By Mike Fisher -- DallasBasketball.com
“I’m not going to fire Nellie,’’ Mark Cuban said Wednesday night, thus ending one of the most incendiary, volatile, embarrassing, hateful incidents in Mavs history. … that never happened.
Cuban, speaking throughout the evening and then at halftime of ESPN’s Mavs-Sixers telecast, made it clear that he’d like to end the torrential downpour of Cubes-vs.-Nellie stories and non-stories. Of course, the reports would dry up even more quickly if Nellie himself would shut the hell up.
Before the game, Nellie suggested that some changes might be impending.
To which Cuban responded: “Don’s a bit of a drama queen. … There will not be any changes in the head coaching position. … I want him to earn all that money. … I’m not going to let him go off to Hawaii and sit around. He’s going to be here and we’ll turn things around. … I’m not going to fire Nellie. He’s a great coach, and he’s not going anywhere.’’
One can almost picture the proud-and-playful Nelson grimacing when faced with the havoc that’s been caused by some irresponsible reporting and his somewhat casual approach to the supposed problems within the Dallas hierarchy, problems that Cuban worked to clear up Wednesday.
For the skillionth time, Cuban shot down the Pat Riley thing. For the skillionth time, Cuban reiterated that he’s more concerned with how the team is playing down the stretch and in the playoffs than now, with his newly formed roster. And for the skillionth time, he kept the door open to trades while expressing optimism regarding his present group.
“I don’t make predictions,’’ Cuban said, “but I like our team.’’
And he likes Nellie, and views him as important enough to have sat down behind closed doors for a lengthy clear-the-air pregame session.
All of this is lingering crud from Nellie’s belief that the owner mishandled contract renegotiations a year ago, delaying them when Nelson wanted a commitment for himself and his staff. Nelson eventually led his club to the West Finals (maybe, it could be argued, because Cuban’s delaying put the heat on the fellas to perform); Cuban eventually rewarded him with a fat three-year extension.
Is it possible that Nellie finally feels he’s had his say, made his stand, gotten his money – and is now ready to focus on the basketball team? Especially because he’s also now even received a public vote of confidence/guarantee of job security from his boss?
Happily, Nellie is starting to put a lid on blaming the Mavs’ mediocre start on the lack of a center, the lack of chemistry, or, in his sly manner, the owner.
Early Wednesday, Nellie did his usual “we stink’’ radio routine on the Norm Hitzges Show on 1310 The Ticket.
But later?
“I take full responsibility for the team not playing the way we thought it would,’’ Nellie said before Wednesday’s home game against the Sixers. “This has been about me. Don't pass along blame to players, or to anyone else. It starts and ends with me."
Starts and ends.
Good.
Start the winning.
End the fake controversy.