Avery Johnson came to a verbal agreement with the New Jersey Nets and will be the first coach hired under the reign of super-Russian Mikhail Prokhorov. NJ hiring Johnson and Thibodeau going to Chicago further proves my point, Phil Jackson isn't going anywhere.
Avery Johnson coached 3 full seasons with Dallas. Although his tenure at Dallas short lived he managed to get coach of the year, two 60+ win seasons, a Finals appearance and the highest coaching win percentage in NBA history. Despite an impressive first 3 seasons, Johnson was fired in 2008 due to consecutive first round eliminations. Most notably in 2007 when the Mavericks posted an NBA best 67-15 record and lost to the 8 seeded Warriors in 6 games.
This is a good start for New Jersey's rebuilding and Prokhorov's guarantee of a championship in five years or less. Getting a relatively young, experienced and successful coach. Although his teams have pulled off some of the greatest chokes in recent memory such as blowing a 2-0 lead in the 2006 Finals to the Dwayne Wade show and the aforementioned first round exit, he doesn't deserve all of the credit. Dirk Nowitzki is one of the leagues most masterful choke artists. Dirk's Mavericks have never gotten it done when they needed to. They haven't done it with Don Nelson or Avery Johnson and Rick Carlisle isn't doing much better right now, in fact he's doing worse.
They have a dedicated owner with deep pockets, a proven coach, a high draft pick and a couple of good building blocks (or trade bait) in Devin Harris and Brooke Lopez. I know they are coming off one of the worst seasons ever, but like Johnson said "The sky is the limit". You can only move up from where New Jersey is. The best free agency class of all time is coming in less than a month. Avery Johnson has been the best hiring by any team thus far and makes New Jersey a little more appealing. Who knows how far up they can go.
You really have to like the Nets chances in the next 5 years to make a run. The richest owner in American Sports and solid free agent class and its no secret that there moving to New York and are probably taking Melo with them.
ReplyDeleteWell it seems they are wining a championship in the next 5 years according to Prokhorov. I guess we should just cross them off the list of long title droughts and franchises looking for their first championship then....
ReplyDeleteThat does put a lot of pressure on but I like that attitude. They do have talent and they made the right decision, bringing in a proven pro coach rather then a Hall of Fame type college guy.