Dirk Nowitzki News

“He is a talented coach and I want to thank him for his efforts over the last four years and what he has done for this franchise.”

The Dallas Mavericks fired coach Avery Johnson on Wednesday, the first of what’s likely to be many offseason moves after the team with the league’s highest payroll again flopped in the first round of the playoffs.

Johnson leaves with an impressive resume after three-plus seasons, but Mavs owner Mark Cuban couldn’t tolerate two straight years of first-round exits - or the fact that Dallas has gone 3-12 in the playoffs since blowing a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA finals against Miami.

The Mavericks followed that 2006 disappointment by the embarrassment of being ousted by Golden State in the opening round last season in one of the biggest upsets in league history. And they were just dumped in five games by Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets. Read more

“As a franchise, we went for it, and it didn’t pan out the way we wanted. “But sometimes you have to take risks in this business.”

A season of atonement buckled under the weight of unfulfilled promise in the Big Easy. via Denton Record-Chronicle

“I see Garnett guarding everybody. “You’ve got to play with passion. You’ve got to enjoy the game.”

Good news: Avery Johnson apparently saw something subliminal in Sunday’s films that escaped your casual, horrified observer and so encouraged the Little General that he decided they didn’t need to practice … via WFAA-TV Dallas

“I know Coach Johnson probably wants to take the ball out of CP’s hands and go trap and do things like that, but it still puts him at a disadvantage”

The New Orleans coach longed to find an edge or uncover some wrinkle that would blindside the Mavericks to open the series. via Dallas Morning News

“I’m just so happy to be the one that speaks louder than all those guys. “You could have pretty much gone through our whole roster and picked out a (solid) defensive guy”

When Kevin Garnett starts screaming, the Celtics’ defense stops struggling. For all his assets - athleticism, intensity, intelligence - it’s the ability to communicate with teammates that he considers the key … via Austin American-Statesman

“We got to play harder and play smarter”

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News esefko@dallasnews.com For Avery Johnson and the Mavericks, their plight going into tonight’s all-important Game 3 against New Orleans is a vivid illustration of the thin … via WFAA-TV Dallas

“It’s just a form of camaraderie, and hopefully, a sense of motivation”

If the Mavericks lose this series to New Orleans - and they’re well on their way to doing so - Mark Cuban must decide whether Avery Johnson can lead his team to a championship. via WFAA-TV Dallas

“If we get some stops and we get our running game going, we can get the ball in Kidd’s hands and let him do his thing in the open court and create and find open shooters”

A word of advice to Avery Johnson before Game 2 of the Mavericks’ playoff series against New Orleans: Do whatever it takes to get the Mavs’ running game going. via Quick

“He did such a good job of getting to the paint and making buckets, and then, all of a sudden he’s getting to the paint and then he’s finding”

With a quick behind-the-back dribble, Chris Paul darted left. Jason Kidd and Jason Terry, who had converged in the back court in an effort to trap the Hornets’ playmaker extraordinaire, nearly fell over each … via The South Mississippi Sun Herald

“Many people didn’t think we’d have fan support; they were wrong. Many people didn’t think we’d make the playoffs; they were wrong again.”

So much for playoff experience. Chris Paul had 35 points and 10 assists in his first career playoff game Saturday night, lifting the New Orleans Hornets to a 104-92 come-from-behind victory over the Dallas … via Thestate.com

“I think it’s open a little bit”

Shaq and the Suns vs. the Spurs. Kobe Bryant head-to-head against Allen Iverson. via Journal Gazette

Two teams headed for the postseason battle tonight, as the Dallas Mavericks host the Southwest Division-champion New Orleans Hornets at American Airlines Center in a preview of a possible first round playoff … via Austin American-Statesman

“I think I got dumber lying in that chamber.”

When the most famous spokesperson for your industry is the likes of Michael Jackson, you’ve got PR issues. via The Dallas Morning News

“I don’t think it’s about any of the other teams”

It became clear on the Mavericks’ 0-for-2 swing against lottery-bound teams in the Pacific Northwest that one of two dynamics is at work. via WFAA-TV Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks will try to get back on track before the playoffs begin, as they close out a short road trip tonight against the inferior Seattle SuperSonics at KeyArena. via KIRO-TV Seattle