DON NELSON never played defense during his NBA career and neither do the players he coaches. It should be noted that assistant coach John Killilea was primarily responsible for Nellie's defensively tenacious squads in Milwaukee. LARRY BROWN's gargantuan ego and insatiable wanderlust has been the ruin of several teams. At the same time, his perpetual nagging helped propel the Pistons to a title. Which persona will show up in Charlotte? DOC RIVERS gets credit for reaping the benefits of Danny Ainge's astute trades and for creating a team-first environment. However, if not for Tom Thibodeau's defensive expertise, Rivers would still be ranked among the mediocre members of his profession. MIKE D'ANTONI gets to prove that his madcap game plan can succeed without Steve Nash in charge. Not a chance. MIKE BROWN stubbornly insists on misusing LeBron James in his highly predictable offense. GEORGE KARL's teams are traditionally underachievers. Even in the 1996 finals against the Bulls, his Supersonics laid down in Games 1-3, won the next two meaningless contests (in Seattle) before getting spanked to end the series in Chicago. His ball clubs traditionally exhibit lots of flash but little substance. BYRON SCOTT has overcome (or at least has managed to camouflage) his sizeable ego to the point where he has inspired a flawed Hornets team to overachieve. He ranks just behind McMillan as the probable heir to the championship legacies of Jackson and Popovich. SCOTT SKILES is a hoop-o-maniac who eventually drives his players nuts. RICK ADELMAN is a nice guy and an excellent communicator with a sharp basketball mind. Does he lack the edge and the charisma to push his teams to the next level?The last words on this quixotic subject belong to Kevin Loughery, who once said, "Coaching an NBA team is better than working, and coaching an NBA team is better than not working."
Whatever that means.
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