Nellie gave Dirk the freedom to be play his game. I'm not sure other coaches would have allowed Dirk to play his style of game. And back then his style was face up, at the 3 point line, and shoot the rock if open or dribble drive if not. He later turned into the high post machine he is today (and that was not Avery per se because Dirk was doing that stuff before Avery got there in the 2002-2003 season).
But Nellie also wanted Dirk to remain "small." Nellie never pushed Dirk to be the number 1 guy. He never really pushed Dirk to be the Alpha Male on the team. He never really insisted that Dirk expand his game on offense: posts ups/passing/etc... And Nellie also made excuses for Dirk as well. The only reason the term "Irk" exists is because Nellie planted that seed in the minds of the media. And once that seed is planted, no matter how you become they never change their mind......
So the bottom line is Nellie was great for Dirk through his first two years. But by 2000-2001, Dirk needed a coach that would have demanded that he do more and also given him the keys to the franchise. (The only reason Nellie gave Dirk the keys was because Nash left.)
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