NBA shakeups after playoff disappointments
April 30th, 2008, 11:43 am · Post a Comment · posted by Alex Kreitman
Avery Johnson is out as coach of the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni could be headed in the same direction.
Both teams were eliminated from the first round in just five games, basically blown out of the playoffs. These teams have been stellar squads the last few years. Dallas played in the NBA Finals, losing convincingly to Miami in 2006.
Phoenix has been one of the best teams in the league over the last five years or so. Steve Nash has been one of if not the best point guards in the league, but somehow the Suns couldn’t get it done.
With the West as tight as it was this season, we’re now starting to see how important seeding is. The Suns drew the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round, an unfavorable matchup for anyone. This series was the most exciting in last year’s playoffs with the Spurs advancing after Amare Stoudemire’s controversial suspension in the middle of the series.
Some say that suspension cost the Suns the series. But this year it wasn’t even close. Despite trading for Shaquille O’Neal before the trading deadline Phoenix never got better.
Speaking of blockbuster trades to improve your team, Dallas added Jason Kidd, but looked much worse with the All-Star point guard. How does that happen?
This is one of the rare circumstances with coaching changes that I feel a move is for the better. Usually I question how much of a role a coach really has with a team. Every team is filled with professionals and I often times think they should be able to produce no matter who’s on the bench holding the dry erase board.
In this case, these are super talented teams and there is no excuse for why they aren’t producing. The only reason I can think of is that the coach isn’t doing his job. So, maybe it’s for the best.
D’Antoni hasn’t been canned yet, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it happens later today, despite the front office dying those allegations.
Game 5 between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks is tonight. This game is a huge turning point in the series. I think whoever wins this one will have all the momentum in the series. Atlanta has more right now, but I can’t say they have it all since they have to hit the road and play in Boston tonight. I guarantee the Boston fans will make the environment hostile for the Hawks who have stirred up trouble and a few confrontations thus far in the series.
Go Celtics!
