Mullin Answers Tough Questions

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">QUESTION: When did you decide to do this?

MULLIN: It'd been popping in and out my mind for a few months, I guess. Nellie's always somebody I think about. I mean, everybody knows what he brings.

I guess the last few weeks is when it really came together. And I had a good talk with Mike on Monday -- really about everything. We came together on a lot of things. I think we agreed on a lot of things.

No offense to anybody, but if you can upgrade at any position, you do it -- and this is an upgrade at coach. We've gotten better at the coach position, flat out. We're better today than we were.

QUESTION: So why not make this change in April, instead of in such a rush in August?

MULLIN: You have to respect the time of year. Right at the end of a season -- it's just not the right time to evaluate players or anything. So we decided to step back, kind of let some time pass, then see where we were.

And at that point, I didn't know if Nellie was actually available, if he wasn't, if he wanted to come here, any of that.

QUESTION: Was it you coming to Montgomery and saying it's over or was some of it Mike coming to you with concerns about this job?

MULLIN: We had some good talks in Las Vegas during Summer League. We had some really, really good talks about a lot of things. I have total respect and nothing's diminished for him, for his knowledge of the game, for his accomplishments.

But it's like a college writer who comes to the NBA, thinks they know it, but until you get the rhythms, until you get that down, it's a whole different thing. They don't get what's going on. I think Mike was understanding that.

QUESTION: How did you breach the possibility of Nellie to Chris Cohan, who has had legal issues with Nelson after their first go-round? Did Cohan have to be talked into this?

MULLIN: Not really. I had some thoughts about it, but really, it was presented as, `This is an upgrade,' and he was on board with that all the way. Everybody wants this team to be better. And this is the way to do that.

QUESTION: That sounds a little like my supposition -- you couldn't make the big trade to reshape the roster, so you had to hire a new coach to get things energized. Am I close?

MULLIN: No. No. I can see where that connection would be made, but no, this was just about upgrading ourselves. If you can do that, you do that whenever you can, on the roster or anywhere.

We're still always looking to improve our roster, and we still might. This is not a part of that.

QUESTION: Is Nellie going to do the same stuff he did with Run TMC? It does seem like the NBA, with the new defensive limitations, is moving to quicker, dribbling, smaller lineups, just like you, Hardaway, Richmond.

MULLIN: It's funny, a while ago I dug up one of our old books. From '92, '93, something like that. And everybody says Nellie never does defense, but he does. You know, some of his offensive stuff is attacking your offense, too -- if you've got a defensive player who can't score, he takes advantage of that, you know, that sort of thing, forces you to take him out of the game. . . .

Anyway, I dug up this book, and 90 percent of the defensive stuff we did was illegal then, and it's legal now. You know, it's right in the book -- ``This is a zone. We won't call it that.'' But it's all legal now. I guess it is coming around to his old stuff.

QUESTION: My guy might've been available, too. Why not take a look at Larry Brown?

MULLIN: I know, I know. But Nellie's in the same category, right? And I see what you're saying about Larry, but you see my point about Nellie? That's what I'm talking about, that there aren't many guys like that.

And with the guys we have . . . Nellie's the right guy.

QUESTION: Who is Nellie most excited about on your roster?

MULLIN: You know the kinds of guys he likes. If he had Kareem, he might be talking about doing some different things with him.

QUESTION: If I had to pick three guys who'd most be helped by Nellie, it'd be Mickael Pietrus, Andris Biedrins and Monta Ellis. Agree with that?

MULLIN: I think every player can be helped by listening to Nellie.

QUESTION: But those three in particular seemed not to have defined roles under Montgomery . . .

MULLIN: That won't be a problem with Nellie, I am guaranteeing you. That will never be a problem. It's his imagination, I think, about doing things that is exciting.

QUESTION: Can you say if any or all of the current assistants will be brought back?

MULLIN: Not there yet. Nellie's down there looking at tape. We'll talk about that later.

QUESTION: Will you be in the playoffs this season with Nellie?

MULLIN: Ask him tonight.

As it would happen, a few hours later, after the formal news conference, I wandered up to Nelson almost strictly to find a way to end this odd column.

QUESTION: Is this roster, as constructed, good enough to make the playoffs this season?

NELSON: Uh, we'll find that out really about the end of the year. I'm not sure. We're going to definitely give it what for.</div>

Source

Some good insight to the timeline of the coaching change. Glad to hear it was a smooth transition and Cohen didn't let his ego prevent Nellie from returning.