Don Nelson is up next in our world famous report cards. After taking some time off in Maui, Nellie decided to bring the Warriors back to relevance. Things sure did look bleak back in February, but that amazing late season run will be something we can talk about 20, 30, 40 years from now. He'll go down in Warriors' history as one of the best because he bookended the last two Warrior playoff runs, '93-`94 - skip 13 years - '06-'07.
Here's basically how the season went:
Mullin hires Nelson. Yay. Lots of work to do. Guys needed to shed their fat. Troy Murphy: All Star Center? Mike Dunleavy: best season ever? Adonal Foyle: lose 27 pounds? Ahhh the memories.
A tanned Nellie
After a roller coaster season, the Warriors clinch a playoff spot in Portland. Nellie shotguns his celebratory Bud Light.
We made the playoffs!
Amidst a sea of yellow, the Warriors take down the mighty Mavs.
Showing everyone some love
Nellie's success boosts his popularity landing him some major deals. Most notably, he begins to practice poses for the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
Like D-Wade said about CB34: SEXY!
It's tough to capture what Nellie meant to the Warriors and their fans in just a few sentences, so with the help of Adam Lauridsen of Fast Break: A Warriors Fan Blog" the 5 of us here at GSoM bring you Don Nelson's report card.
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| Adam Lauridsen (Fast Break) |
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Grade: A+
No Nellie, no playoffs. It's that simple. He demanded more from day 1, shipped out or benched those who weren't contributing, set the players free to play the game the way it should be played, suprised everyone with his revolutionary defensive scheme, and kept his "aww shucks" act up the entire time. Too many good moments to list, but his beer in the Dallas press conference, his friendship with Stephen Jackson, and dancing in the locker room after clinching a playoff spot are at the top of my list. Rest up Nellie, 07-08 should be even crazier.
Fun Score: 10
"I don't love no coaches, but I love that man." - Stephen Jesse Jackson
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| Atma Brother #1 |
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Grade: A+
Nellie's washed up and too old to coach anymore. Wrong. Nellie won't be able to get through to the stubborn Baron Davis. Wrong. Small ball won't work. Wrong. Nellie doesn't know what he's doing. Wrong. Nellie threw in the towel. Wrong. Nellie can't coach defense. Wrong. Nellie can't end the 12 year curse that he helped start. Wrong. Nellie isn't as good of a coach as his protege in Dallas Avery Johnson. Wrong. Nellie won't be able to beat his old team the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs. Wrong. Nellie won't be here next season. Wrong (fingers crossed!).
Fun Score: 10
You haven't lived till you've heard The Don Nelson Show with the Razor and Mr. T on KNBR 680. I laughed, I cried, I wanted my very own Nelliebelly.
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| DJ Fuzzylogic |
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Grade: A+
With the players he took over and the rash of injuries throughout the season, we should be calling Don Nelson Jesus since he turned water into wine and really got the party started at the Oracle. He isn't the only reason the Warriors got into the playoffs, but he is a mastermind of sorts and was able to maximize the Warriors strengths. Though, sometimes I wondered if they even had a playbook. Plus, he was the first coach that wasn't afraid to be honest about Dunleavy saying the things that many of us fans have been feeling for years. Nelson is for the people!
Fun Score: 10
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| Fantasy Junkie |
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Grade: A
At the beginning of the year, I wrote that Don Nelson was going to not only change the win-loss record, but he was going to change the culture of the organization. We were so used to losing, that someone needed to step in and bring back some confidence to the franchise. Nellie did just that. His leadership in the incredible run to and through the playoffs has made being a Warrior fan fun once again.
Fun Score: 10
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| Hash |
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Grade: A+
Nellie was BACK! And he did everything he said he would for the Warriors. He took a rag tag bunch of ballers with completely different styles and turned them into a run and gun team that the whole basketball world began to fear. Stay with us Nellie. We'll treat you right. Plus, any man who has the balls to take a cheap domestic beer to the podium after games is all right in my book!
Fun Score: 15
10 points for him, 5 for the Nelliebelly.
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| YaoButtaMing |
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Grade: A
Nellie is a genius. For the type of game our warriors are able to play, there is no better coach out there. Now, if only we can convince him to leave the wonderful life of the beach and Pina Coladas to come back for 2007!
Fun Score: 9
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Clearly we all loved what Nellie did for the Warriors and that’s reflected in his A+ grade and his high fun score. Do you agree with the grades? Would anybody give him a grade lower than an A?
Even more Nellie:
2006-2007 Report Cards
