Nolan lost the confidence of prominent players

From Greg Logan of Newsday:

As injuries mounted and the season unraveled, another prominent player challenged Nolan's strategic decisions. The coach told the player that Wang was "running the show." Refusing to accept that explanation, the player, who did not want to be identified, went to Snow and arranged a meeting with the GM, Nolan and Wang, who denied interfering."

[Nolan] pretty much tried to say he didn't tell me that and [ portray] me as a liar," the player said. "I put my -- on the line, and it kind of made me see him in a different light."

Another key leader who did not want to be identified also had a falling-outwith Nolan and began to question the coach's methods. "He did some -- things," the second player said. "He wasn't listening to his assistants and he was kind of going the opposite way. Everybody knew that."

Read the entire story here.

If that was the case, then the writing was on the wall for Nolan long before yesterday's dismissal.