubes should sell! We’ll never win! Dirk sux! Avery sux!
In the ensuing months, most of us villagers have put down our pitchforks and doused our torches. … But in the village of New York, the pitchforks still poke and the torches still burn and, apparently, Avery still sux.
Now, I don’t know anything about the New York Sun. (Wasn’t that Orson Welles’ fictional “Citizen Kane’’ rag?) But I bet I know more about the New York Sun than it knows about the Dallas Mavericks and Avery Johnson’s alleged job insecurity.
In a news-story/column en led (rather assertively) “Johnson Must Succeed To Avoid Texas Boot,’’ author Martin Johnson insists that the Mavs coach is “on the hot seat.’’ In our never-ending quest to step on other journalists to make ourselves feel taller, let’s play along, point by ridiculous point, shall we?
Says the Sun: Is Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson on the hot seat? The question may seem absurd, as Johnson has a regular season winning percentage of .786, the best of any active coach. But Johnson's postseason tally is merely average at .524 (a 22–20 record). …
Says me: Embarrassing way to start, Sun. Avery’s winning percentage of .524 is, in fact, NOT “merely average.’’ If an NBA coach has a winning percentage of .570, he’s in the top 16 all-time; Avery can get there with a few more series victories. Furthermore, not everybody is Phil Jackson (.699). Some guys are Larry Brown (.529), Rick Adelman (.507), Red Holzman (.552), George Karl (.440), Lenny Wilkens (.449) and, ahem, Don Nelson (.452). The Sun should know that those seven “some guys’’ are among the 16 winningest coaches of all-time. … You gonna fire ‘em all?
I’m not sure what Martin Johnson thinks an NBA coach’s playoff percentage should be. But even Red Auerbach’s is “only’’ .589.
Says the Sun: The Mavericks' offseason moves, particularly in contrast to their last two summers, suggest that the chair in Johnson's office may be warming up a bit. Usually the Mavericks are one of the most active teams in the summer as they furiously retool their team for another run at that elusive le. … (but) the team has stood pat. … That's the cir stantial evidence pointing to Johnson's hot seat. …
Says me: Oddly confusing. Besides the assertion that the Mavs make “furious’’ changes annually, I wonder why Avery’s in trouble BECAUSE the roster remains largely unchanged? To the contrary, logic says (right or wrong) that Mark Cuban’s willingness to return to the floor with generally the same group that won 67 last year – including the coach – is a VOTE OF CONFIDENCE in what Johnson is doing.
Says the Sun: (A)nd there's also some compelling direct evidence. Both against Golden State a few months ago and against Miami last spring, the Mavericks struggled to match tactics against their opponents.
Says me: There’s truth to this one; almost every good team that loses gets “outcoached.’’ But read on for proof that the Sun reached the right conclusion by analyzing the wrong evidence:
Says the Sun: (A)gainst the Warriors. …rather than run plays for the 7-foot Nowitzki near the basket, they insisted on getting him the ball in at the elbow and other spots away from the hoop. … By contrast in the next round, Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan all but eliminated the part of the Jazz playbook that called for power forward Carlos Boozer to take midrange shots against the Warriors and. … simply fed him the ball inside. … Many critics singled out Nowitzki for the Mavericks' playoff failure, but it wasn't as if Boozer and Nowitzki have radically different inside games.
Says me: And on that note – that Nowitkzi and Boozer share an offensive style – I hereby call for Commissioner David Stern to revoke the New York Sun’s press credential.
Says the Sun: (Another reason) I think that Johnson's seat is getting warmer. … is that the team hired Paul Westphal, an experienced head coach, to be Johnson's lead assistant. Del Harris, a veteran head coach who is also on staff, has said he's not interested in another head coaching job and it's no surprise why, as he is 70. Westphal is 56 and still wants to run a team.
Says me: What Steely Dan used to call “Pretzel Logic’’ runs rampant here. Avery hired Westphal so he could backstab him out of a job? Del is still on the coaching staff? Westphal wants. … Dear Author, inasmuch as it’s clear that you haven’t spoken to anybody with the Mavericks about any of this – not even to get your facts straight regarding Harris’ role -- how do you know what Avery, Del or Westphal “want’’?
Says the Sun: While his tactical failures have come on a big stage, they are the usual growing pains of young coach. … If he learns from his mistakes now, then he'll be there a while. But if he doesn't, and the Mavericks make another dramatic playoff face plant, expect Johnson in the broadcast booth: He certainly won't be the first coach to learn his lessons the hard way.
Says me: Geez, is the bar really set that high here? If the Mavs lose a playoff series “dramatically,’’ Avery’s fired? So it’s “Championship-Or-Go-Sit-Next-To-Cooperstein’’? The fact is, Avery Johnson’s seat is no more sizzling than the next NBA coach’s. … and maybe less so because of his terrific working relationship with Cuban and because the patience that is due him because of his youth.
The New York Sun should’ve started and stopped this article with the line, “While his tactical failures have come on a big stage, they are the usual growing pains of young coach.’’
But how is Charles Foster Kane gonna sell any rags by writing the boring truth?
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