On Collapsing
A plea and a forewarning to Avery Johnson on the brink of disaster.
by Ben Collins
–Note: I feel the need to qualify this by saying that I think Avery Johnson is a great coach and I think he has a long, illustrious career with many championships ahead of him. But this is three games worth of collective frustration in watching the team that his system led to 67 wins. I’d just wish he’d take into account what others had to say.–
In the hours leading up to a night that could become infamous, we have come to this. A broken 67-win team facing its first true adversity is finding it impossible to regroup. The cracks are becoming more visible and the Dallas Mavericks are shattering seemingly overnight.
There is no offense to speak of. There is no defense to speak of. The team’s leader and to-be MVP of the NBA sounds defeated and resigned to this team’s demise to a 42-win eight seed. And on the eve of what could be the most embarrassing night in Dallas sports history, there are rumblings of in-fighting.
And Avery Johnson, the NBA’s reigning Coach of the Year, the only person who can truly fix this problem – the only person whose job it is to fix this problem — has decided to buckpass.
“I wasn’t the best of players and didn’t have the best skills, but you were not going to shake my confidence,” he told a group of reporters in the American Airlines Center this morning. “I’m tired of hearing about how they’ve taken him out of his game and any lack of confidence. You’re not supposed to have that, all right?”
In Johnson’s diatribe disguised as a press conference, the third-year coach never directly referenced Dirk Nowitzki, but backwardly referred to him incessantly. It reads as if he is starting a rumor.
This was more blind call-out than guided wake-up call; more confidence-rattling than motivation-stirring. Whatever you call it, it was completely ineffective.
Nowitzki has never been the outspoken type. It is well-documented that he tries almost too hard in postgame press conferences to never provide bulletin board material to the other team. It has become a detriment to his image and is the reason he was shaken earlier in the season when Dwyane Wade believed Nowitzki was continually slighting the Miami Heat in the media.
Nowitzki’s Monday post-practice comments — “I got to take what they give me and they don’t really give me a lot” — aren’t exactly fighting words. But Johnson should know by now that Nowitzki’s fight comes only on the court and never in the locker room.
Johnson, though, has opted instead to bicker and feign an attempt to rile up a team that has been outcoached as much as it has been outhustled in this series. Johnson has consistently ignored the calls from every member of the common media – both local and national, from Charles Barkley to Lang Whitaker – to play commonsensically. Instead of employing the rotation that won his team a decade-best 67 games and a Southwest Division Championship, the Mavericks coach went with a futile attempt to cater to Golden State’s tempo.
After four games and one win over a 40-loss team, Johnson is too stubborn, too pretentiously persistent to stray from his master plan. It is costing his team a legitimate chance at its first NBA Championship and shaming a budding franchise.
Mavericks any-other-day starting center Erick Dampier has played a combined four minutes in the previous two losses. With Dampier out of the lineup, Nowitzki is forced to uncomfortably slide over to the center position. This racks up quick fouls on Nowitzki. This does not allow him any room to operate in the paint, whereupon he is immediately collapsed and faces a helpside defender who would otherwise be sticking to another wide open seven-footer underneath the basket. This forces Nowitzki to become the primary rebounder. This allows Al Harrington, a bigger defender, to guard Nowitzki instead of Dampier, and moves 6’8” Stephen Jackson back to covering wing players like Josh Howard. This exaggerates the tempo of the game to a pace in which the more talented, but less athletic Mavericks cannot keep up. This disallows the use of the pick-and-roll and elbow game to which Nowitzki has become accustomed. This puts Dirk Nowitzki in places on the floor that he rarely saw in this year, his best season as a pro.
This, of all things, takes this year’s Most Valuable Player and makes him an average player. And Johnson’s last quote today insinuates that maybe he thinks Dirk is nothing better than that.
When asked if he doesn’t see the confidence in Nowitzki in shootaround, Johnson repeated this twice: “We’ll figure something out.”
So Avery Johnson might bench the league’s Most Valuable Player because he has proven woefully inadequate in finding a way to get him open?
But maybe you’re right, Avery. Maybe Dirk should be talking with a little harsher tone. Maybe he should be more aggravated. Maybe he should show it. With all the facts lined up, here, he should be showing some emotion at how stagnant this team has looked.
And he should be showing that emotion towards you. You have failed to recognize a simple strategy, playing either Dampier DeSagana Diop almost all 48 minutes, that every NBA analyst in the country has noticed long before you. Even worse, you have recognized fully what every analyst an assistant coach has continually told you, but you are too tied to a gameplan to bother to change it.
It is, after all, this team, not Dirk Nowitzki alone, who has lost seven of its last eight playoff games. To thrust all this on a player that you have put in an almost impossible position to succeed is not a pep-talk. It is cowardice.
Do not take away from what is actually happening here, sir. No award gives you immunity and you need only to look at Mark Cuban’s previous business decisions to recognize that. An owner does not break up a 67-win team. An owner fires a coach who cannot win when it counts.
So tonight, when you watch your players take the floor for what could be the last time this season, go into it knowing this: it is not Dirk’s reputation that is on the line here.
It is your job.
40 Responses to “On Collapsing”
May.1 at 6:17 pm
teis says:
warriors baby!! BD is goint to kill tonight!!
May.1 at 6:26 pm
Chris says:
ouch.
May.1 at 6:44 pm
TripleDouble says:
Well written man. I’m bummed we aren’t getting any of this series dowm here in New Zealand. Todays game is huuuuuge!
May.1 at 6:58 pm
DubsGonDoIt says:
GO WARRIORS!!!
May.1 at 7:00 pm
Douce says:
lol no credit to b diddy and co.? cmon…alright the mavs arent great wirte now but give some credit to the warriors
May.1 at 7:00 pm
Co Co says:
Damn Ben.
May.1 at 7:09 pm
Max Airington says:
Are you saying that this wis primarily Avery’s fault or that he’ll be the one to get the axe?
May.1 at 7:34 pm
SwingMan says:
I think what’s being said is that Avery Johnson has what Suns fans call “Frank Johnson syndrome”: No set gameplan whatsoever and total inability to adjust from game-to-game….. That said, Dirk Nowitzki has officially been exposed as a fraud of an MVP candidate. Chrissakes, even Kobe Bryant is more of a candidate - he may not be able to make his teammates that much better, but my God, at least Bryant steps up to the plate every once in a while. Nowitzki is doing NOTHING but cherry picking while leaving the leadership up to Josh Howard and, to an extent, Jason Terry….. Nowitzki = MVP Fraud
May.1 at 7:37 pm
DDC says:
We’0ll see what the Little General has in store tonight because all of his adjustments have failed thusfar. I am surprised that he is deflecting blame like this. I live in Dallas and I have heard him on numerous occassions say that if his team isn’t ready to play he takes all of the blame for it. Maybe the playoff pressure is bothering him more than he wants to admit.
May.1 at 7:44 pm
DDC says:
With that said, I don’t believe he will or should get the axe if Dallas loses. There will be changes, but not with him. The MVP award is become a very diluted achievement. Not to disrespect Dirk if he wins it, but the only thing he has been valuable at in this series disappearing. Someone needs to remind him that he is a 7 footer. With that said I expect Dallas to win tonight.
May.1 at 7:49 pm
Max Airington says:
I just think that he’s been unable to make certain adjustments because of personnel in this series. He could put in Dampier or Diop, but then he’s sacrificing a player who can move with the pace of the game or score consistently. Both of those guys would be run off the floor and theyre not worth intentionally slowing the game down for. Dirk’s lack of a developed post game is a big problem here and I dont know how much blame a coach should take for a seven foot franchise player who turns into butter on the blocks. He isn’t comfortable enough in the post to deal with the weakside doubles he’s getting and when he goes outside he’s either been passive or just missed open opportunities. Regardless, it does seem like Avery is challenging Dirk to make the adjustments, even though he knows that’s not in Diggle’s demeanor or his game.
May.1 at 8:50 pm
Chief says:
Not that any of you care, but if your a betting man you might want to try them out.
Let me break down the series for you.
Western Conference
Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs
This is gonna be a slug fest, The Nuggets have already stole homecourt from the Spurs. The Nuggets are hot, and Nene made Tim Duncan look like he was playing in Slowmo. And Melo and A.I. both scored 30 or over. But the Spurs have a deep bench, like 15 men deep and their D is definitely pick up.This one is gonna go to game seven and Melo is gonna have to make the big shot to win it. Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors.
The Mavs have the consumate MVP in Dirk Nowitzki, went to the finals last year and were supposed to win. This year the best team in the NBA. But in every regular season game, Golden State has won. Golden State is gonna make a hollywood story of this series in 5. Houston Rockets Vs. Utah Jazz
Utah was really good this season, But the Houston rockets have Playoff experience, T-Mac, and oh yeah a 7″6′ man called Yao Ming. You might have heard of him. T-Mac is hot right now, he’ll have at least one 40 point night. AK-47 might step up though after a quiet regular season, he better if he wants a contract. Even if he does this series will be finished in 6
. Oh and i don’t want to hear any Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are like, Jon Stockton and Karl Malone. No they aren’t. Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers
This isn’t gonna be as good as last year, Kobe can score all he wants but no one can keep up to the Suns when they get hot. He may have a night but the Suns are too good. I mean way too good. Like its freakishly unreal. Phoenix gets to play the Nuggets in 6. Holy shit we’re only half way done.
The (L)Eastern Conference
Detroit Pistons Vs. Orlando Magic.
Are you kidding me? Detroit in 4
MoTown throwdown. Chicago bulls Vs. Miami Heat
Ah really hard one , but I’m gonna give it to the Bulls. They have a well Balanced starting line up, backed by a deep bench. The Backcourt consists of Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon, both great shooters and essentially the same as Jason Williams and DWade. But a lot faster. Luol Deng is gonna bang it up as the Swing man and Tyrus Thomas and Ben Wallace are huge. Andre Nocioni is on the bench. Big Ben’s shut down the Diesel before. The Bulls take out the Defending Champs in five. Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Washington Wizards
Okay so LBj and his cronies have to only face Agent Zero, first time allstar Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, oh wait Gilbert did something to his knee? Caron Broke a bone in his Foot? hahahaha the Cavs coast to the second round in 4. Toronto Raptors vs. New Jersey Nets
The hardest to predict?
Nope this one is gonna go to game seven with the young guns(t-Dot) facing the hardened veteran squad lead by the fiercesome Backcourt of Mr. Triple Double, Half-man Half-Amazing and RJ. And yes i made them all sound superhuman. Because they are when they all turn it on. We are looking at Double overtime experience si gonna pay off. The nets go to round two this year. And that’s it for now. Don’t you feel better?
Whatever so don’t get mad when i say…I told you so!
Stay tuned for the second round.
I wrote that on Facebook man. Everyone said I was wrong about Golden State. But who’s laughing now bitch.
May.1 at 8:51 pm
Chief says:
I called two of the three sweeps. Definitly thought the Heat could win at least one game. But i guess not.
May.1 at 8:59 pm
Cheryl says:
1) Avery is appealing to the pride of all his players. He learned a lot from Pop about calling out your stsr player while really speaking to the whole damn team. 2) He is also frustrated that he is being outcoached by Nelson. He knows good and well Nellie is sitting back cracking up about that team’s struggles because he knows the personalities and their respective weaknesses. Avery should write on the board in the lockerroom: This is your season. Finish it!
May.1 at 9:01 pm
1hush D says:
Yo Swingman, Dirks failure this year is really bad but less us not forget how bad Kobe’s failure in the playoffs was last year. MVP is for the reg. Dirk or Nash are both deserving of that.
……………………….. AND BEN, did you happen to look and see who was starting for Dallas during the regular season? I am guessing the bigs were starting and Dallas was swept by the Warriors. Could it be that as good as Dallas is that the Warriors just have better match ups and better coaching and thus are better than the Mavs?
……………………………..that does not take away from the Mavs regular season dominance but it does make them seem very unlucky that the Warriors got that 8 spot.
May.1 at 9:01 pm
Cheryl says:
Boy, I can’t wait for this game!
May.1 at 9:13 pm
1hush D says:
I loved Kenny’s pictures the other night where he showed how Dallas would just line the perimeter and swing the ball back and forth. Except when Josh Howard was attacking the rim Dallas seemed comfortable shooting 3’s and long jumpers. Bill Russell was breaking it down on one of those other sites and said that GState is just playing harder and talks of how that accumulates. …………….Heart baby! …………….I hate to miss tonights game but got my own game and I think Dallas will get it together tonight. Unfortunately!
May.1 at 9:37 pm
whooo! says:
aj’s gotta play the bigs more. yeah they’re terrible on offense, but at least they’re interior defenders, and INTEGRAL to the mavs’ defensive improvements they’ve made. biedrins ends up playing to match up w/ em cuz he’s bigger, and that boy can’t shoot for shit! the only contribution al harrington has made is by somehow fooling avery johnson to try to match up w/ him. he’s changing his lineup to match up w/ a guy who’s been completely terrible and a non-threat this series!
May.1 at 9:48 pm
Jared Ballin says:
ben,
you’re absolutely right. the mavs need to force their own style of play on GS, not play into their game.
Johnson not playing Dampier is absolutely idiotic.
maybe you should be the coach
May.1 at 9:58 pm
2G40 says:
Ben I like how you tried to shift the blame to Avery. That’s bullshit and you know it. Dirks feelings are hurt…he’s a damn professional, not some high school baller. Who’s fault was it last year when Dallas was up 3-1 against Miami, and needed Dirk to step up…was that Avery’s? Who the hell’s fault was it all those years they had Nash and couldn’t win a playoff series? No what Dallas needs is for Dirk to step up and stop being a BIATCH! Avery Johnson’s not playing the game Dirk is. Does anybody in there right mind doubt that if Kobe or Labron had the same supporting cast this series would be over. WHEN THE F@#$ ARE WE GOING TO SEE A FORTY POINT GAME FROM THIS GUY!
May.1 at 10:02 pm
2G40 says:
Send that BIATCH back to europe…shit got plenty of guy’s in the states that can do 25 and 10.
May.1 at 10:04 pm
hoopshypeisbetterthanslam says:
It is not Dirk’s fault that he is being consistantly double and triple teamed. In those situations you have to pass out it’s just common sense. The fault lies on Avery. Like Barkley said post up. I live in Indiana and remember a pre-Shaq Heat squad that ran a small athletic lineup similar to Golden State. Rather than changing lineups Carlisle simply posted the scoring machine Jeff Foster up on Lamar Odom whom the Heat played at center. Foster scored 25 one game and was a constant threat which gave O’Neal a chance to get one on one coverage. Dampier and Diop are similar to Foster offensively why not post them?
May.1 at 10:26 pm
2G40 says:
Look I’m not one calling Dirk a damn all star. He hasn’t proved squat to me except that he has a pretty good shot. When is the guy going to have an all star performance? Yes Avery needs to do a better job of coaching…but Avery can’t knock down shot’s. Somebody on Dallas needs to have the game of there life, if not Dirk…then who?
May.1 at 10:59 pm
The Perfect Storm says:
Yo, you should of called this blog “Before i self destruct” or just “Avery”
May.1 at 11:59 pm
Drolfe says:
‘got plenty of guy’s in the states that can do 25 and 10.’
Not really that accurate..
May.2 at 12:17 am
2G40 says:
Ok ass-whipe, let me rephrase this statement for you. There are several players in the states who can average 25pts, 10 rebounds. Is that better for you? JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ man!
May.2 at 12:28 am
allenp says:
max is right. the fault isn’t avery’s. dirk was charmin soft this series.
May.2 at 12:51 am
Scott says:
Dirk comes through in the clutch and the Mavs win! The Mavs and Raps have had mirroring playoff series, both with their games won/lost and with nearly-blown 20 pt. leads in tonight’s games.
May.2 at 1:00 am
Max Airington says:
Damn Dirk! Clutch performance.
May.2 at 1:01 am
Max Airington says:
Too late?
May.2 at 1:02 am
Ben Osborne says:
Love the analysis on here—primarily Max’s. Dirk was still way too shy tonight for most of the game, doing his float-around-the-perimeter-BS, but the 3-block-3 sequence was ill. Defining sequence of the series if the Mavs can pull off the comeback.
May.2 at 1:24 am
Co Co says:
They will not win in Oakland. They barely won tonight. As Kenny Smith would say, “It’s Ova”
May.2 at 1:45 am
Drolfe says:
2G40 - Firstly, what the hell is an ‘ass-whipe’? And secondly, no ’several’ isn’t better for me. Did anyone average 25 and 10? Yao and Dirk went close i think.. but no one actually did it. Sending Dirk back to Europe, as you suggested, probably isn’t the best idea.
May.2 at 4:53 am
Gagge says:
2G40: Please, don´t write here if you have nothing to say. Many americans that average 25 and 10 in the NBA? Do you mean Scot Pollard, eh? The only yanks that are close to that are JO, KG and maybe the TD Robot. And Mavs have to get it together now, because they can´t give up a 20pt lead in the Bay. I have seen to little of the series to say anything for sure, but Mavs need to gamble on their bigs, because playing small ball against G-State will be their undoing.
May.2 at 7:54 am
Ronald says:
I kinda agree with this, they gotta stop playing small ball. I’m pretty sure Avery is doing this whole “rite of passage” thing. If you can’t beat the 8th seed at their own game, how are you going to win the championship. Especially when you have to go through Suns kinda thing.
May.2 at 9:39 am
hoopshypeisbetterthanslam says:
Dirk has awakened. He still needs to be aggressive and make his moves before the double arrives. That’s what made him effective in the first half. I don’t know why Dallas continues to play that match up zone so much. Golden State moves the ball too well and it results in too many open threes. That’s why Golden State was able to come back. Man up and stop your man. Also Diop’s numbers were nice 11 and 7. They didn’t run plays for him but he was still a factor. Post him and force Nelly to play your strengths. A 7 man rotation isn’t going to cut it in a 7 game series. Go Mavs
May.2 at 9:39 am
2G40 says:
Actually Gagge, Dirks numbers for the season were more like 24 and 8, and that’s well below the all around production you get from guy’s like KG, Boozer, Brand, Randolph, Bosh, TD, and JO…who by the way play much better defense. Now Dirk went out and had 30 and 12 last night but it wasn’t a dominant performance…not by a long-shot! And they nearly blew a 20pt lead.
May.2 at 11:06 am
benstah says:
stop hating dirk. he is the main man from a 67win team, bitches. he will be MVP
May.2 at 11:57 am
Nothin_personal says:
Now, can we oficially call the Mavericks coach mr Average Johnson?
May.2 at 5:43 pm
Troy says:
Well said and absolutely true. Avery’s coaching has been so ridiculously bad this series that the only way I explain it is that he listened too much to the media puff phrase ‘Dallas can play and win in any style’ and decided he could/would beat Nellie playing Nellie’s game. Which makes no sense. Nellie is a genius at exploiting the match-ups, disrupting systems, and basically playing the longshot. But its been proven over and over that in doing all that, Nellie can’t consistently beat the teams that refuse to be drawn in and execute classic basketball–teams like Pop’s Spurs or the Dallas team that won 67 games before throwing their system out the window 5 games ago.