Avery Johnson Named Coach of the Year

[Keo]

Dallas’ Avery Johnson Named 2005-06 NBA Coach of the Year

NEW YORK, April 25 -- Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson has been named the winner of the Red Auerbach Trophy as the NBA Coach of the Year for the 2005-06 season, the NBA announced today.

In his first full season as the Mavericks head coach, Johnson received 419 points, including 63 first-place votes, from a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Coaches were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote received. The 2004-05 Coach of the Year Mike D’Antoni of the Phoenix Suns was second with 247 points (27 first-place votes) and the Detroit Pistons’ Flip Saunders was third with 223 points (18 first-place votes).

Johnson, the first coach in Mavericks history to receive the honor, led the Mavericks to a 60-22 (.732) record, the third-best mark in the league and tied for the best season in franchise history. Johnson, named head coach on March 19, 2005, was the fastest coach to 50 wins (50-12) and recorded the best start by a first-time coach in league history, winning 66 of his first 82 games. Johnson led the Mavericks to a 34-7 mark at home, tied with the San Antonio Spurs for the best home record in the Western Conference.

Johnson’s focus on defense guided the Mavericks to the third-best point differential in the league, as they posted 99.1 points per game while holding opponents to a franchise-low 93.1 points. This year marked only the seventh time in the franchise’s 26 years that the Mavericks held opponents under 100 points per game. After being outrebounded last season, they tallied 3.9 more rebounds per game than their opponents this season (3rd best in the league), pulling down 42.2 boards per game and holding opponents to 38.3.

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I thought Flip Saunders deserved it more but still not a bad choice. Comments?

[BIG GREEN]

Definitly not a bad choice...and while Dallas is a much more improved team defensivly..the fact remains they have been making the play-offs for years. The clippers coach and others deserved it more imo; dallas isn't even a sure championship winner.

[hipn]

Sam Mitchell



JOKING JOKING!

[Buckley]

it definitely goes to avery johnson. this year, the mavericks finally learned how to play defense, because they have a defensive-minded coach. hes gotten the most out of his players, many people thought diop was a bust but he came to dallas to become an effective role player. also dirk has been having an excellent year, but nothing will matter for the mavs until they win there second round matchup with san antonio which has to change to the conference finals, the NBA fucked up on making that division winner is top 3 seed rule

[Jing]

nice he deserves it

[zmac]

He was very deserving.

REALGM said yesterday he won it, looks like they were right.....

[Its_asdf]

There aren't too many candidates that really stood out this season, but I think that Avery Johnson definitely deserves some credit.

He turned the Mav's defence around while maintaining their high scoring numbers. Awesome.

[Abctest123]

avery johnson has done a great job with Dallas, adding a defensive presence needed if they dont want to get kicked out atleast in the first round. the only problem i have with this is that they shoulda gave it to Flip just to piss off Larry Brown.

[Matthew]

dallas isn't even a sure championship winner

no team is a sure championship winner at this stage. avery johnson has converted this teams mentality and made them a contender again, and thats with losing michael finely without getting anything return.

[Anthony15]

Well Dallas did a good jobb in the season, but I doubt they'll go past the semis in the playoffs. Bad choice

Should've been Flip Saunders!

[SFSports]

I had Larry Brown.......

[Andrew]

There goes one of my predictions. No arguments here though, I can't say he doesn't deserve it.

[Mayerhendrix]

It doesn't matter how far they'll go. The record doesn't indicate how much he's helped them. He's brought them a lot higher and that should be commended.

Byron Scott- Huge improvement but isn't that because of Chris Paul?

Mike Dunleavy- the addition of Cassell was probably what allowed them to finally carry out his goals for them.

Flip Saunders- I think more than anything he's done, the team's so called improved offense is because Larry Brown used to focus on D so much and now it's more balanced. Also, they've been playing together another year.

[Silas]

i think its a great choice, he's had a lot of changes and still prevailed, and he's new to the whole thing as well.

[Amphatoast]

Well deserved in my opinion.
The Pistons were already great and knew each other and would of probably had a similar record if Larry Brown was there so it isn't really the coach making the difference ( not trying to downgrade flip)

But Avery kept the Mavericks strong even with the lose of finley, put the "D" back in Dallas, and had them on the heels of the defending champs for the best record in the west. Mavericks style of play is reflected on Avery Johnson system of play so it was well earned

[powerhoward85]

One of my prediction comes true. Hope so for other awards.

Anyway he really deserve it, in a rookie coaching season, he helped the team achieving the 3rd best record, and as mention, w/o finley.

Good job.

[Scotty]

yeah he's done a good job with the Mavs, well done Avery

[debiler]

Good job, deserving winner. Especially for what he's achieved defensively. But a little credit has to go to Don Nelson, imo.

[funk99]

avery johnson deserved it this year. Turning the team defensively and also leaving the offense where it was last year

[Fitzy]

well done to him

[Matt]

good choice, although personally i'd go with Phil Jackson. We'll see how good the Mavs defense really is when they face the Spurs.

[Axel]

Mike Dunleavy was my other choice for Coach of the Year. Still Avery was a good pick, and I think they are a championship contender.

[dada]

I think I had Flip. Oh well. He was right up there on my list anyways.

[cyanide]

I thought he deserved it. He did an excellent job with the Mavs ever since he took over the team. It surprised me when he was a player-coach and even coached over Don Nelson, but he certainly proved that he can coach. Kinda did in his career as Rick Carlsie was known for, a player that was predicted to be a good coach once he retires.

[dada]

I thought his COY chances were going down seeing the hicups the Mavs had at points in the 2nd half of the season.