Go figure? Do you honestly think that Golden State would have had a snowball's chance in of winning that series, if not for Don Nelson? Cuban is a tool. A tool with a lot of money, but still a tool. He ed with Don Nelson in favor of Avery Johnson? Definitely. A tool.
You remember when the TOOL owner of the Dallas Cowboys got rid of Jimmy Johnson and turned the team over to Barry Switzer? They had a couple of good seasons, because Switzer inherited the best players money could buy. Oprah could have been successful coaching that team. But the team also fell apart and went to under Switzer.
The Mavs had a good regular season. Cherish the memories. Because Don Nelson just took your future. Losing to an 8 seed took the heart out of most of them. By the time that series was over, they looked like whipped dogs. And there was AJ, making comments that will haunt them next year every bit as badly as the losses themselves.
You tell yourself whatever little bedtime story lets you sleep at night.