Call it symbolism or foreshadowing, but yesterday the official word came that the Nets’ coaching career of Avery Johnson slept with the fish. Johnson said he was surprised, the firing was “something I didn’t necessarily see coming — especially after our pretty good November.”

“We just didn’t have the same fire as we did when we were 11-4,” (general manager Billy) King said.

And they didn’t have the record expected after ownership spent more than a third of a billion dollars over the summer.

As coaches have learned forever, it’s a players’ league and Johnson’s status received an irreparable hit when Deron Williams voiced discontent over Johnson’s system. Williams even used the “S” word — Sloan — as having a system better suited for his play. And everyone knows how the Jerry Sloan-Deron Williams marriage ended. Williams’ public displeasure could not have helped Johnson.

“To pinpoint this all on Deron, that’s not fair. He wasn’t [consulted] in deciding this decision,” King said.

via Fred Kerber of the New York Post