This post is from a couple of years ago by a Mavs fan, but it's interesting how it mirrors the situation now. It's a bit frightening, especially considered the offensive talent the Mavs had.

SUBJECT: Avery Johnson Should Be Fired

Look what he has done with the Mavs. The Mavs should be absolutely destroying anything or anyone in their past, it doesn't matter if they were in the west or the east. He's taken a high-powered exciting offense and turned it into a slow, uptight isolation offense. If Dirk isn't open in the low post, might as well let the shot clock run down. Josh Howard is now afraid to take any shot (T-WILL in his last game), Jason Kidd is hindered by no fast break, no transitional offense, Jason Terry might as well just stay along the baseline 3 point line and shoot desperation shots (Most of Outlaw's shots).

Yes the Mavs reached the finals under him and won 67 games, but look what he inherited. Don Nelson and Donnie Nelson built this team. They won so many games because of offensive fluidness, and ability to drive and score. Avery installed a good D, and they were unbeatable (until they met Don Nelson again). Now everything they do is about, one on one, give it to Dirk and pray. I think Avery is a good coach, just not good for the Mavs.

Look at the Mavs problems this year. Scoring, and execution. Dirk's numbers are down, Kidd took till the last game of the year to get a triple-double. Josh Howard will never take a shot anymore. Jason Terry cant make ****, Jerry Stackhouse is non-existent (yes I know, injuries), Erica Dampier actually had an OK year.

The Mavericks, under any other offensively minded coach would be obliterating everyone.

Recently our D has been failing us. Well no ****. Thats what happens when you trade two of our best defenders. Diop and Harris would the meat and potatoes of our D. Diop was a block machine, Harris was the quickest (maybe 2nd behind parker), PG in the league, who finally developed a shot. So who do we have that can play D now? Well Dirk cant, Kidd is OK... against bigger PG's like B Diddy... not against Paul or Parker, Howard is OK, but makes bonehead fouls, Jason Terry... not, Erica Dampier LOL wut? The only other guy who can play D is Brandon Bass, who is the ONLY reason we have a presence under the basket, he is a beast.

Mavs SHOULD be a Dynasty, but they have been hindered. Mavs could have an offense like Golden State or Phoenix, and a D not unlike San Antonio's.