Dallas Mavericks practice for Game 5 without coaches

Links (3)

Last hurrah
Published 4/29/2008 by Chip's Moody Blues at Uwe Blog
... First off, everyone's making a big deal out of yesterday's players-only practice. So, zero hour before the biggest game of the season, what is Avery Johnson supposed to tell these guys? Don't settle for jumpers and drive to the basket? Rebound? Move the ball? Play defense? Contest shots? It's clear to everyone in the world what the Mavs should do to win, but it's clear they have no interest in doing it. So Johnson might as well sit at home and play Nintendo. ...

First Cup: Tuesday
Published 4/29/2008 at ESPN.com - True Hoop - Blog
... Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: "After Game 4 confirmed suspicions that this season just isn't meant to be, it seemed clear that the only thing left for the Mavericks was to close ranks and pull together. Instead, they might be pulling apart as the season's end lurks as early as tonight. The players stepped out on their own Monday afternoon. After coach Avery Johnson spoke briefly with the team at American Airlines Center, he canceled practice and said he would see everybody at the team plane for the flight to New Orleans. But several players ...

Mid-Sink Mutiny: Mavericks Practice without Avery Johnson Monday
Published 4/29/2008 by Will Brinson at FanHouse
... But you have to figure that if the players suddenly decide to publicly turn on AJ, that things could change drastically. And I may be going out on a limb here, but let's say that 'practicing without your coach and contrary to his orders' qualifies as 'publicly turning on'. ...