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The Dallas Mavericks yesterday fired coach Avery Johnson, a move that likely was the first of many by the club in the offseason.
Despite having the US National Basketball Association's highest annual payroll, Dallas were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season.
Johnson leaves with an impressive resume after three-plus seasons, but Mavs owner Mark Cuban couldn't tolerate a bottom line of being 3-12 in the playoffs since leading the Miami Heat 2-0 in the 2006 NBA finals and losing the title.
