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Wednesday, January 3, 2001
Donnie Nelson takes dad's place
Associated Press
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DALLAS -- Donnie Nelson replaced his dad as coach of the
Dallas Mavericks a day sooner than expected, guiding the team
Wednesday night in a 107-104 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Don Nelson decided about three hours before tipoff that he
wasn't feeling up to the job on the eve of his prostate cancer
surgery.
The elder Nelson watched the game on TV in the coaches locker
room, then went straight to owner Mark Cuban's plane for a flight
to Salt Lake City, where he'll undergo surgery early Thursday.
He's expected to remain at the Huntsman Cancer Institute for six
days and be gone from the team 6-to-8 weeks, missing up to 26 games.
"He has been very upbeat," Donnie Nelson said. "The fact that
the hour is arriving, he's become a little more quiet. Just keep
him in your prayers."
Fans arriving for Wednesday night's game signed a "Get Well
Nellie" banner, then saw it paraded around the court during
pregame introductions while the public-address announcer wished
Nelson a speedy recovery. A youngster waved a poster that read
"Get Wellie Nellie."
Donnie Nelson was quiet at the start, watching most of the first
quarter crouched near midcourt. He shouted simple commands such as
"Go!" "Run!" and "Back!" as Dallas fell behind by 15 midway
through the second quarter.
He became much more animated in the second half as the Mavericks
rallied to lead by three, trail again by 12 and eventually tie the
game in the final minute. Then Detroit's Jerry Stackhouse hit three
free throws in the final 26 seconds.
During the comeback, Nelson was very vocal and emotional.
Sometimes it was comical as he used body English to try helping
shots fall. One time he even flashed a signal with one hand and
waved encouragement with his other.
When Steve Nash missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, Nelson dropped
his head and slumped his shoulders.
Donnie Nelson has known since Christmas that he would be taking
over, although he expected his first game to be Friday at Toronto.
He began assuming more duties by running practice Monday and
Tuesday. By Tuesday night, he realized his debut as interim coach
might be bumped up.
"I knew last night that there was a strong possibility that he
would not be physically able to coach, judging how he was reacting
to his medicine," he said. "He wanted to leave it for a game-time
decision."
In addition to dizziness caused by the medicine, Don Nelson was
feeling weak because he had to avoid solid foods for two days.
Doctors had warned the 60-year-old Nelson that he might not feel
up to coaching the night before his surgery, but he refused to ease
his schedule until experiencing the side effects.
"You've got to understand, Nellie's played with 205-degree
temperatures. He's one of those guys who is an old warhorse, he's
going to show up and do his job," his son said. "Until you
actually go through it, you don't know how your body is going to
respond."
So, what about that projected two-month absence?
"I would say that's highly likely," Donnie Nelson said.
Don Nelson, who recently became the third winningest coach in
NBA history, had planned on giving up coaching after last season.
But Cuban's eagerness and a lucrative contract lured him back.
He's glad he did as the Mavericks are off to their best start in
more than a decade.
His son doesn't want to mess it up.
"I think we're ready," said Donnie Nelson, in his 15th season
as an NBA assistant coach. "I think we've had two really good
practices. I think we're certainly prepared. We're upbeat and
energetic. I think the guys want to do well for Nellie."
Nelson originally planned to turn the team over to assistant
coach Del Harris, who had filled in for four games while Nelson
decided how to fight his cancer. Harris, however, said the younger
Nelson was better suited for the job.
"I don't have a goal in mind," said the younger Nelson, who is
Dallas' director of player personnel. "I'm just trying to get
through this month, month and a half, two months, and not lose
ground."
The potential upside for Donnie is doing a good enough job to
get hired by another NBA team. The downside?
"You don't want to be fired by your own old man," he said.
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