European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 06, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday May 6, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 23 Aba commentary it s hard to argue with Nelson s Genius Byjah Hubbard new Day while he was in the process of becoming coaching Genius Don Nelson developed a late sea son habit of losing. That seemed to Delight a very Small band of critics including some old school professional coaches who were jealous of a former player doing so Well. Nelson s Milwaukee teams won at least 50 game seven consecutive seasons but those searching for faults noted that he failed to win a championship and had a poor record in playoff games. Among the 25 coaches with the most career play off victories. Nelson was one of Only eight with a record 42-46 worse than .500. So is he really As great As he often has been fadeout to be the latest evidence suggests again that Nelson actions Are As Strong his reputation. It had become popular to predict that if any team was going to defeat the lakers in the Western conference it would be the jazz. But Nelson s Golden stale warriors not Only upset the Midwest division champions in the Firsta off round but they also did it in three games Ding two victories in Salt Lake City where the jazz had a 34-7 Reglar season record. If someone had predicted before the season that the warriors would successfully handle the jazz it would have been logical to assume that Ralph Samp son would have had a superstar series. But Nelson did not play Sampson at All. Not even in a defensive situation and Sampson was healthy. Nelson in fact devised a plan that flies in the fac of traditional playoff strategy. Instead of trying to ram the Ball inside he spread out the court and the jazz defense which had been the Only defense to allow opponents an average of fewer than 100 Points game during the regular season. The warriors jump shooters and Driver scored at will. Golden state averaged 114 Points and showed How important outside shooting can be Dur ing the playoffs. Nelson also neutralized Utah s 7-4 Center mar Keaton with a Small lineup that had 6-8 Larry Smith or 6-8 Ben Mcdonald at Center. Manuec Bol aver aged Only 22 minutes. Nelson calmly suggested it was a Miracle to win but it was less than that. It was simply a Brilliant coach with a great plan. It took us three games to adjust to the warriors style lakers coach Pat Riley said. You Dpn t make Golden state adjust to you. You have to adjust to them to beat them last season the warriors were 20-62. This season they Are in the conference semifinals with basically the same Crew plus Bol and Mitch Richmond. Nel son s team May not make the Aba finals but it will take an intent critic to find fault with the Miracle he has worked this season. Utah coach Jerry Sloan played eight season for Dick Motta in Chicago. Sloan has said that Motta is a father figure and that he has Learned Man basketball lessons from Motta. Unfortunately he May have Learned too  the jazz lost its first round series the jazz Golden slate coach Don Nelson. His actions match his reputation became Only the second second seeded team in thesis year history of the 16-team playoffs to lose in the first round. The other was Moita s Mavericks who lost to Seattle in the first round of the 1987 playoffs. Like father like son. T Nelson May need another Miracle in the con Ference semifinals with the Phoenix suns. In the last two Golden state Phoenix regular season games the suns won by a total of 48 Points. The suns and warriors open their series saturday afternoon and it should be a hot one. Check out these averages from the first round for Phoenix Kevin Johnson 30.7 Points 13.0 assists and Tom Chambers 27.3 Points 15.3 rebounds. For Golden state Chris Mullin 32.7 Points 5.0 rebounds 5.0 assists and Richmond 25.7 Points 8.3 rebounds,6.3 assists. In the Aba Board of governors meetings inmate april several Rule changes were approved for next season. The most notable is that the Aba will adopt the International Rule of showing lots of a second during the last minute of each Quarter. There is significant pressure when a player shoot two potential game winning free throws with 0 01 on the clock. Let s Sec How players a Cal when 0 00.1 is left. Also the shot clock will no longer be reset to five seconds when the defensive team forces the Ball out of Bounds with fewer than five seconds left on the shot clock. And the Board also will review the draft lottery which will increase to 11 teams when Orlando and Minnesota join the league. There is sentiment that learn with the 1 Ith worst record should t have the Opportunity to pick ahead of the team with the worst. One possibility is that a weighted lottery1 will readopted much like the nil s supplemental draft lottery. The team with the worst record would have11 chances to get the no. I pick the team with the second worst record would have 10 chances and soon through the Bottom 11 teams. � the san Antonio spurs have said they Are interested in trading their pick before the May 21 lottery and All they want in return is two starters. Improbably will be easy if they will Sci Lac for two heat starters but it would be a problem if they want two pistons. Anyway the spurs Don t want to add an Theryoung player to a team that features Young players such As David Robinson and Willie Anderson. The Atlanta Hawks again Are unhappy with Reggie thus who apparently fro a in a clutch Situa Tion tuesday night. After Jack Sikma and Dominique Wilkins Trade three Point baskets in the last 31 seconds of Regula Tion the Hawks got the Ball on a turnover with eight seconds left with the score tied 102-102. Atlanta coach Mike Fratello went to a three guard align ment and instructed the guard who was matched up with a Bucks Forward to drive. Thus was guarded by Terry Cummings but in Stead of driving he bounced the Ball for four seconds while standing about 25 feet from the Basket. Doc Rivers frantically yelled for the Ball and missed a desperation three Pointer As time ran out. The game went into overtime and the Bucks won 117-113 to take a 2-1 Lead. Thus said he was planning to begin his drive arrivers ran toward him but when that information was relayed to Rivers he told reporters i m no going to say  and then he said it s not True. It s just not  had an Mso isolation and he never moved to score. You got to know the time on the  admitted wednesday that he probably should have started his drive earlier. He probably was right. Beathard quits As skins general manager Herndon a. A redskins general manager Bobby Beathard saying he wanted to change the course of his life resigned Friday As one of the most successful front office executives in the National football league. Owner Jack Kent Cooke said he accepted Beathard s resignation effective at the expiration of his contract at the end of the month with deepest  Cooke announced that Charley Cas surly would take Over from Beathard. Casserly 40, a member of the team scouting staff for 12 years was assistant general manager under a canard. This was not a decision that was made on the Spur of the moment said Beathard who has guided the team for11 years. It s one that my wife Christine the kids and i have agonized Over for a Long time. I m looking Forward to spending More time with my folks said the 23-year nil Veteran. Beathard s parents live in Oceanside  series of factors apparently Contri Butch to his decision to leave the team he helped build into one of the finest of the 1980s. Beathard 52, who earned two super Bow rings with Washington has never made a secret of his love for the West coast. He Waskom in California still owns a House near san Diego and ranks few pleasures ahead of surfing in the Pacific Ocean. His wife is a native californian. Wit the headaches of negotiating the con tracts of draft choices and unsigned vet Erans just around the Comer an extended vacation no doubt sounded very attractive. There also Are reports that Beathard could no longer tolerate a difference in philosophy with coach Joe Gibbs. Quot ing unidentified sources the Washington Post in Friday s editions called Bra thard s relationship with Gibbs the contributing Factor behind the general Man Ager s decision to resign. The article citing unidentified sources said Beathard preferred younger Talent while Gibbs wanted to rely on cleans. Beathard on thursday flatly denied he had problems with Gibbs whom he helped hire in 1981. Finding Gibbs was Only one of the significant feats Beathard pulled off after joining Washington in february 1978.taking Over a team depleted of draft choices due to the future is now philosophy of his predecessor George Allen Beathard s first draft pack kick return or Tony Green in the sixth round went on to make the pro bowl. Beathard never did value Many High draft choices because he always had so much Success tapping Talent out of the later rounds. The year after he picked Green he signed linebackers Rich Milot Cal Olkewicz and Monte Coleman who ended up playing together for nine years. He tapped quarterback Mark by picnic the sixth round in 1986 and tackle Dean Hamel in the i2lh round a Yea before that. Rypien is now fighting for a starting Job with Doug Williams. Hamel the special teams Captain could be a starter on defense this season. Rumours of Beathard s imminent Resig nation cropped up before the recent draft but he quelled the speculation by declaring my status As general manager is still the same. As far As i know it s  to  Beathard hardly appeared to be Riding out his contract during the draft. He made four trades two of which brought the redskins Veteran running backs Ger Ald Riggs and Earnest byner