Interesting Mavs article from SpursReport.com

[TVI]

This is from RichB, a regular contributor to spursreport.com. Don't worry, it's about the Mavs, not the Spurs...

http://www.spursreport.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6173



Why this was the end of the line for Don Nelson
I just finished watching Don Nelson at the podium after his Mavs lost to the Kings 4-1. A reporter asked him what this meant regarding his furure. Nellie played dumb. "I don't understand the question". The reporter then asked him point blank: Do you expect to be coaching this team next season? Nellie answered "Of course. Why not? I got a three year contract. Why wouldn't I?"

The audience of reporters were silent. They know the truth. And Don Nelson knows the truth. He's coached his last game in the NBA.

Mark Cuban must fire Don Nelson by noon tommorrow. Why wait? He needs to fire Nellie and his entire staff, including Junior. He needs to pick up the phone, or better yet, fly to Miami personally and speak to Heat owner Mickey Arison. He must speak to the Heat for permission to speak to one Pat Riley.

Mavs fans have had enough, and I'm sure Mark Cuban has had enough. It's now or never. The window of opportunity for teams to win an NBA championship is only so big. For the Dallas Mavericks organization, it's just barely ajar.

A year after nearly forcing the Spurs to a Game 7 in the WCF, the Mavs struggled to win 1 game from a Sacramento team that limped into the playoffs. Neither team will play much defense, but the Kings played enough to win this series. Dallas did not. That's why Mark Cuban must call Pat Riley.

Riley has done his job in Miami. Win or lose against New Orleans, the future is bright in South Beach. It's time for Riles to move on. He's not done coaching, we all know that. But he's done losing. And three years of losing in Miami had soured him on his life. Coaching is his life. Not playing GM. Running those 4 hour practices like a taskmaster is his life. Building tough defensive teams is his life. Winning is his life. Now it's time to get his life back. He must clearly still yearn to win an NBA Title without Magic Johnson. And restore his legend to the peak of it's power.

The Nellieball Experiment is over. The days of "we're just gonna outscore you" are over. Don Nelson's career as a coach in the NBA is over. He's taken this team as far as he could, and it didn't work. He had the resources of Cuban's wallet and disregard of the salary cap, and he still brought in the wrong kinds of players. Too many chiefs. Not enough Indians. A group of 4 small forwards and 1 point guard will never win an NBA championship. Despite all his trying to prove it would, Nellie couldn't make it happen. So for that, we say goodbye. Don't let the door hit ya...

Mark Cuban needs to move fast. He already lost out on a Riley prodigy, Doc Rivers. I'm not exactly sure he's willing to hire another, Byron Scott. Jeff Van Gundy is in Houston. But why bother with the students, when you can lure the master himself? Dallas needs Pat Riley. Pat Riley needs Dallas. It's almost too perfect.

With the Lakers just 6 games away from imploding, the window of opportunity for the Mavs could very well blow open again. If Pat Riley kicks it in.

Whatever it takes for Cuban to convince him, he must do it. $10 Million per year and GM duties? Do it. Trade Walker,Jamison or Finley for defensive minded role players? Do it. Sign a quality center, like Erick Dampier? Do it.

Fire Don Nelson.

Because it's the only way the Mavericks will ever seriously compete for an NBA championship. Just do it.

Cuban needs to build his team around Nash & Nowitski, and surround them with a group of role players committed to defense. He needs someone who will bring an intensity to this team, and a defensive style that could make them champions. Cuban needs Pat Riley.

This has got to be the end of the line for Don Nelson. For the sake of Mavs fans everywhere. For the sake of talented stars like Nowitski & Nash. They've done so much for Mavericks basketball, they deserve a shot to win an NBA Title. That shot clearly is not coming with Don Nelson in charge.

Mark Cuban, Stop f#@kin around. Ratings are nice, but rings are the thing.

Pick up the phone, and call the man. It's the only way.

[kg_veteran]

Very interesting article.

Cuban pretty much shot down the Riley rumors in his interview with David Moore, but if Riley was really interested, would Cuban really turn him down? Somehow I have a hard time believing that.

[grndmstr_c]

It's now or never. The window of opportunity for teams to win an NBA championship is only so big. For the Dallas Mavericks organization, it's just barely ajar.

I have to disagree with this. Last offseason was spent turning untradeable contracts into tradeable ones, and aging vets on the downside of their careers into young studs with their best years ahead of them. The Mavs window is only cracked right now because their roster does need work, but it's far more likely to open wider in the coming years than it is to close.