Don Nelson, Warriors

	Don Nelson John W. McDonough/SI

Age: 66.

Replaces: Mike Montgomery.

Previous NBA head coaching experience: Bucks ('76-87); Warriors ('88-95); Knicks ('95-96); Mavs ('97-2005).

Noteworthy: NBA's second-winningest coach (1,190); three-time NBA Coach of the Year ('83, '85, '92); Named one of top 10 coaches in NBA history.

Nicknames: "Nellie"; "Mad Scientist."

Coaching philosophy: Unorthodox matchups, small ball, "point forward."

Happiest guys in locker room: Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy -- they should love Nellie's wide-open style with its emphasis on spreading the floor. Murphy, especially, should be able to use his outside shooting skills to thrive offensively at center.

Saddest guys in locker room: Adonal Foyle, Patrick O'Bryant -- these two traditional pivots probably won't see much playing time. For O'Bryant, drafted No. 9 overall, it could be a long rookie campaign.

Main preseason objective: Get Baron Davis in shape. Convince players to be more selective in three-point shooting.

Long-term challenge: Keep Davis motivated; find out if Dunleavy can play.

Prognosis: Gets them to playoffs in Year 2, grows wary of modern NBA goofiness in Year 3, retires (again) to Hawaii to sip mai tais by the pool.

Isiah Thomas, Knicks

Isiah Thomas AP

Age: 45.

Replaces: Larry Brown.

Previous NBA head coaching experience: Pacers ('00-03).

Noteworthy: Also serves as Knicks GM; Compiled 131-115 record with Indiana, but suffered three straight first-round playoff exits.

Nickname: "Zeke."

Coaching philosophy: Spread the court, let 'em play.

Happiest guys in locker room: Stephon Marbury, Eddy Curry -- no players were happier to see Brown go than these two. The fact that Isiah is a former point guard only makes it better for Marbury, while the fact Isiah invested so much in Curry means the 6-11 center will get a good shot at a bounce-back season in '06-07.

Saddest guys in locker room: Jalen Rose, Quentin Richardson -- stuck in a logjam at the perimeter, these two vets appear to be odd men out. It doesn't help that Rose didn't always see eye-to-eye with Thomas during their Pacers days, and that Isiah has incentive to play rookie draft pick Renaldo Balkman.

Main preseason objective: Clean up toxic atmosphere left over from Brown Era; improve porous defense.

Long-term challenge: Survive the "win or else" mandate from owner James Dolan.

Prognosis: Gets them to 35-40 wins in Year 1, but it's not enough to save his job.