Let me start by saying I like Nellie and I've known him 20 years. I'm not so sure what I feel about Don Nelson.

You see, there are two separate people here: Nellie and Don Nelson. It's important you understand this distinction. Nellie is the front man, the act. Don Nelson is the reality.

Nellie is the greatest guy you ever met. He is whimsical and jokes around and is humble and invites you to have a beer and is self-deprecating. Don Nelson enjoys his time as Nellie. But Don Nelson is nothing like Nellie.

Don Nelson is shrewd, political and tough. Every word he says -- even when he seems to be off the cuff -- is calculated. He is brilliant with words. And he can deceive you. When he says yellow you may think he means yellow. Often he means blue and you need to be on your toes. He schemes and plans and loves power -- he' a power lover.

When he was with the Warriors in the old days he ran George Karl out of the organization. That is my perception although I'm sure Don Nelson would dispute that. All I know is this -- Karl was coach and then Don Nelson was coach and general manager and chief potentate. So, in my mind at least a pattern of power grabbing was established.

And now the latest. Robert Rowell, Warriors president, ran Pete D'Alessandro out of the organization, Pete a good guy, Pete a skilled negotiator with players, Pete Chris Mullin's confidante and right-hand man. That Pete.

I have defended Pete D. in a previous blog and I don't want to lose my focus here. I'm talking about Don Nelson. How was he involved in this palace coup, a coup which leaves Mullin vulnerable, exposed and without an ally? Well, Don Nelson appears uninvolved. In his Nellie character he seemed surprised anything happened. He didn't seem to care or understand one way or another that his assistant coach Larry Riley has taken over for Pete D. But surely Don Nelson understands the meaning of this.

Someone associated with the Warriors once told me, "Riley is little Nellie." This person meant Riley emulates Don Nelson, drinks beers with him, plays poker with him on the plane. He is a Don Nelson clone  and now this clone is Mullin's principal associate in the general manager's office. Really?

I have learned as a journalist to ask a simple question. What do I really see? I ask this question in opposition to another question. What am I supposed to see?

With the Warriors I'm supposed to see a coach who is befuddled by his assistant coach going over to the business side. What I really see is Don Nelson's guy infiltrating the Chris Mullin side of the Warriors. What I think I see is Don Nelson scheming to get Larry Riley in Chris Mullin's business. What I think I see is Don Nelson involved in the Pete D. firing so he could get a spy in the general manager's office. What I hope I don't see, but fear I see is Don Nelson plotting Mullin's complete overthrow with the idea of Riley becoming general manager after this season. What I think I see but I'm not sure I see is Nelson, through his operative Riley, running the show at the Warriors -- front office and coaching staff -- just as he ran everything after the fall of George Karl.

I haven't talked to Mullin about this but he is a smart guy -- and a very good guy like Pete D. I wonder if he sees what I see.

So, I come back to the beginning of this blog. I like Nellie because he's one hell of a guy. I mostly avoid Don Nelson.