Nelson Gets Vote of Confidence from Warriors
Feb. 22, 2010
Matt Steinmetz
CSNBayArea.com
OAKLAND -- It’s only fair to ask the question. After all the Warriors are 16-39, and owners of the third-worst record in the league. They’re coming off a 29-53 season. And this is the NBA, after all.
Is there any chance coach Don Nelson gets fired?
Not by the sound of it. Looks like Nelson will be sticking around at least until he gets the all-time coaching wins mark, even if takes until next season.
I asked Riley a week ago if he had given any thought to firing Nelson and he responded with a “no comment.”
But on Monday, Riley was more forthcoming on a conference call with season-ticket holders. One caller asked specifically about Nelson and whether he was the right coach for this team.
Riley said he was.
“As far as we’re concerned, I’ve seen him in a lot of situations,” Riley answered. “He has not lost the ability to coach or forgotten how to put teams together as far as strategy and using lineups and so forth.
“He’s going to get the record. But at the same time, if it wasn’t for that, I’d still like him as a coach. And I like the style of play that we use. And it’s important that we continue to go forward with that style of play, and he’s the guy to coach it.”
Nelson is eight wins shy of overtaking Lenny Wilkens on the all-time coaching wins list. The Warriors need to finish the season no worse than 8-19 for Nelson to establish the mark