This just in: Mark Cuban's insane

And I like Mark Cuban, most of the time anyway.

But firing Avery Johnson was a stupid knee-jerk reaction to a problem that wasn't of Johnson's creation. Unless it turns out that Johnson was the primary force behind the season-killing trade of Devin Harris for Jason Kidd, he just took the fall for the Dallas front office, which thought older-and-slower was the best way to win the wicked West. New Orleans' Chris Paul blew a hole in that theory, running circles around decrepit Kidd, and Avery Johnson is the one who pays with a pink slip?

Unacceptable. Avery Johnson didn't go from coaching savant to idiot overnight. But if there's any karma in the NBA, the Mavericks will go from the playoffs to the lottery as quickly as Johnson went from coach of the year to unemployment.

Who's next in Dallas? No clue, but I hear Louisville's Rick Pitino has had his eye on an NBA return for some time. Neither side will confirm this -- in fact Pitino's spokesman flatly denies it -- but I've been told by multiple sources on the periphery that a representative of Pitino spoke with the Miami Heat about their recent opening. Don't be surprised if Pitino speaks with Cuban about this one.

you are a foo-el doyel. the mavs problems do indeed go way deeper than Avery, and certainly the roster Cuban oversaw the creation of is indeed heavily at fault. however Avery gets outcoached in every playoff series they play in. That is a fact. could they have won the NOLA series with good coaching? Probably not. The Kidd deal pretty much wiped out any chance of that. but they still could have made a series of it with some sort of coaching skills.

certainly last year's one and done can almost completely point to his hideous coaching. but this canning of AVery was overdue and not a knee-jerk reaction. there's only about a billion dollars worth of work left to do, but at least they are started in the right direction with this firing for now.

CanadianPatsFan Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: Oct 31, 2006	Posted on: April 30, 2008 3:11 pm Score: 92 This just in: Mark Cuban's insane And to think Michael Jordan hired Larry Brown yesterday. If only he would have waited a day, he could have entertained the idea of hiring Johnson. I'm not sure Johnson would go, but at least put some effort in. The only thing more cruel to Seattle than losing their team, would be when an expansion team goes back there, and it is ran and owned by Jordan and Thomas. Some people should leave their legacy on the court instead of ruining it in the front office. [ Reply to Comment ]
Swami23 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 5, 2008	Posted on: April 30, 2008 3:14 pm Score: 77 This just in: Mark Cuban's insane you are a foo-el doyel. the mavs problems do indeed go way deeper than Avery, and certainly the roster Cuban oversaw the creation of is indeed heavily at fault. however Avery gets outcoached in every playoff series they play in. That is a fact. could they have won the NOLA series with good coaching? Probably not. The Kidd deal pretty much wiped out any chance of that. but they still could have made a series of it with some sort of coaching skills. certainly last year's one and done can almost completely point to his hideous coaching. but this canning of AVery was overdue and not a knee-jerk reaction. there's only about a billion dollars worth of work left to do, but at least they are started in the right direction with this firing for now. [ Reply to Comment ]
GDigger Reputation: 83 Level: All-Star Since: Dec 1, 2007	Posted on: April 30, 2008 3:21 pm Score: 55 This just in: Mark Cuban's insane How does this effect their legacy as players? Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell, and many others took a lot of money from teams for very little in return as front office men. Does that affect the legacy they left on the court? No way. It is two seperate careers. Jordan could end up doing something in Charlotte too. They have some core young talent and a great coach. [ Reply to Comment ]
Yankee Blue Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Sep 29, 2006	Posted on: April 30, 2008 3:38 pm Score: 88 This just in: Mark Cuban's insane This was not Avery Johnson's fault but rather the fault of whomever decided to give up half the team for over the hill Jason Kid!!! How could the team let Devin Harris and his high tempo game get away, he was the most promising player for the future. In my opinion at this time in his career jason Kid is not as talented as Harris and would have made Avery's job a lot easier. [ Reply to Comment ]
jlee Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 16, 2006	Posted on: April 30, 2008 3:38 pm Score: 95 This just in: Mark Cuban's insane what has avery ever won except for regular season games. with this logic, marty schottenheimer and dusty baker should never be fired because they win a ton of regular season games. [ Reply to Comment ]
chazbot2021 Reputation: 75 Level: Pro Since: Oct 25, 2007	Posted on: April 30, 2008 3:42 pm Score: 64 This just in: Mark Cuban's insane Whoever is going to be the Mavs new coach is going to have very few new pieces to play with because of that big Kidd trade. Avery wasn't the problem, but I don't know how an outsider is going to come in and inspire this core. I don't think a fire sale is needed, but I'm already figuring that next year's Mavs playoff spot will be filled by Portland. [ Reply to Comment ]
DocSam Reputation: 81 Level: All-Star Since: Nov 5, 2007	Posted on: April 30, 2008 4:00 pm Score: 51 Avery Burned them out Avery Johnson is a good coach and he'll learn from this in how he handles a team in the future. But he burned the players out last year and he lost his edge with the players. He'll catch on with his new team and do well, but it was time for a change in Dallas. [ Reply to Comment ]
gobolts52 Reputation: 84 Level: All-Star Since: Dec 20, 2006	Posted on: April 30, 2008 4:10 pm Score: 75 This just in: Mark Cuban's insane I don't think the Kidd trade made them all that much worse. I just think this team was to the NBA what the Buffalo Bills were to the NFL in the early 90's-the Mavs got the most out of what they had to make a couple of runs except there was always one team better. I think that overall, the talent is starting a downward trend and it is time to begin again. I'd like to see Johnson take over the Wizards, they're a team out of control and need a new start also. [ Reply to Comment ]
Sports4life Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 10, 2006	Posted on: April 30, 2008 4:12 pm Score: 83 This just in: Mark Cuban's insane ACTUALLY, Avery took the Mavs to the NBA finals, Schottenheimer can't even win A playoff game. It's ok, I'll gladly took Avery on the Knicks! Dumb move Cuban and I like you. [ Reply to Comment ]
sleepyTom Reputation: 81 Level: All-Star Since: Oct 25, 2007	Posted on: April 30, 2008 4:16 pm Score: 44 This just in: Mark Cuban's insane Only Knee Jerking here is Doyel. Coach AJ's playoffs record is very average and gets worse every year. I think the whole b-ball genius evaporated after he was schooled by: Pat Riley Don Nelson Byron Scott Where's Rick Carlyle? [ Reply to Comment ]

Gregg Doyel

Blogg Doyel