Re: Avery's way for Mavs has a ring to it Avery's way for Mavs has a ring to itBy EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning NewsIt's been almost a year since that uncomfortable moment when Avery Johnson first talked about winning a championship ? in Dallas, no less.With the Mavericks.It was sort of like burping in public. You gave the man some space and tried not to giggle or say something awkward about the social indiscretion.Who knew then that by the end of this season, he'd have a whole team belching the same message?It doesn't seem near as uncomfortable now.Since that day last season when Johnson took over for Don Nelson, and particularly since the off-season work, through training camp and during an 82-game regular-season grind, everything Johnson has said and done has been geared toward a championship.So, has it worked?"We'll find out, won't we?" Del Harris, Johnson's right-hand man, said Tuesday. "It has produced 60 wins. But we all know that's not the ultimate goal."Not for Johnson, Harris, the rest of the coaching staff, the players or owner Mark Cuban. This weekend, the playoffs start, and the Mavericks are one of the four or five teams that can legitimately say they have a shot at the ring.That doesn't mean Johnson's season of educating his team about championship ideals and attitudes has reached a conclusion."We are trying to win a championship," Johnson said. "But we're in the first year of implementing a program. All we're saying is we didn't want to come in here saying we wanted to win games. We came in saying we were going to give 1,000 percent to our fans in trying to win a championship."But we had to try to implement the program. And whether we win the championship or not, we don't think our program is as strong now as it will be in years two, three or four."In many ways, the Mavericks have set themselves up for a big fall. If they don't win the title ? and it's certainly more likely than winning it ? then critics will question the wisdom of basing an entire season on championship aspirations.Johnson wouldn't have it any other way. The risk is worth it."It's big goals, big rewards," he said. "There are some teams that came into this year saying, we're trying to get to the playoffs. And they didn't make it. I'd rather say we're trying to win the championship and get [close] and not win it than to say we're trying to get to the playoffs or we're trying to win games. Let the criticism be high."Johnson's strategy for the franchise has rubbed well on the players. Nobody has been put off by the upgrade in pressure and expectations."He's got a championship under his belt," Josh Howard said. "I want to get one, too. He knows how to do it."Trust in the General. That's what the Mavericks have done, and it started with trusting in Johnson's willingness to talk openly about a championship."I think we have as good a shot as ever this year, maybe the best ever," Dirk Nowitzki said. "We match up with pretty much every team in the league. We can go small. We can go big. I still think we have a great shot. Avery's put his stamp on this team on how we play and how we compete every night. And that's a tribute to him."Jerry Stackhouse paid Johnson perhaps the ultimate compliment. He was asked about the decision ? a tough decision ? that Johnson has had to make regarding whether Stackhouse will be sixth man or a starter."I trust Avery," Stackhouse said. "I trust him more than any coach I've had since Dean Smith."That goes back to his North Carolina years and covers all of Stackhouse's NBA coaches. And, while sometimes it's hard to differentiate between lip service and truth, Stackhouse never throws out Dean Smith without some degree of reverence."I trust Avery," Cuban said. "Everybody trusts him. He's been there before. And it's not just about words. He'll discuss it with you and make you understand. He's a great communicator, and he's a great coach."Starting with his eagerness to talk big and risk big in hopes of getting a reward that's big.
Re: Avery's way for Mavs has a ring to it What the <Censored> with the over abundance of threads mavsfan. Copying and pasting way too much. Some of these are similar enough to be put in one thread.
Re: Avery's way for Mavs has a ring to it <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Apr 19 2006, 06:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What the <Censored> with the over abundance of threads mavsfan. Copying and pasting way too much. Some of these are similar enough to be put in one thread.</div>Hey Rok is your Avartar from the new Miami Vice movie coming out??
Re: Avery's way for Mavs has a ring to it <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Hey Rok is your Avartar from the new Miami Vice movie coming out??</div>Yea, from what word of mouth at screenings, it could one of Mann's best films. Heat's one of my favs, so I'm looking forward to this one. Also, hope they stick with the original theme music from the show.
