Nelson question bristles Brown

[MavsFanFinley]

DMN

Nelson question bristles Brown

By BRAD TOWNSEND / The Dallas Morning News

ATHENS, Greece – When pressed by a reporter Thursday about why Team USA's coaching staff doesn't include someone with more international experience, someone like Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, Larry Brown took offense.

"He has enough trouble coaching Dallas," Brown said.

Brown then noted that he and assistants Gregg Popovich, Roy Williams and Oliver Purnell have international experience.

Nelson is serving as an assistant for Lithuania but said he will not be on the bench Saturday when the Americans and Lithuanians meet.

"We've had 10 practices," Brown said. "You come to these championships with 10 practices, I don't care if John Wooden was here or Dean Smith. It is a different game. The thing that's happening is I think these kids are learning on the fly."