Avery Johnson
Avery Johnson
Avery Johnsonis an American basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team. Johnson spent 16 years in the National Basketball Association as a player, and subsequently served as the head coach of two NBA teams: the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets. He led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance and to three consecutive 50+ win seasons. During his playing days, Johnson was known as the "Little General" for his...
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth25 March 1969
CityNew Orleans, LA
hopefully next
I'm not disappointed, but it just didn't work. We'll hopefully do it in the next day or two, so it still may happen.
next opinion outside
I'm their motivation. We don't need outside opinion or perceptions to be motivation. I know how we need to play to get to the next level.
anybody ball guards guys next passes people reading spot standing three
It's those guys reading each other, Damp getting in the right spot and our guards making passes and getting him the ball. Spacing is a key. You can't get anybody the ball if three people are standing next to him.
break matter message next race supposed team trying
I don't want our team to misconstrue the message of us trying to get to the next level. We're not going to get there in one night, all right? No matter what's been said over the All-Star break or what race we're supposed to be in, it's all meaningless right now.
figure next plug system trying
But we are trying to figure out how to take the next step. We've got a system in place now, and we're trying to plug in the right pieces.
brag fresh good love missing practice practices prepare trying
They know I love to practice, and we don't really brag on how much we practice or how much we prepare like a lot of other situations. But they know I love to practice and I've been missing out on my good practices trying to just keep them fresh a little bit.
boils
They scored, we didn't (down the stretch). They got stops, we didn't. That's what it boils down to.
chance difference games ourselves rally team trying
It is a disappointing loss. When we come to the games we try and give ourselves a chance to win. I wasn't trying to rally the team by getting ejected; I think it was more a difference of opinion.
basketball chance forgotten guy holding instead looked mavericks mentally movement player pounding shots step team teams win
I think the Mavericks -- our team -- we've kind of forgotten who we are as basketball team and what made us successful. It wasn't shots on the offense. It wasn't holding the ball. We've kind of looked like some of our old teams with one guy pounding the ball instead of ball movement and player movement. We haven't been physical. Is that because we've been fatigued? I don't know. I know we've been a step slow. I can see that -- mentally and physically. We just need to get back to being who we are, and I think that will give us a better chance to win some of these games.
loose playing
They were playing loose and had nothing to lose.
players positive relationship scream
My relationship with the players is very important. We think that's had a positive effect, so that when I do scream every now and then, they take it the right way.
bit doctor expect knee leg talking
(Josh is) day-to-day. He kind of tweaked his leg a little bit but right now, talking to the doctor and Josh, I expect him back. The doctor told me (Keith) just kind of tweaked his knee a little bit and like Josh, he's pretty much day-to-day.
bodies favorite four glad healed rest series swings time
I'm glad to get this series over. Obviously, we would have had four swings at it. I'm glad to get it on the first swing. Now it's time for us to try to get some rest and get some bodies healed and get back to practice, because that's my favorite part of this whole deal.
mentally physically stayed win
No question, this was a big win for us. We stayed mentally and physically tough.