Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 am  |  25 responses

Nellie Has Already Thrown in the Towel

by Marcel Mutoni

The Golden State Warriors, losers of seven in a row (including last night’s overtime thriller against the Heat), are playing terrible basketball. Injuries have killed them, and their defense is so porous that they managed to make the Knicks look like the Harlem Globetrotters a few nights ago.

Their coach, the guy who’s supposed to round up the troops and give them hope as they go forward, sounds like he’s down for the count.

Don Nelson isn’t willing to lie to others – or himself, for that matter – about his squad’s chances this year. He knows they have next-to-no shot at returning to the postseason, and he’s OK with that. From the Mercury News:

“I think we knew we were in trouble when Monta went down. Chris and I talked about it in preseason, training camp. We knew it was going to be really difficult.”

-Q: Is ownership and management on-board with your thinking? They’re OK with a non-playoff year?

Nelson: Absolutely. They would probably want me to be more positive. But I kind of like to say it the way it is. That’s the way I see it. And we’re going to get better. But I think there are too many obstacles to have that as a goal this year.

Honesty is the best policy, I guess. However, good luck convincing the fans to bother showing up to the arena now that they know how you truly feel about things.

The good news for Golden State, is that Nellie says he has no intention of walking away from his new deal with the ballclub.

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  • Ken Posted: Dec.2 at 10:34 am
    Haha! Poor Nellie. This will take more than Bud Light to cheer him up.

  • ti-sizz Posted: Dec.2 at 10:40 am
    he drinks buds for his breakfast. what he needs is a whole barrel of booze

  • Mo Charlo Posted: Dec.2 at 10:41 am
    I still went to Grizz games when they were the worst team in the league, in ’06-’07. Well, me and like, three other people. Even if Nellie is being practical, I don’t see Jax rolling over to die.

  • Darksaber Posted: Dec.2 at 10:42 am
    honesty? Really? Way to earn the dollars on that new contract, coach. What a mess. The players have experienced enough ballin to KNOW they aren’t challenging the lakers anytime soon, but the general publicly stating “it’s OVA”, well thats just wrong. No tact Don, way to take the pressure of a losing campaign off your shoulders. Pathetic

  • the illest Posted: Dec.2 at 11:13 am
    I dont understand what the big deal is when people admit that they arent that good. I never heard Nellie say they wouldnt compete. It’s obvious that they are competing. He’s just saying what all of us already know – that it would be hard with all the obsticles and the top notch talent in the West to compete for a playoff spot this year. He never said that they wouldn’t compete for it though so lighten up.

  • BETCATS Posted: Dec.2 at 11:30 am
    says in indian voice -Boud Lite-

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Dec.2 at 11:32 am
    Illest said it best. Nellie’s not saying the team is giving up altogether, he’s saying they’re not good enough to make real noise. Period. Now, Nellie…play Anthony Randolph!

  • riggs Posted: Dec.2 at 11:46 am
    ABSOLUT UNDERACHIEVER

  • Simon S.Y Lawy Posted: Dec.2 at 11:47 am
    we want coach CARTER.

  • collin Posted: Dec.2 at 11:49 am
    its About damn time he throws in the towell

  • kev Posted: Dec.2 at 11:50 am
    did anyone expect this team to be good?

  • Keith Posted: Dec.2 at 11:54 am
    Holly will not like this.

  • buddy Posted: Dec.2 at 12:00 pm
    With the first pick in the 2009 NBA draft the warriors select…

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Dec.2 at 12:01 pm
    I also read that some of the players are getting frustrated. Not only because of the losing, but also because of each other. Things don’t look too sunny in Oakland.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Dec.2 at 12:01 pm
    Wow, the Dubs blew up so fast. Giving Baron’s money to Maggette was such a bad idea. Actually none of their signings make sense…Turiaf and Azubuike? I wonder if Monta could even save this team. But Ryne is right about this possibly opening the door for Anthony Randolph to get some major tick. Please let that happen…

  • maio Posted: Dec.2 at 12:14 pm
    Newsflash 2011: “The Warriors have agreed to a trade which will send the First Pick in the 2009 draft and former ROY (insert name) to the (insert any name) in exchange for a box of cheerios and a life-size pokemon doll”

  • TADOne Posted: Dec.2 at 12:33 pm
    More time to drink Bud Light.

  • buddy Posted: Dec.2 at 1:44 pm
    The warriors, and all bay area sports suck so bad right now that I have been paying more attention to the San Jose sharks than ever before who are killing right now.

  • collin Posted: Dec.2 at 3:39 pm
    you ever notice how nellie is always drinking on the sidelines. it’s not gatorade.

  • Allenp Posted: Dec.2 at 5:41 pm
    Nellie is daring them to fire him.
    He just wants his money so he can go to his beach and chill.
    Nellie stays quitting on teams to get paid. He has the game down pat.

  • Stephen Jackson - Action Jax Posted: Dec.2 at 7:32 pm
    Actually, we are all at the stage Nellie is. He’s our coach, and he’s convinced us that we’ll get back to the postseason soon. For now, we’re gunning for a lottery pick. And we are keeping Monta, for the record.

  • Moose Posted: Dec.2 at 7:52 pm
    @ buddy: . . . Blake Griffin. What, another young power forward?

  • Zee! Posted: Dec.2 at 9:30 pm
    I was at the game last night, S. Jax kept sitting out of the team huddles, not hi fiving his team mates, and he would walk to the end of the court by himself when the W’s shot free throws. Problems……

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Dec.2 at 10:52 pm
    More time in Hawaii.

  • Bruno Posted: Dec.3 at 10:43 am
    Nellie is ridiculous… he shouldn’t even get paid for the dumb work he does…
    i could never believe how much respect he always got in USA. if i was a GS fan, i would never t5rust this guy after all he did.
    who is he gonna fight and lt go this year?
    they already lost Webber’s prime cause of this guy, now Rich and Baron… Jax and Biedrins this year???

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