Expectations were heightened for the Brooklyn Nets as they moved from New Jersey to the big bright lights in New York City. Initially Avery Johnson was applauded for his work as Nets head coach during the fist two months of the season, when he led his team to an 11-4 start and was named Eastern Conference coach of the month in both October and November. Since then, however, Brooklyn is just 2-8, in part because Brook Lopez went down with an injury that kept him out for five of those eight losses, but also in part due to Deron WIlliams having a down season, and being admittedly uncomfortable in his head coach’s system. Now Johnson is in the hot seat. Read more after the jump.
Johnsons rotations, lineups, offensive sets and more have been criticized since the Nets season have taken a slight nosedive. Their third quarter woes and continually losing big leads definitely hasn’t gone unnoticed. Despite whatever is going on with his players of course the heat will mainly fall on the coach. So how does Johnson feel about his job security?
“Listen to this: at some point, after I signed on as a coach, when I signed on the dotted line, a couple of things are going to happen at some point: 1. I’m going to get fired, 2. I’m going to resign. 3. I’m going to get re-assigned,” Johnson told reporters after practice on Friday, according to the New York Daily News.
“One of those three things happens to every head coach in this league. As soon as you sign your name on that dotted line. And a lot of times, one of those three we know what’s going to happen because we’re in control. Two of those three we have no control over. So what we do is we continue to do our jobs. I think the best thing about jobs is when we have adversity, we have setbacks, as a coach we continue to lead with passion.
“So right now, what I’m really concerned about is us playing good basketball. So until ownership tells me otherwise I’m going to continue to do my job.”
Though it’s very early I still believe the Nets will make the playoffs. The Eastern Conference is much easier in comparison to the Western Conference so securing a spot isn’t that difficult. The Nets are nowhere near a championship level yet however they can do better than what they’re currently doing so changes will have to be made.
