Exit Don Nelson, Enter Keith Smart

After a second stint with the Golden State Warriors, Don Nelson's coaching tenure has now come to an end. It started off with promise following the magical run in the 2007 Playoffs where they upset the Dallas Mavericks by becoming the third eighth seed to upset a number 1 seed. In addition, the first eighth seed to triumph under the seven game playoff format and it was the Warriors' first playoff appearance since the 1993-1994 season during Nelson's first stint with Golden State. Yet, the later years of his second stint degenerated into another period lost seasons and total frustration for Warriors fans.

It's the end of the unconventional run and gun basketball that has become part of Warriors basketball during Don Nelson's last two coaching stints. During its time, it was entertaining to watch players run up and down the floor at breakneck speed. For example, the Run TMC era ,which featured Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullins was fun to watch every night during its heyday from the Late 1980s to Early 1990s. In addition, the incarnation of Baron Davis, Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson during their surprising 2007 run.

Yes, Nelson had done wonders for teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors (1987-1994) and the Dallas Mavericks. Initially, those teams were mired in mediocrity or in the abyss. Within a few years, he turned them into playoff fixtures every year and memorable games.

Unfortunately, his teams could never win when it counted the most. His style of play with the Warriors was not something that you can win an NBA championship as they could not play a semblance of good defense at all. Teams such as the Phoenix Suns (Seven Seconds or Less Era) can attest to that as well as the Denver Nugget teams of the 1980s and early 1990s.

Is it any wonder why teams such as the San Antonio Spurs with Tim Duncan won 4 championships as well as teams like the Celtics and the Lakers (2-time Defending Champions)?

Nelson's departure comes at a good time for the franchise and himself. He has the all-time wins mark in NBA history, which was achieved on April 7th against the hapless Minnesota Timberwolves. This was the only reason he was coaching while his team disintegrated into NBDL call ups and one-man gunners.

With new ownership and direction, it was the time for the thirty-one year coaching veteran to go. Nelson had one year and 6 million dollars left in his deal. He will be replaced by his assistant, Keith Smart. Smart has been Nelson's assistant since 2003.

In his last coaching stint, he was 9-31 with the Cleveland Cavaliers before they drafted their savior turned traitor, Lebron James. In addition, he's famous for making the biggest shot in the 1987 National Championship game between the Syracuse Orangemen and Indiana Hoosiers. It won the Hoosiers the national championship and can be seen seen below:



As for the loyal but long suffering Warriors faithful, they see it as an end to the reign of craziness that permeated that team from 2006-2010. For the fans, they want a coach who has the team moving forward rather than sideways. This means that Smart has his work cut out for him. Since the glory days of mid-1970s, the Warriors have been mired in mediocrity due to bad luck (Ralph Sampson bad knees, Tim Hardaway torn ACL, and Monta Ellis moped accident), coaches (PJ Carlisemo, Gary St. Jean and Mike Montgomery ), drafts (picking Todd Fuller over Kobe Bryant in 1996 and in 1997 picking Adonal Foyle over Tracy McGrady) and signings/transactions ( Trading Mitch Richmond for Billy Owens in 1991 when Dikembe Mutumbo was available and Corey Maggette 5 years and 50 million to play off the bench). Will he be successful? Only time and the win column will tell.