So Don Nelson will be returning to coach the Golden State Warriors, who haven’t been to the playoffs since he left in the mid-90’s.
I met Billy Owens and Tim Hardaway once in San Francisco (yes, I used to be a baller) and I asked them what ol’Nellie had up his sleeve. I mean, he was after all the man who made 7′7″ Manute Bol a 3-point specialist and the first and only “point-center” in the Association. They told me that crazy things were in the works.
I didn’t think much of it at the time, but a few days later, I caught a Warriors game on channel 36, where Mario Elie, a six foot four two guard, tipped off against David Robinson, who’s 7′2″. Elie lost the tip of course, but continued to play center. It was crazy. Even though I think we lost, we gave San Antonio fits that night.
Hopefully, there is more of that kind of crazy left in Nellie’s 66 year old brain to infuse some life this season in Oakland. Because losing isn’t crazy; it sucks.
Maybe it’ll be Nellie’s genius that ushers in the era of the Rochambeau Rule!
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COMMENTS / 4 COMMENTS
Brandon added these pithy words on Aug 30 06 at 9:44 pmI think it’s a good move, something to shake things up for arguably the most anonymous team in the NBA.
I haven’t read a whole lot about it, but you have to wonder what Mike Montgomery did to get fired at this point? Most moves are made right after the season or a couple weeks in. I can’t remember the last time a coach was fired in late August. Seems strange.
Was it just a case of Nellie suddenly being available?
johnnyhongkong added these pithy words on Aug 30 06 at 10:34 pmI don’t think Montgomery did anything (which was sort of his problem all around). After Mullin couldn’t swing a trade of a big free agent, he just had to do something. And Nellie had expressed interest. I also imagine it took Mullin a few months to get Nellie and Cohan to go into couples counseling to fix the rift that drove Nellie out of Oakland in the first place.
Ethan Ubell added these pithy words on Aug 31 06 at 9:28 amWell, we certainly know what Sprewell thinks of Nellie’s return. He must have had espn on in the background while he was getting busy. Or maybe the announcement was misleading, like “Coming up on Sportscenter, the Golden State Warriors bring back a former coach” which immediately triggered a P.J. flashback.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/15401177.htm
johnnyhongkong added these pithy words on Aug 31 06 at 9:46 amforget the flashback, maybe that everytime he hears “Golden State Warriors” he goes into a choking rage.
Imagine the next iteration of NBA Jams where Sprewell’s foul is the choke and Reggie Evans’ is the nutgrab…
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