Avery Johnson Ousted As Mavericks Coach

ESPN.com Wednesday reported that the Dallas Mavericks have dismissed their head coach Avery Johnson less than 24 hours after being eliminated from the NBA Playoffs. For the second consecutive year the Mavericks were eliminated in the first round of the NBA Post Season, they lost the series Tuesday night to the New Orleans Hornets by a 4-1?margin.

Johnson a very fiery and emotional man, did extremely well with Dallas during the regular season since assuming the position in the 2004-2005 campaign. He took the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2006, and Dallas had a 2-0 lead on the Eastern Conference Champions the Miami Heat. But the Heat won the next four straight games and won the series. Last season they were shocked as the upstart Golden State?Warriors knocked them out in the first round. The report says that Johnson may have just avoided getting fired in March, when Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Johnson engaged in a scream fest after Dallas lost to the Lakers at home on March 18. Johnson had a 194-70 record during the regular season with Dallas, but went?just 23-24 in the NBA Post Season. Neither Johnson or the Mavericks have commented?on the report as of this writing.