Nelson’s Actions as Strong as His Reputation

While he was in the process of becoming a coaching genius, Don Nelson developed a late-season habit of losing. That seemed to delight a very small band of critics, including some old-school professional coaches who were jealous of a former player doing so well.

Nelson’s Milwaukee teams won at least 50 games seven consecutive seasons, but those searching for faults noted that he failed to win a championship and had a poor record in playoff games.

Among the 25 coaches with the most career playoff victories, Nelson was one of only eight with a record (42-46) worse than .500.

So is he really as great as he often has been made out to be?

The latest evidence suggests, again, that Nelson’s actions are as strong his reputation. It had become popular to predict that if any team was going to defeat the Lakers in the Western Conference, it would be the Jazz. But Nelson’s Golden State Warriors not only upset the Midwest Division champions in the first playoff round, but they also did it in three games, including two victories in Salt Lake City, where the Jazz had a 34-7 regular-season record.

If someone had predicted before the season that the Warriors would successfully handle the Jazz, it would have been logical to assume that Ralph Sampson would have had a superstar series. But Nelson did not play Sampson at all. Not even in a defensive situation, and Sampson was healthy.

Nelson, in fact, devised a plan that flies in the face of traditional playoff strategy. Instead of trying to ram the ball inside, he spread out the court and the Jazz defense, which had been the only defense to allow opponents an average of fewer than 100 points a game during the regular season.

The Warriors’ jump shooters and drivers scored at will. Golden State averaged 114 points and showed how important outside shooting can be during the playoffs.

Nelson also neutralized Utah’s 7-4 center, Mark Eaton, with a small lineup that had 6-8 Larry Smith or 6-8 Ben McDonald at center. Manute Bol averaged only 22 minutes.

Nelson calmly suggested it was a “miracle” to win, but it was less than that. It was simply a brilliant coach with a great plan.

“It took us three games to adjust to the Warriors’ style,” Lakers Coach Pat Riley said. “You don’t make Golden State adjust to you. You have to adjust to them to beat them.”

Last season, the Warriors were 20-62. This season, they are in the conference semifinals with basically the same crew plus Bol and Mitch Richmond. Nelson’s team may not make the NBA finals, but it will take an intent critic to find fault with the miracle he has worked this season.

Nelson may need another miracle in the conference semifinals with the Phoenix Suns. In the last two Golden State-Phoenix regular-season games, the Suns won by a total of 48 points.

The Suns and Warriors open their series Saturday afternoon, and it should be a hot one. Check out these averages from the first round: For Phoenix, Kevin Johnson (30.7 points, 13.0 assists) and Tom Chambers (27.3 points, 15.3 rebounds). For Golden State, Chris Mullin (32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists) and Mitch Richmond (25.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists).