<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Mullin Low-Balled Nellie<div><span style="font-style: italic">Sep 19</span> - There is an interesting fact coming out: Chris Mullin low-balled Nellie (Don Nelson). Yes, Mullin low-balled Nellie. </p> While the rest of the NBA world was thinking Mullin was a pushover who had pretty much turned the franchise over to Nellie, Mullin had actually drew a line in the sand. Mullin, apparently schooled from his Foyle, Dunleavy, Murphy, Fisher and JR contract mistakes, learned how to use his leverage and play hardball. Look at his last several decisions, he's been pretty hardcore. He didn't throw a bunch of money at MP and Barnes.</p> </p> </div></p> -- Contra Costa Times </p></div>
I suppose that's good in the long run, and after hearing Nelson on KNBR the other day, it certainly doesn't sound like he has any resentment or ill will about the whole thing. I still maintain Nelson wasn't really the guy to draw that line with, but I guess Mullin knows better than I whether Nelson ever legitimately planned to walk away. </p> Wouldn't mind if they shed Pietrus, but I'm pleased as punch to have Matt Barnes back. Damn! Can this season get on the road, or what?</p>
Well, the way I see it is, Mullin wanted to see if a veteran, future hall of fame coach could bring results to a team that had potential in Mullin's eyes. But, Nelson's tactics did not work very well until he got better players and players that fit. So in a sense, maybe Mullin didn't want to spend 5 mil a year guaranteed for a coach that might not make a difference because the current players and the team makeup wasn't that good. It's really all about the team and we just did not have it until we got better defensive talent, more consistent offensive players, and they used quickness as the isolation mismatch in lieu of strength, size, and power. The top paid players on the team just couldn't offer any kind of balance both offensively and defensively and that is why we failed under so many other coaches. I almost want to guarantee that if that Indiana trade didn't go down, Nelson would have been screwed. And yeah, we could have said injuries played a part because Jrich was hurt and so was Baron, but having Sjax and Harrington really tipped the scales because they provided more of everything as starting players, and it allowed guys like Pietrus and Barnes more playing time to do the rebounding and dirty work. I'm not a + and -'s guy, but there was some kind of positive effect when we have guys who can play the isolation game to help Baron Davis out and we can also make up for lack of rebounding by playing better perimeter D and causing turnovers before the other team can put the ball up.
wow, nice to see a shitty GM turn good, by learning from his mistakes. That's a quality that I'd like to see more from NBA front office people, and coaches. I wonder how Mullin would do as a coach...
