Dirk Nowitzki hasn't played a game for Coach Rick Carlisle yet, but heading into the season he appears happy with the Mavericks' coaching change, according to Dallas Morning News.

"I had a good time with Avery [Johnson]," Nowitzki said Thursday. "But sometimes I wish we had communicated a little more. We all know Avery ran a little dictatorship here. I think this league is still a league of players, not a coach's league."

Johnson's regimented style and lack of offensive creativity wore down Nowitzki and his teammates.

"Avery had a really strong will of what should go on out there, and he controlled the game a lot. I don't think there was enough movement going on," Dirk added. "People were just sitting on our stuff, especially in the playoffs. We just couldn't score enough."

"I don't think we got enough easy stuff, either on the break or on cuts. Everything was post-ups or contested shots. It wasn't easy. I don't want to use this year to bash Avery. He took us to the Finals and did a phenomenal job. He came in and brought fire and enthusiasm."