Nellie never got his team "over the proverbial hump" because he never had a franchise player. The closest thing he ever had was Dirk, who was still coming into his own, and who knows, maybe if Dirk hadn't gone out in the WCF we would've been the champs. (You could also make a case for Cwebb, but he turned out to be a headcase) But honestly folks, how many championships do you think Pat Riley would have if the Lakers never had that no. 1 pick and landed Magic? Or do you think Phil Jackson could've coached that Milwaukee to victory over the likes of Bird's Celtics, Moses Malone's Sixers, Isiah's Pistons, or Magic's Lakers? Do you think Greg Popovich or Larry Brown would've gotten that Golden State team "over the proverbial hump" by going through the Stockton/Malone Jazz, or Hakeem's Rockets, and taking out Jordan's Bulls in the finals? Please...
You know, Nellie was actually offered the coaching job in Boston before they rekindled their dynasty, but he turned it down because he turned it down in favor of Milwaukee. You think if Don Nelson had coached Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, Cedric Maxwell etc... he wouldn't have gotten that team "over the hump?" Nonsense. Nellie would have three or maybe even more championships, (lord knows Nellie was a better coach than KC Jones ever was) Imagine Nellie's genius with the greatest frontline in NBA history at his disposal.
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