Mavs coach Avery Johnson was a guest on Randy Galloway's radio show Friday. Here's a sampling of what Avery had to say:
On Thursday;s loss to the Rockets: Well, we're disappointed. We didn't have that emotional energy like I thought we were gonna have. ... That was one of our worst performances of the year.
On the increased heat he is taking: I always try to keep myself in the forefront of things if the games aren't going well. I've never been one to run and and hide. ... But we need to get something from the players ... more energy, leadership, fire ... we are still waiting to get it on a consistent basis.
On some of the Mavs' problem: Everybody should be held accountable ... but right now we are not getting consistent penetration and consistent stops on defense or on penetration. ... We are just making too many mistakes offensively and defensively.
On the post-trade adjustment period: This particular team ... it's just been nine games ... and in those nine there have been some awfully tough road games. ... We feel we're not as good as we're going to be. ... But we don't know if we're going to be good enough. We hope we're playing our best basketball at the right time. ... We're still trying to figure out our best starting team and our best team off the bench. We still don't know that.
On all the isolation plays the Mavs run: We tried to tweak our offense to fit [Jason Kidd's] strengths ... But he has to score more than five, six, eight points for us to be good. ... We have to have our 1 and 5 positions score for us to be effective.
On game plan for T-Mac: We double-teamed T-Mac quite a bit, but [Carl] Landry and [Shane] Battier hurt us on the backside. ... And when we guard hot players one-on-one they beat us ... [putting] a lot of pressure on Erick Dampier to block shots.
On players tuning him out: It's till too early to get tuned out. ... The easiest thing to do is blame other people when things go wrong. ... But everyone has to look at themselves to improve and get better.
On Dirk: He is having an awesome year. ... He is playing more physical than he ever has, taking it to the basket better than he ever has and doesn't get rewarded like other people.
-- Garza, Mavs Lite
Is it still the poisonous media that is to be blamed for this loss?
Can anyone explain to me what Avery's system consists of? Really. After 3 years I don't think even Avery knows.
"I've never been one to run and and hide." What a joke! I don't believe a word that ma n says anymore.
Posted by: Sam | March 07, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Avery's system: Make the offense as methodical and uninspired as possible and use your best player as a crutch when it doesn't work. Rinse, lather, repeat.
Also, this might be the most indicting quote I have ever seen, ever: "...right now we are not getting consistent penetration and consistent stops on defense or on penetration." I wonder who did those things? Here's a hint...their names rhyme with Maris and Plop.
Posted by: Captain Midnight | March 08, 2008 at 12:10 AM