04/19/24
August 29, 2006
Back to the Future?:
The Golden State Warriors have parted ways with former coach Mike Montgomery. Montgomery's dismissal paves the way for Don Nelson to become the next head coach.
posted by lilnemo to basketball at 12:13 PM - 10 comments
Montgomery is just another data point supporting the theory that good college coaches do not make good NBA coaches. Who is the last college coach to have success in the pro coaching ranks? (And considering Pitino's debacle with the Celtics, I'll take him out of the running, even if he did have one mediocre year and one ok year with the Knicks.)
posted by holden at 01:00 PM on August 29, 2006
This makes two times in one week that blasts from the pasts come back to Bay Area sports. Next thing you know McGuire will re-sign with the A's for their playoff bid...
posted by lex2000 at 01:09 PM on August 29, 2006
Don Nelson seems like a better fit than Montgomery. Montgomery definately wasn't ready for the NBA. I wouldn't doubt it if Golden State wins 50 plus games this year with a coach of Nelsons caliber- their starting 5 is very good.
posted by Kendall at 01:50 PM on August 29, 2006
Word here in the Bay Area is that Mullin never liked Montgomery, and when Don Nelson became available, used his considerable influence to have the Warriors "part ways" with him. That it's just 5 weeks from their first training camp seems to support this contention. With the current ownershipmanagment, this team won't get any farther than last year no matter who they have coaching.
posted by irunfromclones at 03:45 PM on August 29, 2006
somebody should have told the warriors that the raiders are 4-0 in the pre season after re-hiring their coach from the late 80s and early 90s ha seriously though, as a warriors fan i'm all for it. montgomery seems like a nice guy, but i think nelson will do a much better job. it's the same way i felt when cal let go of tom holmoe and hired jeff tedford.
posted by radrguy at 04:05 PM on August 29, 2006
That team needs more than Don Nelson to get to the playoffs. The west is loaded. At the very least, Richardson needs to keep progressing, Davis needs to get back on track, and Pietrus needs to show some improvement. And they desparately need in an interior defender. Nelson will only be around a couple years. I think this begins the grooming of Mario Elie.
posted by nicotine winning patch at 04:30 PM on August 29, 2006
Hmm. Nelson would probably need at least three years to surpass Lenny Wilkins as the all-time winningest coach (and he'd have to hold Pat Riley off), but he may be able to pull it off. I really am kind of surprised that he decided to pull out of retirement. Hanging out in Maui sounds like a better gig to me. Nelson will only be around a couple years. I think this begins the grooming of Mario Elie. The last coach to be groomed under him is going pretty well. Plus, the Warriors fans get a couple of years of Nellie-ball, and GS has the firepower to do it. Should be a fun team to watch (in spite of Dunleavy).
posted by Ufez Jones at 06:29 PM on August 29, 2006
Should be a fun team to watch (in spite of Dunleavy). Like I said before, I think Nelson's arrival will have an effect on personnel decisions. Mullin extended Murphy, Dunleavy, and Richardson because he saw a little of "Run TMC" in them. The results have been more than a little uneven. Bringing Nellie in will allow the Warriors to evaluate what they really have and move accordingly. The players won't have a rookie coach to pass the blame on to this season. Bold Prediction: At least one of Davis, Richardson, Murphy, or Dunleavy is moved before the trading deadline. I can hear yerfatma typing already.
posted by lilnemo at 07:02 PM on August 29, 2006
At least one of Davis, Richardson, Murphy, or Dunleavy is moved before the trading deadline. I don't know their respective contract situations, but if that's true, my money's on either Dunleavy or Richardson, and I can see Richardson fitting in better with Nellie's style of play. Fair disclosure: I'm a Dunleavy hater, esp. after his little shitfit against the Mavs last year when he got ejected and tossed his jersey into the stands, thusly blinding all 18,000 people at the arena. But, after watching Nellie-ball for as long as I did and trying to seperate myself from the issue, I still see Mikey as the odd man out.
posted by Ufez Jones at 07:34 PM on August 29, 2006
Its a shame about Montgomery, he was a good collegiate coach. I never got the impression that he ever got his players to truly buy in to his coaching style. Hiring Nelson brings back some credibility. I'm pretty sure that there is going to be a flurry of player movement over the course of the season as Nelson figures out who best suits his offense.