Warriors coach Nelson has pneumonia
November 23, 2009
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson has pneumonia andisn’t traveling with the team for two games in Texas.
The 69-year-old Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history, missedpractice Sunday and again Monday. The team said he had been diagnosed withpneumonia and would miss Golden State’s games Tuesday at Dallas and Wednesday atSan Antonio.
The Warriors are home again Saturday to host the Los Angeles Lakers, butit’s unclear if Nelson will be healthy enough to return to the bench by then.Often times with pneumonia, at least a week’s worth of rest is recommended.
The team said Nelson’s status would be re-evaluated Friday after the roadtrip. Top assistant Keith Smart is coaching the Warriors during Nelson’sabsence.
Nelson’s illness is another tough development for the coach in a season thathas already been frustrating and very trying on him. Nelson is taking heat thathe is the one to blame for the team’s struggles this season with a young roster.He has called this group “a very difficult team to coach so far” and got intoa verbal spat with guard Monta Ellis(notes) earlier this month in New York.
The Warriors (4-8), whose playoff run in 2007 is the franchise’s lonepostseason trip since 1994, ended a three-game losing streak with a 108-94 homevictory over Portland on Friday night. That was the club’s first game at OracleArena since trading disgruntled swingman Stephen Jackson(notes) to Charlotte lastMonday.
Nelson said in September he plans to fulfill the remaining two years on hiscontract and be employed one more year for free, but that may not be realisticany longer.
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