OAKLAND, Calif. — Eric Musselman is the Golden State Warriors' most successful coach of the past 10 years, and that might not be enough to save his job.
The same qualities that make Musselman an effective coach could lead to his firing after just two seasons, according to those around the team and the NBA.
Several Warriors have bristled under Musselman's management style, and the team brass seems displeased by his insistence on using veterans at the expense of Golden State's young players.
Musselman has heard the rumblings as the Warriors' 10th straight season out of the playoffs comes to an end, and he appears to be growing weary of the struggle. Yet he has kept up his intense preparation for every game, and he refuses to concentrate on anything but winning, even at this late stage in the season.
When asked before Friday night's game whether he had considered giving more playing time to his young players, the 39-year-old Musselman said calmly: "We're going to finish the season like we started it."
Musselman then gave big minutes to veterans Calbert Cheaney and Cliff Robinson. After the game, he took one question from reporters before bolting, and the rumbling grew.
"It's a crazy business," said Minnesota coach Flip Saunders, who has known Musselman since the younger coach's childhood. "As a coach, all you can do is prepare teams and try to get them to play up to their ability. If someone wants to get rid of you because of that, that's a prerogative that management and owners always have.
Musselman was the league's youngest coach when he led the Warriors to 38 victories last season, their best finish since 1994. Golden State will finish with nearly the same record this spring despite several big roster changes and significant injuries to Troy Murphy, Nick Van Exel, Speedy Claxton, Adonal Foyle and Erick Dampier.
"He has established himself as a coach," Saunders said. "He's going to be able to continue to coach in this league somewhere. You try to get enough respect to establish yourself, and that's what he's done."
Several Warriors have publicly criticized Musselman, who has one year left on a three-year, $4.5 million contract. In private, the players say everybody expects him to be dismissed despite his major role in transforming one of the NBA's most pathetic franchises into a moderately competitive operation.
"We're just trying to finish the season strong," said Robinson, one of Musselman's favorite players. "We're not going to the playoffs, so everybody's future is up in the air. We'll just have to wait and see about everything."
Those who know Musselman often are reminded of his late father, longtime NBA coach Bill Musselman. Before Minnesota beat Golden State 92-74 on Friday night to snap the Warriors' seven-game home winning streak, Saunders rattled off a list of personal and professional similarities between Musselman and his father, the first coach in Timberwolves history.
"Bill always got his teams and his players to play up to their ability, and that's something Eric has done with this team," Saunders said. "If you're a demanding coach — and I know Eric is demanding, because his dad was like that — you're not always going to be the most popular guy."
"Sometimes you have to push the limit with your players, and especially when you've got young players, they might not understand it. But down the road, they'll appreciate it. He's trying to push those guys to their limit."
It's difficult to gauge the front office's opinion of Musselman, partly because it's nearly impossible to tell who's in charge of the franchise. Garry St. Jean still is the general manager, but special assistant Chris Mullin and president Robert Rowell seem to make most of the decisions.
Earlier in the spring, Rowell said the Warriors had "underachieved, period" — an unusual comment given the Warriors' history, the offseason departures of Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison and Golden State's spate of injuries this season.
After employing eight coaches since 1994, the Warriors might decide it's time for No. 9.
"Eric has done a great job when you look at his situation at the beginning of the year," Saunders said. "If they hadn't had those injuries, they'd be right in that mix for the eighth playoff spot. You hear a lot of talk, people saying different things, but I think he's done a terrific job."