Nets could be improved vs. Sportsbook Odds, Hire Johnson. The New Jersey Nets continue to take steps that will make them improved vs. NBA odds at the sportsbook next season. They have come to an agreement to make Avery Johnson their next head coach and that should make them an instant contender to win vs. sportsbook online odds next season.
All Avery Johnson did with Dallas was to win games. He had a 194-70 regular season record with the Mavericks. He took the team to the NBA Finals in 2006 but he was fired after losing in the playoffs in 208 to New Orleans. He sat out this past year and was an analyst for ESPN. Johnson should immediately improve New Jersey no matter who the team decided to get in free agency. Johnson was very impressive in his interview with New Jersey general manager Rod Thorn and the Nets didn’t wait to hire Johnson.
The Nets are expected to be major players in free agency so Johnson should have a say in which players the team goes after. He will also be expected to get point guard Devin Harris back on track. Harris played for Johnson with the Mavericks so the two have worked together before although they don’t always agree. Harris did say that Johnson helped him become a better player.
The Nets have a new owner in Mikhail Prokhorov who is set to rebuild a franchise that went an NBA-worst 12-70 the last season. He is very excited about the hiring of Johnson and called it the first step in turning the Nets around.
Johnson has the best winning percentage of any coach in NBA history. He was NBA Coach of the Year when he led Dallas to the NBA Finals. New Jersey still has Harris and they also have a good young center in Brook Lopez. New Jersey also picks third in the upcoming NBA Draft and they have a lot of money to spend on free agents. The days of the New Jersey Nets being a joke in the league are over as Johnson is an excellent coach who will have his team playing defense and efficient offense. With a couple of free agents, the Nets could go from the worst team in the league to a playoff team next season with Johnson at the helm.