Sick of this thing

- I hate this team. I really do. I'm sick of them. Sick of watching them. Sick of putting hope into them. They've run their course. They peaked in 2006 and gave us false hope going forward from that year. They've tuned out Avery. I'm done with this collection of spares.

- This team is NOTHING outside of Dirk. They can't defend, they can't score baskets when they absolutely need them (when the other team keys on Dirk), and they have the lowest collective Basketball IQ in the league.

- Avery gone. Howard gone. Stackhouse, Eddie Jones, Devean George, gone. I want this thing overhauled. This current mix has reached its tipping point with me. They have maxed out.

- What a pitiful showing, and what a sickening team to watch.

- I hate this team, and want this series and this era to end in 4 games. Get on with it already.


Right now, it looks bad for Dallas Mavericks ... and Avery

01:32 AM CDT on Wednesday, April 23, 2008

NEW ORLEANS – 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.

A few months ago, the question would've been laughable. These days, it's legitimate.

After New Orleans spent the final few minutes Tuesday of a 127-103 win clowning the Mavs and attempting dunks usually reserved for practice, Cuban must wonder whether the players still respond to Avery.

After all, Avery wore his glittering black-and-gold championship ring from 1999 to Game 2. Each of his assistant coaches who have earned championship rings also wore their jewelry.

"It's just a form of camaraderie, and hopefully, a sense of motivation," Avery said with a chuckle. "but I guess it didn't motivate tonight."

Nope.

Nothing else he tried worked, either.

As usual, Chris Paul shredded the Mavs defense, finishing with 32 points and 17 assists. David West and Peja Stojakovic each scored more than 20 points for New Orleans, so it should come as no surprise the Mavs, as mentally fragile as they come, return home facing an 0-2 series deficit.

The series isn't over, it just seems that way. Any basketball aficionado will tell you the series doesn't start until the home team loses, especially since Dallas has won both of its home games against New Orleans this season.

But how could anyone possibly have any confidence that the team you've seen blown out in each of the series' first two games can win four of the next five games?

Two years ago, Avery's team choked in the NBA Finals, blowing a 2-0 series lead. Last year, Avery's team became the first No. 1 seed to lose a best-of-7 series to a No. 8 seed.

Now, Avery's team can't win as underdogs. Don't forget, this team was supposed to thrive as a seventh seed because it wouldn't have any pressure to perform.

Guess not.

Unfortunately, losing in the playoffs isn't a new trend for the Mavericks. Avery is 2-10 in his last 12 playoff games. Six of those losses have been by double-digits.

Two of the four worst playoff losses in franchise history have occurred in the Mavs' last four games. Did we mention, Avery has lost eight straight road games?

Ridiculous.

On Tuesday, Dallas trailed by 10 after one quarter, 16 at halftime and 20 after the third quarter. Avery is supposed to be a defensive guru, but you certainly couldn't tell after the Mavs yielded their third consecutive 60-point half.

If Avery can't figure out how to get his team to respond and win this series, then none of us should be surprised if Cuban fires him.

Remember, Avery finally has the point guard – Jason Kidd – he's craved since he became the Mavs coach. No matter what you hear, he was 100 percent behind the deal because he never believed Devin Harris would lead Dallas to a title.

At 35, Kidd won't be one of the league's best players for much longer. If Cuban thinks Avery can't get the best out of Kidd, for whatever reason, then he must a make a move.

Cuban must also consider whether the players have tuned Avery out. Teams are supposed to take on their coach's personality, but the Little General's team wilts when confronted.

"We don't play with a lot of emotion," Dirk Nowitzki said. "Collectively, we have to have more fire. We have to get after them more. We have to just go for it and compete on both ends of the floor. We have to let it loose."

Unless they're sick of Avery. If that's the case, they just need to continue playing the same way.