After a two-game hiatus to be with his ailing wife, Joy (her breast cancer surgery is deemed a complete success), coach Don Nelson is returning to the Mavericks' bench with some rest and renewed focus.

Son Donnie Nelson coached the team in his absence, and used a slightly different look.  He used his big men more: he ran more plays for Juwan Howard, and let Shawn Bradley get off the bench.  Some of these wrinkles may stay with the elder Nelson's return.  

Of Shawn Bradley, Nelson said, "It looked to me like Shawn wanted to be a contributor again. I've been angry at Bradley, as you might imagine, over the course of the year. Sitting and watching from afar, it looks to me like he really wants to get back in and help this team. I might not have seen that if I was too close."