Avery apparently canceled practice last night, but the players weren't having any of it.

Monday, Johnson decided to give the players a day off and meet on the plane, but they apparently figured they needed work and called a players-only practice.

You have to wonder how Mavericks owner Mark Cuban will respond to Avery not wanting to practice on the eve of an elimination game.

I've really got to disagree with Hubbard here. I don't mind one bit that Avery canceled practice.

Do you really think that Avery expected his players not to practice? Dirk's an absolute workaholic, Kidd's a future HOF that had given us nothing this series, and Josh has been playing the worst basketball of his career of late.

I really don't mind Avery putting the onus on the players. This move has a decent change of firing them up and getting them to come together as a team, something that really hasn't happened since 'The Trade.' Worst case scenario: Dallas comes out flat and gets blown out on the road. Sounds less depressing than what just happened following what could realistically be Avery's last practice as head coach —
 Dallas came out flat and got blown out at home, where we own the 3rd best record in the NBA.

Pile on Avery if you wish, but he's made some good adjustments this series — Josh Howard and the bench just haven't executed.