Don Nelson returns as head coach of GSW

[Matt]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2565022

Don Nelson will be named as the new coach of the Golden State Warriors this week after the Warriors agreed to terms on a buyout with Mike Montgomery.

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that things are "all lined up" for Nelson, 66, to return to the Warriors, who haven't been to the playoffs since 1994 when Nelson was still their coach.

well he doesn't quite have Run TMC but Davis & Richardson can do an admirable job.

[hova-]

Right choice to hire him, maybe he can bring them into the playoffs.

(although their frontcourt is still below average)

[Its_asdf]

Nelson is certainly an upgrade over Montgomery, this will be a very good coaching change for the Warriors. Maybe this is what is needed to wake up a team that has had so much potential throughout the years but have consistently underachieved.

[Null17]

I thought Nelson was a scout for Dallas?

[maes]

He is (still) a consultant for the Mavs because he left the coaching job because of health reasons, that's when Avery took over.

I don't know if that was a nice way of laying him off (like Van Gundy) or whether it was the actual physical strain (the guy is 66, no spring chicken), but either way he moved into more of a consulting role.

He's one of the most successful coaches in the league, and GSW is much better than their record shows, i think good things will come of this.

[Goldenstatewarrior]

Excellent! We definitely have a coach that can lead us to the playoffs! Plus, he will develop our young players and really make us a Run N' Gun team. The defense will come slowly as the year progresses.

[[Q]]

G STate might be one of the next teams to try to implement a Phoenix style offense.

[Anthony15]

With Don at the bench, GS can have a good shot at making Playoffs, good signing by Warriors.

[Metsis]

I like this move as well... I have liked the Golden State roster for the last 3-4 years. There has always been young and exciting players there. Somehow they just haven't gotten their stuff together in the league. A bit like the Knicks... They have the skill, but something is missing.

Don Nelson will improve the team, but if the team can't improve from within, there's very little a coach can do. I just hope that all GS players buy into his system and stay healthy for a good part of the season.

The Western Conference play-off run is going to get ugly next season. So many teams up and coming that its hard to tell who's gonna get there and who's not. After the power-trio of Spurs, Mavs and Suns... The rest of the spots are pretty much wide open.

[J@3]

I have liked the Golden State roster for the last 3-4 years. There has always been young and exciting players there. Somehow they just haven't gotten their stuff together in the league. A bit like the Knicks... They have the skill, but something is missing.

I agree, and they don't even have the off-court stuff the Knicks have. Hopefully Nelson can pull them together, they have a very underrated squad I think... apart from the main guys like David/Richardson, they have role players in Murphy/Dunleavy/Foyle /Pietrus and young up-coming players aswell (Ellis/Bierdris or whatever/Taft/O'Bryant/Diogu).

[---]

with don nelson on board, im expecting nothing less than huge point totals and no defense

[Matt]

Nelson has always been the master of gimmick defenses.

If anything, GSW will be more entertaining and free-flowing and chances are Baron Davis will favourably respond to this.

[Andrew]

How many times has Don Nelson been done with coaching only to return now? That's not a knock on him though, it's obvious he still has a lot of passion for the game and if he wants to give coaching another go - whether this is truly his last gig or not - good for him. Good news for the Warriors too. I think it would be jumping the gun to say the Warriors are destined for great things now that Nellie is on board but as Metsis and Jae said they have some good young talent without the headaches of a team such as New York. A coach with veteran smarts who also has a willingness to run an uptempo offense would seem to be a good fit.

[Jeffx]

Nelson has always been the master of gimmick defenses.

If anything, GSW will be more entertaining and free-flowing and chances are Baron Davis will favourably respond to this.

I remember when Nellie coached the Knicks, he wanted Patrick to play forward. You saw how long that lasted. Coaching big men is not one of Nellie's strong points.

His uptempo style will take GS to the playoffs, but that's it.

[Matt]

Coaching big men is not one of Nellie's strong points.

unless they have the game of a guard ala Nowitzki. This would also explain why his teams lack D.

[[Q]]

a lot of you guys see G State in the playoffs, but I can't see them there with so much competition. you got SA, Dallas, Suns, Nugs (because of their horrible division), Clips, Memphis, Sac, & New Orleans who are almost locks to make the playoffs. Then you got the Lakers who made it last year along with the Jazz who almost made it last year and the Rockets who are talented enough to make it.

[ThaLiveKing]

Don't mean they makin the playoffs. . .althought they might have a chance to crack the 8th seed

[Matt]

Memphis aren't a lock with the loss of Battier
Sacramento have no bench and are an unjury away from a bad season
New Orleans are no lock despite a v good season past
Rockets always have injury problems
Lakers are whatever Kobe brings
Jazz are never healthy

Plenty of concerns for all teams except the top 4 as far as making the playoffs goes. So, GSW are in with a legit chance, probably as good as any of the mid to low West teams.

[Mayerhendrix]

a lot of you guys see G State in the playoffs, but I can't see them there with so much competition. you got SA, Dallas, Suns, Nugs (because of their horrible division), Clips, Memphis, Sac, & New Orleans who are almost locks to make the playoffs. Then you got the Lakers who made it last year along with the Jazz who almost made it last year and the Rockets who are talented enough to make it.

Shane Battier's international experience should boost his NBA success.

[Matt]

and with Gasol out for 3 months, GSW chances have improved.