What about his Bucks? As memory serves, they were among the best defensive teams in the league. I think he tailors his teams to his talent. And OK, look at the Warriors; RIchmond was OK, Spree was excellent back then. And they both play the same position, and that's all they had. They had no center, Webber and Mullin at the forward spots and Hardaway at the point. You try and emphasize defense with that group, you're in for some long nights. On the other hand, you let them loose, and they'll score enough to win a lot, which they did.
Those who say Nelson is overrated because he has never won any championship probably are the same people who think Phil Jackson is not overrated because he has won 9 rings. I've never really understood that logic. See Here
I remember hearing on LA sports radio (a few years back when I used to live there) from Jim Rome announcing that the Mavericks had hired Don Nelson. Rome basically said: "What the hell is Dallas thinking? This is a guy who destroyed the Warriors and he has these stupid asinine way of doing things that will no doubt destroy the Mavs." Reflecting on last year, I thought Rome was going to eat his words. I guess he was right.
Just how has Nelson destroyed the Mavs? I don't get it. Lets see, Raef is out for the year in boston and is clearly damaged goods. Van exel is injured and on the IR. He is also a 31 year old point guard. Nelson replaced those two players with Walker and Jamison. Who are in their twenties.
That's what I'm thinking. In what world did Richmond ever play good defense? Only good defender he had was Spree on that team, & he was pretty raw in those days.
Bookit, It's obvious. Cuban and him didn't have to sign all of these offensive threats. Look at the Lakers. 2 superstars was enough to win the championship. Less is more.
This is why Nelson's going to get fired... HAHAH! This is why Nelson's going to get fired... HAHAH! No comment
I don't see how you can say he's destroyed the team when it is a perrenial contender. You can't look at the roster and say he screwed up because you wouldn't have done what he did, because, frankly, he probably knows better what to do than any poster here. Look at his results. He hasn't won a championship, but he's a legitimate contender every year. And, despite a rough start to the season, the Mavs are now on a winning streak and moving up the ranks and will no doubt be a contender again this year. I don't see an owner or a fan can be disappointed with the results.
If you look closely Nelson's career you'll see that in all the teams he had for enough time (so forget the Knicks stint): - he took a team that was SUCKING and made it winning - he had several great drafts and trades - he didn't get left than what the talent available would have suggested: the only HOF player he ever coached is a over-the-hill Bob Lanier.
