As far as I’m concerned, it’s completely fine to stop caring. Really, it’s liberating and necessary for people to just say “Screw it, I give up” at various points of their life. And aside from that, it’s just really funny to watch people bottom out and stop caring. Like the friend in college who stops showering for a week, or the answering machine in Wedding Crashers... “You’ve reached John ... (deep sigh) ... Whatever.” (3:10 mark). The ultimate example, of course, is from Office Space:
Is Don Nelson Lazy, Crazy, Or Both?
And it even extends to sports--sometimes, it's strangely entertaining to watch a franchise bottom out. Like the Lions last year, or every season the Washington Nationals have ever played. But where this becomes problematic is when one man's apathy begins to affect others. And that's what's happening with Don Nelson.
A few years ago, it was clear he'd reached a point in his career where he no longer cared what anyone else thought, and was willing to try pretty much anything as far lineups, strategy, and substitution patterns are concerned. The man's got a coaching resume that's beyond reproach (no championship, but still), and frankly, he's earned it. Except that now, his arms-folded, shoulder shrugging approach to coaching is really beginning to screw up something that could be pretty special. And that's the Golden State Warriors.
I don't care about them winning, because with or without a coherent coach, they're probably destined for the lottery. But at least play your good players! Anthony Randolph's hobbled, yes, but if he's going to play at all, why not play him more than ten minutes? Did Don Nelson really need to see 25 minutes of Ronny Turiaf? And what about Anthony Morrow?
Morrow’s a guy who was undrafted coming out of Georgia Tech, but is something of an urban legend to hoops junkies everywhere. This past summer, he lit up Las Vegas (so did Randolph, by the way) for a record 47 points. Granted, “spectacular summer league player” is kind of like being the hottest girl at, say, a Big Ten college, but with his quick release and the dearth of alternatives on Golden State’s roster, why not play Morrow?
The Warriors, with Steph Curry, Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrins, Kelenna Azubuike, Randolph and Morrow, have one of the more promising--and highly intriguing--rosters in the league. And half of those guys play at wildly inconsistent rates, and basically operate at the whims of a coach who's stopped caring about his team's development. What's even more frustrating? That the old Don Nelson would have been PERFECT for this bunch. They could be the most exciting team in the league.
And instead, we’re left to wonder whether Don Nelson will ever wake up and start playing his best players, or if we’ll just have to wait until Anthony Morrow and Anthony Randolph will have to catch on elsewhere to really get the chance to shine. It’s frustrating, and while Nelson’s arrogance was funny a few years ago, now he’s beginning to screw things up for the rest of us.
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