what led to the collapse of the dallas mavericks in finals 06-07 after a 67win-15losses record season?

Question

Is Dirk really the one to blame?
Is Josh Howard and Jason Terry the problem?

Answer 1

Dallas head coach Avery Johnson

See in the 2006 NBA playoffs, along with a scheduling error which "global" NBA Commissioner David Stern said would never happen again which gave Dallas a tremendous advantage over the Spurs, I think that Spurs Coach Popovich did not have the killer instinct against the former "heart and soul" and spokesman and leader of the Spurs for many years both on and off the court in Avery Johnson.

Avery Johnson was also familiar with Coach Popovich's tendencies in certain set situations.

Coach Popovich is probably the most unpredictable and least understandable head coach in the NBA which is a skill that Avery Johnson did not learn from Coach Popovich.

As Coach Don Nelson was the mentor of both Coaches Popovich and Avery Nelson with Coach Avery Nelson having been an assistant for Coach Don Nelson for years, I feel that Coach Don Nelson is another unpredictable coach whose tendancies are much less predictable than the unpredictable, mainly off court, Coach Popovich where Coach Don Nelson is more unpredictable on court.

I don't feel that Dallas Head Coach Avery Johnson could ever learn Coach Don Nelson's unpredictable style on the court or Coach Popovich's unpredictable style off of the court.

In the 2007 NBA Finals, you had Coach Don Nelson seeking a little revenge against his former franchise, and, add to that Don Nelson's five NBA rings in two different eras as a NBA player when Don Nelson almost defined the "6th man role in the NBA" for many years as a player. Those 5 NBA rings as a NBA player for Don Nelson must have given Don Nelson more of a natural killer instinct than that of Coach Popovich who never competed in the NBA as a player much less as a NBA player in the NBA Finals where Nelson was 5 for 5 in two different eras while winning his 5 NBA rings.

So, Coach Don Nelson had many more reasons and the desire to teach his former pupil some things in the 2007 NBA playoffs while I did not see the same killer instinct in Coach Popovich in the 2006 NBA Western Conference Finals playoffs as Coach Popovich still seemed to respect Dallas Head Coach Avery Johnson because Avery Johnson's was Coach Popovich's "heart and soul" for so many years while Avery Johnson was never Don Nelson's "heart and soul".

Dallas Head Coach Avery Johnson's mentors were probably the two most unpredictable head coaches in the current NBA which would make student Avery Johnson's learning from them so much more difficult.

In other words Avery Johnson had no idea of what his mentor Coach Popovich's gut feel was on a day in and day out basis.

And even more unpredictable would be Avery Johnson's mentor Coach Don Nelson who would have a reason to beat Dallas while knowing the Dallas franchise fairly well with a killer instinct to defeat Avery Johnson which Coach Popovich never treated Avery Johnson in 2006 with a killer instinct.

The 2007 Dallas squad was the second deepest team in the NBA, and, just as in 2006 Coach Avery Johnson with a killer instinct and a desire to show his long time mentor that he could win outcoached Coach Popovich in 2006 from what I feel as Coach Popovich's lack of a killer instinct against Avery Johnson who for many years was the "heart and soul" and much more to Coach Popovich and the Spurs, in 2007 Coach Don Nelson with a killer instinct outcoached Coach Avery Johnson who meant much less to Don Nelson.

Add the fact that the 2006-2007 NBA regular season was argueably one of Dirk's worst 9 years as a NBA starter(fewest three pointers made, fewest steals, fewest block shots, third to the lowest rebounds per game in nine years, lowest scoring average in the last three years, second lowest scoring average in the last five years, etc...).

I think that Dirk was the problem, and I think the Coach Don Nelson knew how to exploit Dallas', Dirk's, and Avery Johnson's weaknesses.

The 2007 playoffs were the mentor showing a very inexperienced pupil how the game of basketball should be played along with Don Nelson's well over 1,000 more games coached and many more playoff games coached than Avery Johnson.

Seeing experienced and saavy Golden State Head Coach Don Nelson work against his inexperienced former pupil in Dallas Head Coach Avery Nelson was almost like watching Don Nelson, as an adult, taking candy from a child.

Dallas' 67 game win season came primarily from Mark Cuban's pocket book and Dallas' deep bench and not from Dirk.

Answer 2

The question should be WHO led to the collapse? I think Avery Johnson panicked by changing the line-up in the 1st game, thus trying to adapt to the running style of the Warriors and it backfired big time. Dallas is not equipped to run with any team. And, of course, Jerk Nowitski didn't help matters by constantly shooting the ball and shooting the ball and shooting even more. He was scared to go into the lane and when he would post up in the paint, someone like Baron Davis or Stephon Jackson would easily push him outside where he would shoot it yet again. Dallas didn't really choke...they just played a team better than them at the wrong time and that team just happened to have their former coach who practically built the Mavericks and knows how they play.

Answer 3

Inexperienced coach! The coach is suppose to find a way for the players to win. Josh and Terry did what they could. We dont have a true point guard so that was also used against us. Don knew how to destroy Dirk. Don draftedboth Josh and Devin. He knew their weeknesses. He built the team and knew exactly what to do to take em out.

Bottom Line. Avery got schooled by his teacher. Plus GS were really hot coming in to the playoffs.

Answer 4

The GS coach Don Nelson got some sweet revenge over his former boss and team. The former Dallas coach know the strength and weaknesses of all the Dallas players and he used it judiciously against them.

Chances are if Dallas was pitted against a different team, they wouldve stomped their way through the playoffs (A San Antonio vs Dallas matchup in the West Con Finals would rock especially since the Dallas coach, Avery Johnson, is the Spurs former point guard).

Answer 5

I think more than anything else Don Nelson out-coached his protege Avery Johnson. Nelson used his young, athletic team to run and play tough man to man defense. And for that entire series there was no answer for Baron Davis...he could have beaten the Harlem Globetrotters.

I don't blame Dirk, though he becomes a liability sometimes on the glass and playing post defense, and i think too often he settles for an outside shot, especially against tough man to man.

Answer 6

That only shows that students can't outdo their teachers. Don Nelson knew every Dallas player by heart. He literally was the savior of the Dallas organization after the trio of Jim Jackson, Jason Kidd and Rick Fox collapsed. He rebuilt the team and saved them from obscurity. So no it's not any players fault but the lethal weapon there is Don's total knowledge of the team itself.

Answer 7

because the coach of the warriors was the former caoch of the mavs. he knows the weaknesses of dallas, especially dirk's. golden state did put a small line up on that series (davis richrdson ellis barnes biedrins jackson) you can beat dallas on an uptempo style because of that'll make dirk not much effective, also you will take dampier and diop off their rhythm (give diop benefit of a doubt, he can play run n gun basketball eventhough he's 7'2"). also baron davis was incredible on that series. so as matt barnes and stephen jackson.

Answer 8

its the style of play of the gsw that gotten the mavs.. if you noticed they are playing like a team with no plan/play they just make shots.. and so luckily for them it went in...
the other reason is don nelson, he's the only one in the nba that knows dirk very well. he knows what dirk weaknesses are....
and the role players also.. where are they, when their leader/captain is having difficulties??

Answer 9

The Mavs were fine,the Warriors were just too determined.When you haven't tasted the playoffs in so long I guess it drives and motivates you.

Answer 10

dirk chokes but he might not if he stopped singing hasselhoff songs while he shoots clutch free throws