What Was Don Nelson Thinking?
Photo. Tim TadderWe touched on it earlier in Smack – the really strange move last night when Don Nelson sat Baron Davis for the entirety of the second half, AND sat Stephen Jackson for the whole second quarter.
BD was only on the floor for 17 minutes, his second lowest total this season next to a 14-minute night against Portland on January 9th. And it’s not like there was any sign of trouble in Golden State’s most recent games: he averaged over 42 minutes during his last four contests. Even S-Jack’s 31 minutes were a serious dip from his usual 39.3 per night.
The Warriors shared their thoughts on Nellie’s curious coaching with the San Francisco Chronicle…
Jackson: “Who knows what’s going on in coach’s mind? Coach makes the decisions and we ride with them. Him not playing me in the second quarter, he has his reasons. Him not playing BD, he has his reasons, and we all respect that. Not making the playoffs and having an early vacation is frustrating, especially to someone like BD, who wants to win. We had a lot to prove this year by neither of us making the All-Star team. We definitely wanted to get to the playoffs. But like I said, man, we had a great season. We’ve just got to try to get some positives out of it.”
Al Harrington: “Of course, it’s strange. BD’s been our go-to guy all season, so whenever he’s not out there, of course it’s going to be tough for us. … But the guys still represented. Jack had a hell of a second half, carried us in the third, and got us right back in the game.”
Baron: “Ain’t your story.”
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April 15th, 2008 at 11:46 am
GEE...Sit yo 5 Dolla #$% down before I make change says:
That is nice they respect the coach and all but come on. Nellie should have had him in during the crunch time.
Unless he was injured it’s no reason.
Bonehead move! Then even on a bad shooting night (assuming that is the reason) dude can still do like Tracy and come in during the crunch and bring it home. To just sit a dude out though, Don needs a kick in the
#$%!
April 15th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Chuck says:
They Just paid Don Nelson 5.8 million to coach the warriors next season. Don Nelson better have seated BD for an injury and not over some pride issues they are having. Couple that with the fact that Baron Davis can opt out of his contract this year, (there are also 6 other players with that option), BD better have been injured. That still wouldn’t make sense, because BD was injured last year during the playoff series with dallas and he still stomped it out like a soldier.I think Don Nelson needs to conversate with the head coach from Pheonix, (Good Old Mike), so he can finally get it through his thick skull that small ball doesn’t win championships.
Celtics dynasty- bill Russell
Chicago- Traingle offense with at least 3 centers that could play decent D, (Bill cartwright, luc longley, stacey williams etc..)
Lakers- shaq
Houston-Hakeem
San Antonio-Tim Duncan
Small Ball doesn’t freakin work, this isn’t college basketball, this is the NBA.
You need big men to control the paint. Help collapse the defense at times to get a permiter game going.
Chris Mullin is crazy for paying Don Nelson 5.8 mil, and I bet he’s regretting it now.
I guess we’ll have to wait and see why He benched him though.
April 15th, 2008 at 11:49 am
control says:
Funniest thing about Sjack’s quote: “We had a lot to prove this year by neither of us making the All-Star team.”. Baron had a reason to be upset about that, he is a legit star…but if Sjack thinks he is anything more than a roleplaying gunner, he’s still smokin.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
fiyaman says:
like I always said.. Don Nelson doesnt know how to coach and is very over-rated
April 15th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Austin Burton says:
Just think…what if Golden State had been able to play Stephen Jackson for the first 7 games of the season? They win two of those games and they’re in the playoffs. And whose fault was it that S-Jack couldn’t play?
April 15th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
fiyaman says:
they still could have made it if they had a decent coach.. those 1st 7games are too far back to say what if. What if Oden never got injured, GS might not even be in the running..
April 15th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
The first 7 games are erroneous AB. The lost a lot of must win games down the stretch to inferior teams (like Seattle). This team has no discipline or focus no commitment to playing D. That’s why their out. Period.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Chuck says:
@Austin
That game last week against Denver was their chance to prove that they are a playoff caliber team. They failed to step up in my opinion. They don’t play defense at all!
And it was S-Jacks fault he was absent the first 7 games, we all know David Stern is very concerned about the appearance of the League, and the football commissioner has been taking the same steps, (Pacman Jones suspension and several other NFL players), S-Jack is shooting in the air at a strip club like some fool! So it was his fault he was suspended.
Beidrins can’t be the only player their playing defense and rebounding and Golden State expect to win!
Don Nelson’s coaching philosophy is lazy and flawed, this isn’t rucker park, this is the NBA.
His players can’t fight through screens, they don’t talk on defense, they miss switches and defensive asiignments.
Even if they would have made the playoffs, they would have been out in the first round against the Lakers or the Hornets.
Golden State and Denver deserve to be on the outside looking in as far as the playoffs are concerned.
Yes 47, 48 games is impressive, especially considering the east teams with abysmal records, but Golden state is a team that lacks fundamentals and as long as they stick to the formula for success they are currently riding the wave of. they will continue to LOSE!
April 15th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
GEE...Sit yo 5 Dolla #$% down before I make change says:
Strip Clubs are the kryptonite for some many different players in different sports. Unfortunately most of them are black..or either we don’t hear what goes on in the white world of strip clubs. Still players should do like Big Boi of Outkast and bring the club to the crib. Construct a pole and stage in your multi-million dollar home and chill. Stay out the spotlight.
Can’t say I guarantee this but if S-Jack had been at home with some strippers I doubt he would be shooting any gun in the air ripping his on house apart.
Then again he ain’t the brightest crayon in the box.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Chuck says:
@GEE…Sit yo 5 Dolla #$% down before I make change
Exactly! You hit the nail on the head.
Stay in the house, matter fact he needs to just grow up.
It’s not about the fact that makes millions or is a perceived role model.
Martin Luther King was bangin chicks on the side while he was marching us to freedom.
John Kennedy was bangin maryln Monroe while he was leading us out the cold war.
Just be smooth with it at least and stay out the public eye.
Make em dig to find the dirt if they gone find it. Don’t throw out there in the open for public display like a freakin zoo!
April 15th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Myrie says:
I guess there won’t be any Jessica Alba sightings in the bay this year!
April 15th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
bsteezy3 says:
I’ve hated Don Nelson ever since he traded away Chris Webber back in ’95. He probably sat down BD over a pride issue. BD probably told Nellie’s ass the business at halftime and Nellie benched him…same shit happened back in the dayz with Webber…
April 15th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
They should never have traded J Rich for brandan Wright. Dumb move. They need some tough interior defenders. Joey Dorsey perhaps in the draft or accuiring someone like haslem. Then get Skiles or JVG to coach. Boom your in the playoffs.
April 15th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
ITSMR2U says:
A big sigh of relief just went out from Dallas. Avery Johnson won’t have to wory about being outcoached (again) by Nellie. at least, not in this year’s playoffs
April 15th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
fiyaman says:
lmao @ Nellie outcoaching somebody.. thats an oxymoron
April 15th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
control says:
Austin, this is where SJack was those first 7 games…filming this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZfyrIPw3wY
That is him in the first 10 seconds.
April 15th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Dave says:
“They should never have traded J Rich for brandan Wright. Dumb move.”
Co-sign. They needed JRich’s toughness and scoring down the stretch. Should have messed with a good thing.
Ah well, live and learn. The playoffs will have a bit less life this year.
April 15th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
todd says:
Baron: “Ain’t your story.”
BD sounds pissed
April 15th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
doc says:
Baron going to the Clippers I think. Fuck them first 6 games they was in and they choked its all their fault.
April 15th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
K Dizzle says:
That’s Diddy. Always keepin it real. He know he gonna opt out and get paid. Why would I draft a kid outta college when I can have a proven beast of a point who’s still only 28? Seattle, Portland, NY, Cavs, Clips, etc? Pick a team, they can use Baron. If the Lakers could afford dude, I’d buy every colour/design/style of the BD laker joint. It’ll be hotter than fire. Matter fact, I’m gonna get it custom made regardless. Great season by the Warriors. Baron’s gonna play 82 games for the first time, they win damn near 50 games in the west with no 4 or 5 man. I don’t mind the Richardson trade. Wright’s got a bright future, unlike that O’Bryant kid. Richardson’s minutes went to Ellis and Azabuike so it is what it is. I’m not gonna spec on why Nelson sat B Diddy til the story come out…
April 15th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
kobeef says:
They were throwing the game.
The warriors don’t have much to gain by making the playoffs but could do well if they get lucky in the draft.
They played rookie Kosta Perovic for only the second time ever…in the most important game of the year? And Benched BD? Tankfest.
April 15th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
spitfire says:
I’m still mad at Nelson for trading Mitch Richmond for Chris Webber, who at that time had never played a game in the NBA because he thought he was too good to have to play for the team that drafted him, Sacramento. Nellie broke up a team with GREAT chemistry and Mitch was the rock of that team. They never recovered.
Possibly Nellie is only good for the first 2 yrs coaching any team, then his ego gets in the way? NO EXCUSE for benching Baron. And why didn’t he play Matt Barnes at all the second half of the season, even at times when every other bench player got in?
Nelson decides who he likes and doesn’t, and once he’s decided, he never changes his mind.
I hope the Warriors management sticks with the players on this one, not with the coach. Are you listening, Mullin???
April 15th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Borgs says:
Davis’ response is typical of the sort of arrogance that probably had him benched in the first place. Two for thirteen – what right does he have to remain on the floor? Just because he’s Baron Davis?! I know he’s a potential game-winner, but he was losing that game for his team well before it went to the wire.
I mean, who is this guy? Yes, he’s a super talent, but he sulked his way out of a poor New Orleans team so he could go home and eventually play every game for the first time in several years in a contract year. Is that really just coincidence? This is why there are at least five NBA PGs that I’d rather have on my team.
April 15th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
hotdog says:
I think Nellie was high or something or he planned a vacation that he couldnt cancel. Sad to see such an entertaining team out of the playoffs.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:21 am
bill says:
hopefully they get an incredible player from the draft that changes their destiny for the positive
Folden state, champions 2018
April 16th, 2008 at 7:39 am
MSkittle says:
No Carmelo article yet? Can we have a “What was Carmelo Thinking?” article instead?