New co-owner Joe Lacob just did an interview on KNBR with Ralph and Tom. One of the interesting tidbits in it was about what he’s going to do with the coach. But he has a bit of a a dilemma. Lacob said what everybody else already knows: the Nellie era is done. And Lacob said in the interview that he wants a young coach in the new era (he listed Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks as an example). But the question he has to answer is when will the era end? Now? Or after this coming season? What makes the decision difficult is that he can’t make the move until he becomes owner of the team, which he said he’s hoping to be officially by late September. (Though, he said outgoing owner Chris Cohan has obliged him since the sale agreement. If he wanted Nelson gone, couldn’t he just tell Cohan to fire Nellie and hire the guy he wanted?) If that is when he gets ownership, that’s about the start of camp and a month before the season starts. Is that too late to make a coaching change? Read more: http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2010/07/27/does-post-nellie-era-begin-now-or-next-year/
Yes, from the interview it sounds like Nelson does not fit the very few but distinct categories that Lacob is looking for. So it seems like The odds may be greater than 50% that he is gone before the end of the season. I had the same thoughts as you on the idea that Cohan could fire him if that is what Lacob really wants. But it seems like he would still not be able to "tamper" with decisions right now, as in maybe he wouldn't be able to be as active or have enough of his guys around to make the decision on the new coach. But this presumption may be incorrect. If the timing really does not work I wouldn't be surprised if they pressure Nelson to let one of his younger assistances take an Avery Johnson kind of role.
Lacob said what everybody else already knows: the Nellie era is done. And Lacob said in the interview that he wants a young coach in the new era (he listed Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks as an example). But the question he has to answer is when will the era end? Now? Or after this coming season? Standing ovation: I think the new era began YESTERDAY!!! If Lacob wants someone like Scotty Brooks, the he should look in the assistant coaching ranks. I hope he's talking with Kevin Pritchard to get ideas. Someone mentioned Mike Brown??? If he can't get anyone, then Keith Smart could be interim coach. The lockout is coming, so it may be wise to wait until next year.
Tyrone Corbin is the guy I want. Pick and Roll under Jerry Sloan for 7 years. He's gotta be the guy. Guess I posted this on another thread....Oh well, I'm gonna try to get more people on the Ty Corbin bandwagon.
If he gets a young coach, those guys will take much less money to be hired - maybe 2 million per year tops with 3-4 years. Compared to Nelly's 6 million or other coaches averaging 4-5 million, that's kind of a long term savings in a sense. So, money wouldn't be an issue and possibly the Nellie era could end as soon as Lacob gets official approval. As far as replacements, I could get on the Tyrone Corbin bandwagon; I never really considered him before, so I don't have a wealth of knowledge about his coaching style other than the obvious. But from what I read so far, he'd sounds like he'd be way better than some of the coaches that have been hired recently (I don't have a very high opinion of Byron Scott or Vinny Del Negro, who are both too "passive" and who move alot of responsibility onto their PG, like Nellie does. It's not a bad way to coach, but it's not right for the Warriors right now.) He fits the criteria of being a young coach, he'd probably be relatively inexpensive, and he's got tons of experience from his many journeyman years in the NBA and around basketball organizations in the front office and as a coach. Plus as you noted, being a Sloan student is a great thing.
I've only ever seen good things from Keith Smart. If Nellie is to go, is Keith Smart "too connected" to Nellie for Lacob to consider it? After all, I'd have to think Smart already has rapport with the players, knows their strengths, and has been successful with them in the short stints he was given control. Even Nellie admitted he was "handing over" defensive duties to Smart. That says a lot.
Whether Keith Smart is the guy or not, Nellie should never have made that statement about making him the "defensive coordinator." Smart now is responsible for the atrocious defense the Warriors played. We all know it was a myriad of things that made them the worst defensive team in the NBA, but appearance is everything and Nellie put Smart on the front cover.
Well, their defense actually improved quite a bit after Smart took over, if I recall. I wonder what the stat difference is before and after that move. I wouldn't worry about that, though, it wasn't big news (nationally), and it's not like Nellie could suddenly shake that MO anyway.
