Nelson named NBA Western Conference coach of the Month

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Don Nelson was rewarded for helping the Golden State Warriors end a 12-year playoff drought.

Nelson on Thursday was named as the NBA's Western Conference Coach of the Month for April

After the New Jersey Nets garnered their sixth straight playoff berth, Lawrence Frank was honored in the Eastern Conference.

Nelson guided the Warriors (42-40) to an 8-1 record in April as the franchise secured its first playoff berth since 1993-94.

In the first round of the playoffs, Nelson will face one of his former teams in the league-leading Dallas Mavericks (67-15). </div>

Well deserved I must say... but I still want COY!

 

Oh... and Baron earned the steals title this season with 2.14 thefts/game. Edging out Ron Artest who had 2.13 thefts/game.

I've always had faith in Baron, he's had a fantastic year.

 

I love Nellie. Congrats.

 

<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well deserved I must say... but I still want COY!</div>

He better get it.

 

<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Oh... and Baron earned the steals title this season with 2.14 thefts/game. Edging out Ron Artest who had 2.13 thefts/game.

I've always had faith in Baron, he's had a fantastic year.</div>

Baron looked like he was trying to rack up a triple double with steals rather than assists!

 

<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Oh... and Baron earned the steals title this season with 2.14 thefts/game. Edging out Ron Artest who had 2.13 thefts/game.

I've always had faith in Baron, he's had a fantastic year.</div>

Wow, that is amazing, because a couple of weeks ago, I noticed he was like 5th in the NBA in steals.

But yeah Don Nelson should get coach of the month, not just for his coaching on the sidelines but for his lobbying with Avery Johnson to take it easy on us (though I am not saying lobbying ever happened, but possibly it could have happened, hah). But seriously his lineup change of starting Al at center and keeping Monta as SG with JRich, Jackson and the Boss was huge, which showed this month and probably a little before that.

 

Baron is the man. He really improved this year under Coach Nelson. Baron really improved at the foul line and in %'s from the field this year and he managed to play a whole 9 games more than last year. 60 or so games from Baron is great considering that since we got him, he was the type of guy we wouldn't mind trading if he wasn't going to be leading us anywhere while riding the IR and taking Derek Fisher-esque type shots off the dribble.

Leave it to Don Nelson to make his guards or perimeter players even better. The guy knows small ball so well that once we got his type of players, we could start winning. I guess we have to congratulate Mullin for undoing almost all of his disastrous mistakes in the span of one year... Wow.

 

<div class="quote_poster">custodianrules2 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">
Leave it to Don Nelson to make his guards or perimeter players even better. The guy knows small ball so well that once we got his type of players, we could start winning. </div>

Look at SJax's numbers as well, he's shooting 44.6%!!! And he was a 40-42% player in Indiana.

Don Nelson said he got one of the best compliments from SJax, something like "I don't like no coaches... but I like you!". It's in the KNBR archives.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess we have to congratulate Mullin for undoing almost all of his disastrous mistakes in the span of one year... Wow.</div>
Yes, that was an amazing feat, I admit.

 

<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Look at SJax's numbers as well, he's shooting 44.6%!!! And he was a 40-42% player in Indiana.

Don Nelson said he got one of the best compliments from SJax, something like "I don't like no coaches... but I like you!". It's in the KNBR archives.</div>

I've always liked Sjax's game when he was on. If we can ignore the off-court issues and his tendency to get sloppy, he's a pretty darn good player that's quick, decently strong, has good finesse on his shots, and he's basketball smart enough to give you great assist number for swing position. He's like a Mike Miller type of guy.

 

Just wanna ask a question, now not in any disrespect, but, how can be Don Nelson the COY when his team's record is only 2 games above .500?

Just asking a question.

 

<div class="quote_poster">lakers_kb24 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Just wanna ask a question, now not in any disrespect, but, how can be Don Nelson the COY when his team's record is only 2 games above .500?

Just asking a question.</div>Well just in case you are a 12 year old kid who has little knowledge of the nba, the warriors haven't been to the playoffs since the 94-95 season. That is 12 seasons of missing out on the playoffs. The Warriors finished the season 16-5, and 9-1 in the last ten games to get into the playoffs, one of the best finishes to get into the playoffs in nba history.

 

<div class="quote_poster">lakers_kb24 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Just wanna ask a question, now not in any disrespect, but, how can be Don Nelson the COY when his team's record is only 2 games above .500?

Just asking a question.</div>

That's a decent question and is probably going to be a point that may keep him from winning the award, which I would not be upset if he didn't win.

I was watching one of the clips about the Mavs/Warriors playoff series and the host mentioned that Don Nelson has claimed that this season has been his best coaching job. I think that says a lot for what he's done for the Warriors this season. To many outside the Warriors it would look very subtle and probably doesn't deserve COY honors compared to maybe Sam Mitchell in Toronto or Sloan in Utah or Van Gundy in Houston, or what have you.

Don Nelson already has the resume of being one of the best coaches ever. His achievements this season may not equate to COY honors but obviously a lot of Warriors fans and Don Nelson himself will be remembering this season until they/we go to their/our graves.

Both the Most Improved Player of the Year Award and the Coach of the Year Award will be very close this season, as they usually are. Perhaps, however, Don Nelson deserves some discussion with recently making the playoffs after reaching a time where fans, like myself even, were just about settled to get ready for the lottery (i.e. who cares about that stupid T called in Washington, it will give us more ping-pong balls anyway; to everygame is a must-win game; to HOLY COW the Warriors made the playoffs!). The stats and finals standings of being only one game above .500 is not very sexy; but Don Nelson would be in the discussions more based on the turn around the team made when the season seemed dead in the water with must-win game after must-win game compared to the final season standings (I think this is similar for people who want to judge this team by their season statistics, since the team now is not the same as the team that was here for most of the first half of the season or before the all-star break). The Warriors came through mostly due to Nelson's innovation of moving Harrington to the center position, which may give him another push toward the award.

Many candidates have their merits to win the COY award this season. Usually the end is controversial; this season should be no different, bet it for Nelson or Mitchell or whomever.

 

<div class="quote_poster">lakers_kb24 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Just wanna ask a question, now not in any disrespect, but, how can be Don Nelson the COY when his team's record is only 2 games above .500?

Just asking a question.</div>

Hey, I'm just asking a question too: Why do Laker fans insist on chanting "MVP" for Kobe? They don't mean of the league, right? Not when his team's record is only 2 games above .500?

If they mean he's MVP of the Lakers, then I'd certainly agree. Just asking a question.

 

[quote name='Rudeezy;804045']Well just in case you are a 12 year old kid who has little knowledge of the nbaQUOTE]


You know, Rudeezy, I AM a 12 year old kid, and I just watched basketball during the year 2000, so you can't blame me. But, I still don't think that isn't enough to justify him for winning COY.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Wild Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Hey, I'm just asking a question too: Why do Laker fans insist on chanting "MVP" for Kobe? They don't mean of the league, right? Not when his team's record is only 2 games above .500?

If they mean he's MVP of the Lakers, then I'd certainly agree. Just asking a question.</div>

Well, the people in LA chant "MVP" for KObe cause they think that he is the MVP, that is here opinion, just like how your opinions are that Nelson is COY and some think it's Mitchell and etc.. There is a thing called free speech you know.

 

I personally dont feel the COY award should be given to Nelson. He deserves all the recognition he can get for leading this team on a 16-5 run through THE toughest schedules in the NBA during the same time span, but for the season as a whole, I think he could have done better. Then again, it was a hell of a feat to keep this team relatively afloat during the times where our 20ppg scorers were out of the lineup and we had Dunleavy/Murphy on our team. Next year if we keep this lineup and we stay healthy, I see no reason why this team cant win over 50 games (55 perhaps), THEN Nelson will be more deserving of COY honors...

 

I think Nellie has a shot at the COY because of getting a team, not considered a playoff team, into it and guiding them to a 42 - 40 winning record. The other new team was Orlando from recent years. Finishing the season with 16 - 5 also merits consideration.

To change the topic a bit, can smallball win a championship nowadays? In the past, it did. Sure, it will be the rage if the Phoenix Suns or the Golden State Warriors (LOL, ) win it all, but all the teams have a small lineup now and can play some smallball.

 

[quote name='custodianrules2;803642']Baron is the man. He really improved this year under Coach Nelson. Baron really improved at the foul line and in %'s from the field this year and he managed to play a whole 9 games more than last year. 60 or so games from Baron is great considering that since we got him, he was the type of guy we wouldn't mind trading if he wasn't going to be leading us anywhere while riding the IR and taking Derek Fisher-esque type shots off the dribble.

 

If that is the case, I wonder how our guy's value will go up with some post season exposure. I wonder what is going to happen with Jrich...