The Dallas Mavericks Choked!
For only the 3rd time in 23 years since the NBA went to a 16-team format in the playoffs did a #8 seed knock out a #1 seed! Dirk Nowitzki disappeared when his team really needed him as Don Nelson devised a plan to stop him on the court. It was amazing to see the Mavericks show no pride tonight and take the beating that the Golden State Warriors gave them! It was amazing to see owner Mark Cuban answering questions after the game with tears in his eyes as he probably came to realize that the coach he treated so badly was much better than the one he replaced him with.
This is a shock? Dirk has disappeared in every playoff series with the exception of the San Antonio series last season. I will not watch the Mavs again until Dirk is traded or retires which will be a while. Even more disturbing, Cuban for all his wisdom is blind to the fact the Dirk is incapable of leading this team to a title. I feel sorry for the fans because it walked like a duck, talked like a duck, but turned out to be a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Pathetic is the only word I can muster at this point.
I don’t believe for an instant that Nellie is a better coach than Avery (though Cuban did treat Nellie badly I agree.) The realization I very badly want him to come to is that this team will not make it all the way to finals, and it’s time for a major shake-up.
You know when you have a hot team you have a hot team. I was honestly NOT expecting the Warriors to take it like this. Dirk is STILL the man and I’m still shocked at how cowardly he acted…if Don Corleone was the coach he’d slap Dirk and tell him to act like a man…which is what he needed. Anyways congrats on a great season…crappy way to end a great run for the Mav’s, but honestly who knew?
I must say that I have to disagree about the thought that Avery Johnson is a better coach than Don Nelson is. Who’s still playing? Anyways, Johnson was clearly outcoached this whole series as Nelson dictated how this series would be played. The Mavericks were exposed as a team with no center and an overrated guard tandem. I think last year’s playoff run was luck as the Mavericks are a soft team that needs rebuilt. With that being said, they must rebuild around Dirk Nowitzki. If they trade him they are fools.