[u2sarajevo]

Here's the article I was referring to above: (edit: one thing I noticed is that I guess it could be taken that he may not have been referring to Nelson... but I don't know)

Nellie, Big Three may not be done

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

Don Nelson called it a day of mourning and, yes, the Mavericks clearly had gone from believing to bereaving Tuesday. Their playoff hopes are all but flat-lined after Sacramento's win Monday night at American Airlines Center. The Kings are up 3-1 in the best-of-7 series. If there was any speculation about other things kicking the bucket, however, owner Mark Cuban helped set the record straight. At times such as this, everything seems like fair game on the talk-show circuit. But the six-year collaboration of Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley and the seven-year tenure of Nelson as coach aren't on trial in what could be the final game of the season Thursday at Sacramento.

"Considering all have contracts going forward except for the possible exception of Steve, I would say it's 99 percent likely their streak continues," Cuban said. Cuban didn't seem like an owner who believes this is the end of the line for the core of his team. Nash is expected to opt out of his contract after the season is finished to test the free-agent market. But Nash has voiced his desire to remain with the Mavericks, and Cuban has acknowledged the point guard's value to the team. Other issues may arise, too. Nelson, like all coaches, knows when expectations are not met, questions arise. "You can't worry about any of that," Nelson said in the downcast aftermath of the Kings' 94-92 win. "Nobody knows the future. All that talk doesn't really matter." Nelson worries less about his future these days, regardless of what happens in the playoffs. His contract calls for two more seasons as coach. Nowitzki and Finley, who with Nash comprise the Big Three, are under contract for several more years. "You can't worry about things you can't control," said Finley, who with eight seasons is the player with the longest tenure among the Mavericks. "We won 60 games last year, and we still made changes." Changes that are one defeat away from rendering the Mavericks as first-round fodder a season after they reached the Western Conference finals. Reverse is not a gear that goes over well with any sporting organization, but the Mavericks could be faced with that reality by Thursday in Game 5 at Arco Arena. Tuesday's mood was glum. The spring in the players' steps that was so obvious Sunday had turned into tired souls Tuesday. "It hurts," Antawn Jamison said. "It was like a funeral in the locker room it was so quiet." For now, it is Nelson's job to try to prop his team back up as best he can. It won't be easy. Only seven teams in NBA history have come back from a 3-1 hole to win a playoff series. "It's not a pleasant place to be," Nelson said. "All we care about at this point is getting one win and getting it back to our place. "It sounds insurmountable when you talk about [winning] all three. It's not so bad if you talk about [winning] one. We just need to seize the moment and win one game." And after the 83-79 near-miss in Game 2 at Arco, there is no doubt in the Mavericks' collective mind that they can break through there. "We know we're capable of winning in that building," Finley said. "We were up 3-0 last year against Portland, and then it went to 3-3. We were down 3-1 to San Antonio last year and won a big game down there without Dirk. You never know what can happen if you win one game."