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[UPDATE] Welcome To Brooklyn: Nets Fire Head Coach Avery Johnson
By
Derek Evers
Published Dec 27, 2012
Modified Dec 27, 2012
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By
Derek Evers
Published Dec 27, 2012
Modified Dec 27, 2012
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Only nine days after complaining about Avery Johnson's coaching style, Deron Williams got his wish today as the Nets relieved Johnson of his coaching duties after a 14-14 start.
Despite what many experts believe has been an extreme underperformance of the highly touted and paid backcourt of Williams and Joe Johnson (including Williams' good friend Jason Kidd), GM Billy King made the call to let Johnson go. Johnson, who was in the final year of his contract, was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October and November following an 11-4 start. But the Nets have won just three of their last 13 games in December, falling to .500. PJ Carlesimo (he of the infamous Latrell Sprewell choking) will take over as interim coach.
Back on December 18, Deron Williams blamed his lack of production on coach Johnson's isolation-heavy offense, saying he produced better in a system, much like the one run in Utah under coach Jerry Sloan. Ironically, Williams squeezed out the future Hall of Fame and longest tenured coach Sloan before being traded from Utah.
For those keeping tabs, that's two coaches in two teams for Williams.
[UPADTE] The former coach's son, Avery Johnson Jr., has taken to Twitter to voice his displeasure with the organization's decision:
This is a fuxking Outrage. My dad is a great coach, he just got coach of the month and they Fire him. #Smh. Completely new team he had.
— Avery Johnson Jr. (@itsaveryjohnson) December 27, 2012
The expectations were way to high for this team. We didn't even have a losing record.... Didn't even give my dad a full season. #OUTRAGE
— Avery Johnson Jr. (@itsaveryjohnson) December 27, 2012
I'm sorry are best players couldn't make open shots. Yeah that's my dads fault totally...
— Avery Johnson Jr. (@itsaveryjohnson) December 27, 2012
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