"I was on a team that was 0-2, we came back to tie it, and then [Dennis] Rodman went crazy," said Johnson, recalling when the San Antonio Spurs almost came from 0-2 down to eliminate the Houston Rockets in 1995. http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/nba/dallas_mavericks/11500848.htm There is no way this guy can honestly believe that Rodman had anything to do with them losing that series. I happen to think he didn't want to damage his teams fragile psyche anymore than it is by telling them the truth. 'hey look, we came back from down 0-2 to tie that series and would have probably won if wasn't for Rodman going crazy" sounds a lot better than "we came back from a 0-2 hole but never had a chance anyway because they were the better team"
It's funny because the real reason they lost that series is because Hakeem Olajuwon went crazy. Dude was absolutely out of his mind during that series. Destroyed the "MVP" D-Rob.
I think he's just trying to give them a hope to hold on to. AJ always seemed smart, and a smart person wouldn't think Rodman's antics were the reason they lost to Houston in '95.
AJ's more of a motivator than he is a smart coach. I always thought he was a smart player, but I don't think that translates into becoming a good coach. I really just think it was too soon for him to take over as head coach. He just doesn't have enough experience from the sidelines.
If any of his team actually knows basketball or has any knowledge of the history of the series and watched even one game....knows that San Antonio never stood a chance...not one bit..they totally got anihilated in that series... They will probably look at them selves and Avery as like...you want us to use that as motivation to come back? I would be like what the hell are you smoking Avery...
I did think and still do think that Rodman's antics contributed to SA losing that series. They lost control..and it imploded. It wasn't the ONLY reason they lost...or even the main reason...but I think it was a factor. He was huge from them, and he seemingly went AWOL.
but that's just not true. they came to Houston and won 2 games after dropping the first 2 on the road. we didn't annihilate them. we just didn't. it went 6, and those were hard-fought games.
Rodman WAS one of the main reasons they lost that series, but not because of his antics. It was because he didn't step out and guard Robert Horry.
But his antics in the playoffs weren't different. It wasn't like he all of a sudden went crazy. They weren't a better a team coming in than they were after game 4. They were the same team. I do think Rodman had been a distraction for some time, and it started before he ever arrived in SA town.
He became a distraction in that series. When they needed him most, he parked his ass on the floor and took his shoes off. Say whatever you want about that..but when you lock up in a playoff series and in tight games on the road...and a guy you're really counting on does something like that..it affects EVERYONE on the team. They had NO substitute for him on the boards.
I guess it's more my memories tend to be HAKEEM anihilating them so i will refer the whole team to it... lol I have tunnel vision sometimes.
Dream juked David Robinson out of his shoes the first 2 games. Then Robinson played Dream straight up for games 3 and 4, didn't go for pump fakes and just irritated Dream enough for the Spurs to win. Dream came back in games 5 and 6 going back to the basics. Catch and shoot, catch and fadeaway, catch and pump once and shoot. The whole series was Dream vs Robinson imo.
You guys are being a bit overconfident, don't you think? Dallas doesn't need to think about winning the WHOLE series, they only need to concern themselves and put all their energy into Game 3. Then win that game, and then they only have to win 3 of the next 4 games (not easy, I know, but not impossible either). I think for us to secure this series abd be able to close it out with confidence, we have to win Game 3. Because if they win Game 3, they will all of a sudden become confident and start thinking that they can go back to Dallas having the series all tied up and regaining their home court advantage. I think it is absolutely crucial to send a message with Game 3 that this series is OVER, then they will lay down and die.
actually, if i remember right, the bench was HUGE in Game 5. seem to remember Sammy Cassell going off like crazy in that game.
I remember that. He was an idiot. The part that I have a disagreement with Avery's quote is the part where he said '...and then a guy(Dennis Rodman) went crazy.' It wasn't 'and then'. It had been happening during the regular season, and there were even problems with him in earlier games in that season. The team was trying different approaches as the series continued. So I think it was wrong to believe any of the spurs really counted on Rodman. I think they hoped he would be a big help, and were happy the times that he was, but I can't imagine that they would have counted on him to be there and not a distraction. I'm not sure they were too surprised when his attitude got in the way.
I used to have some respect for Avery Johnson. Now his whining and finding excuses is making me respect him less everyday.
he became a distraction because he didn't get the amount of playing time he wanted. he didn't get the amount of playing time he wanted because he wasn't effective enough to get the amount of playing time he thought he deserved. grabbing boards is great and everything, but when the Dream is swhishing everything he throws up, and the rest of the Rockets are as well, grabbing boards doesn't do you a lot of good. The spurs needed an offense option from their powerforward position which Rodman didn't provide, so his playing time took a hit and he pouted, whatever, that had nothing to do with them not winning that series.
