Marty Mac's World extra: Johnson will be fine, will Mavericks?

It seems as if it were just a few days ago when congratulations were going to Avery Johnson.

The Lil' General had been in the right place at the right time. Former Dallas coach Don Nelson had taken him under his wing and convinced owner Mark Cuban that Johnson should become his successor.

In 2005, that was the case and Johnson quickly became viewed as one of league's brightest young coaches. He was a leader as a player and also viewed as perhaps the ultimate players coach.

Johnson not only had quickly risen to become an NBA head coach, but he'd taken over a talent-laden Dallas Mavericks squad. That doesn't happen every day.

Nor does getting fired after having won .735 percent of your regular-season games. That's 194-70 for those without a calculator nearby.

However, Wednesday that was Johnson's reality.

A 4-1 first-round playoff loss to the New Orleans Hornets obviously was more than Cuban could handle.

Dallas already had been through a 4-2 loss in 2006 NBA Finals to the Miami Heat after holding a 2-0 lead. Then there was the '07 first-round upset by the Golden State Warriors after the Mavs had compiled the league's best regular-season record.

As successful as Johnson was in the regular season, he was similarly unsuccessful in the playoffs.

There had been reports of Cuban and Johnson having a shouting match last month so a parting of the ways does not come as a complete surprise.

Yet, there are more questions than answers. Owners do not get fired. But, who is next? Where did Johnson stand on the trade that brought Jason Kidd and Malik Allen to the Mavs? If he was totally down with that move, then he helped sabotage his own cause. That deal made the Mavs worse because they became a worse defensive squad.

Entering the playoffs, were the Mavs a better team than New Orleans? Nope, and that feeling hasn't changed.

When you fire a coach, there should be a better replacement waiting in the wings. As interesting and reactionary as the decision may have been to fire the 43-year-old Johnson, will the decision to do so seem as logical three years from now?

Every marriage isn't perfect and the Cuban-Johnson group now is looking at the signed divorce papers.

One thing, we all know, is if Cuban wakes up Friday, he'll be rich. But for as much money as he has, he can't guarantee that wake-up call.

And if Johnson wakes up, he'll have nice digits in the bank account courtesy of Cuban.

As a player, Johnson was picked up, waived and picked up again - more can be remembered. He's been told before he wasn't good enough only to come back and help stars like David Robinson and Tim Duncan win their first NBA title.

Johnson likely will be coaching in the NBA next season and may have the chance to pick his team. Wonder if the old Mavs coach or the new Mavs coach will have a better record this time next year?

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• Read more in Marty Mac's World in Thursday's Sports section.