Dallas Mavericks basketball coach Avery Johnson was fired by boss Mark Cuban after the Mavs were rocked in the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs by the New Orleans Hornets.

The Mavericks, despite great regular seasons, were eliminated from the Playoffs in the first round each of the past two years.  Avery had the team in the NBA Finals just three years ago.  They had a 2-0 game lead on Miami before the Heat came back to win it all.  The franchise has not been the same since then.

Don’t worry about Avery.  He will land on his feet with another NBA team before long.  I just have no clue how professional players could tolerate hearing his voice for 82+ games a season.

Cuban should take a lot of the blame for trading for a very over-the-hill Jason Kidd that totally threw a kink in any chemistry the team had before his arrival.

No word yet if Avery plans to file a discrimination suit for being fired for being too short.

Avery’s Career Coaching Mark with the Mavs

• Regular Season 194-70
• Post Season 23-24

Avery wasn’t the only coach fired today.  The Phoenix Suns split ways with their head coach Mike D’Antoni as well.  D’Antoni was the victim of a bad trade as well…for .