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kriD · 05-11-2006, 02:56 AM

Mavs coach shows great court vision

Mavs coach was looking down the road when nursing injured players

[By David Moore / The Dallas Morning News]

SAN ANTONIO – The decision that rocked the Spurs and evened the series didn't come Monday afternoon when Avery Johnson informed Devin Harris that he would start Game 2.

It came two months earlier.

In a season when each incisive move seems to build on the next, when the big picture is part of every game plan, it's impossible to look at one bold move and isolate it from the rest.

The way Johnson managed injuries over the final weeks of the regular season is paying dividends for the Mavericks in the Faux Western Conference finals. Harris jumps to mind with the way he jumped on San Antonio for 20 points in Tuesday's game.

But it's not just him. The Mavericks took a cautious approach with Josh Howard and Adrian Griffin in March and April. All three are fresh for the playoffs.

That's more than can be said for San Antonio's Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili as the series waits to resume Saturday night at the American Airlines Center.

It's not that the Spurs and coach Gregg Popovich did anything wrong. It's just that Johnson seems to have done everything right.

"To me, it demonstrates a tremendous amount of insight and wisdom," said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks president of basketball operations. "I'd say the vast majority of coaches have the mind-set of 'how are we going to win this game tonight. I'll worry about everything else tomorrow.' You live in this daily existence where I need to get through this next battle and then this battle.

"The special coaches are able to maintain the daily dedication it takes to succeed and see things from 10,000 feet. That's a rare combination, especially for a young coach."

Think about it. You're a coach in your first full season and have a chance to finish ahead of San Antonio. You know a Southwest Division title earns the No. 1 seed in the conference and pushes the Spurs down to No. 4. Every bone in your body tells you the best course to follow to defeat the defending world champions is to own home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Johnson rejected conventional wisdom and focused on the big picture.

"I think we had a little criticism in there from maybe not rushing them back sooner rather than later, but like I told you guys, it gave us our best chance," Johnson said. "Maybe it hurt us a little bit in winning a game or two at the end."

Maybe? Harris played only seven minutes over the final five weeks of the regular season. He missed 23 of the team's final 27 games.

The Mavericks were 13-10 in his absence. A three-game losing streak to end March, followed by a loss to Golden State with one week left in the regular season, sealed the Mavericks' No. 4 fate.

Harris failed to take the court in all four of those losses. Howard missed two of those games and Griffin three. Keith Van Horn, who could return later this series, missed the loss to the Warriors.

Was there concern that the Mavericks sacrificed their shot at the division title for a chance – and nothing more than a chance – to be healthy for the playoffs? Owner Mark Cuban said no. Johnson stressed he didn't sacrifice any games. It was simply the approach that needed to be taken, an approach Popovich took when he sat Johnson (sore hamstring) for an extended period when he played for the Spurs.

"If your eye is on the ultimate prize, you've got to have everybody ready when that time comes," Nelson said. "If you're going to err, err on the side of caution."

A good coach starts the season in November and plans ahead.

A special coach looks at June and plans backward. Nelson will tell you that is what Johnson has done. A benefit of that thinking was seen Tuesday.

"Obviously," Cuban said.

It's obvious now. It wasn't in the final weeks of the regular season.

That is what makes it one of Johnson's better decisions.

05-11-2006, 02:56 AM	#1
kriD Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 2,039	Mavs coach shows great court vision Mavs coach shows great court vision Mavs coach was looking down the road when nursing injured players [By David Moore / The Dallas Morning News] SAN ANTONIO – The decision that rocked the Spurs and evened the series didn't come Monday afternoon when Avery Johnson informed Devin Harris that he would start Game 2. It came two months earlier. In a season when each incisive move seems to build on the next, when the big picture is part of every game plan, it's impossible to look at one bold move and isolate it from the rest. The way Johnson managed injuries over the final weeks of the regular season is paying dividends for the Mavericks in the Faux Western Conference finals. Harris jumps to mind with the way he jumped on San Antonio for 20 points in Tuesday's game. But it's not just him. The Mavericks took a cautious approach with Josh Howard and Adrian Griffin in March and April. All three are fresh for the playoffs. That's more than can be said for San Antonio's Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili as the series waits to resume Saturday night at the American Airlines Center. It's not that the Spurs and coach Gregg Popovich did anything wrong. It's just that Johnson seems to have done everything right. "To me, it demonstrates a tremendous amount of insight and wisdom," said Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks president of basketball operations. "I'd say the vast majority of coaches have the mind-set of 'how are we going to win this game tonight. I'll worry about everything else tomorrow.' You live in this daily existence where I need to get through this next battle and then this battle. "The special coaches are able to maintain the daily dedication it takes to succeed and see things from 10,000 feet. That's a rare combination, especially for a young coach." Think about it. You're a coach in your first full season and have a chance to finish ahead of San Antonio. You know a Southwest Division title earns the No. 1 seed in the conference and pushes the Spurs down to No. 4. Every bone in your body tells you the best course to follow to defeat the defending world champions is to own home-court advantage in the playoffs. Johnson rejected conventional wisdom and focused on the big picture. "I think we had a little criticism in there from maybe not rushing them back sooner rather than later, but like I told you guys, it gave us our best chance," Johnson said. "Maybe it hurt us a little bit in winning a game or two at the end." Maybe? Harris played only seven minutes over the final five weeks of the regular season. He missed 23 of the team's final 27 games. The Mavericks were 13-10 in his absence. A three-game losing streak to end March, followed by a loss to Golden State with one week left in the regular season, sealed the Mavericks' No. 4 fate. Harris failed to take the court in all four of those losses. Howard missed two of those games and Griffin three. Keith Van Horn, who could return later this series, missed the loss to the Warriors. Was there concern that the Mavericks sacrificed their shot at the division title for a chance – and nothing more than a chance – to be healthy for the playoffs? Owner Mark Cuban said no. Johnson stressed he didn't sacrifice any games. It was simply the approach that needed to be taken, an approach Popovich took when he sat Johnson (sore hamstring) for an extended period when he played for the Spurs. "If your eye is on the ultimate prize, you've got to have everybody ready when that time comes," Nelson said. "If you're going to err, err on the side of caution." A good coach starts the season in November and plans ahead. A special coach looks at June and plans backward. Nelson will tell you that is what Johnson has done. A benefit of that thinking was seen Tuesday. "Obviously," Cuban said. It's obvious now. It wasn't in the final weeks of the regular season. That is what makes it one of Johnson's better decisions.