* * * OFFICIAL WARRIORS STARTING LINEUP RELEASED * * *

by gsdubz on Oct 9, 2006 11:43 AM PDT

According to InsideBayArea.com, Nellie has decided that the starting Small Forward position will officially belong to Mickael Pietrus, therefore solidifying the starting 5.

Nelson -- who came into camp not even certain if Pietrus was good enough to get off the bench -- anointed the 24-year-old Frenchman as his starting small forward, which means Jason Richardson will stay at shooting guard and thus quashes the starting hopes of Monta Ellis and Dajuan Wagner.

"That's a no-brainer, so far," Nelson said.

The starting 5 lineup for GSW will be as follows:

Troy Murphy - Center
Mike Dunleavy - Power Forward
Mickael Pietrus - Small Forward
Jason Richardson - Shooting Guard
Baron Davis - Point Guard

Which looks good to me because now we just have ONE weak link in our roster, and with a highly respected coach like Nellie, I don't see any problem with putting someone else in that spot before the trade deadline.

Also, let's look at the backup 5:

Andris Biedrins - Center
Ike Diogu - Power Forward
??? Cabarkaba? Barnes??- Small Forward
Dajuan Wagner - Shooting Guard
Monta Ellis - Point Guard

Well I'm stumped at the backup SF position, maybe there will be some sort of rotation between the 3 and 4 when that happens, you never know when it comes to Nellie!

Peace out.

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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3 / 4

I'm a little unsure of the 3 / 4 rotation myself. I can see Zarko fitting into this system well and earning some decent minutes. I have no idea about this Barnes kid, other then I don't believe he has a guaranteed contract nor have I heard any of the coaching staff even mention his name ever. I'm wondering if we may see a trio of JRich, LL Cool P, and Wagner splitting time between the 2 and 3...although I don't forsee Pietrus playing too much at the off-guard, maybe just an option.

by MoUpInTheO on Oct 9, 2006 12:13 PM PDT reply actions

mcleod??

2nd lineup:
Andris Biedrins - Center
Ike Diogu - Power Forward
Monta Ellis - Small Forward
Dajuan Wagner - Shooting Guard
Keith Mcleod - Point Guard

by cantfindanname on Oct 9, 2006 12:48 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah

Forgot about Mcleod....I've never been impressed with this guy's game. My people in Utah tell me the same thing, don't expect much from him. Not to mention Nellie has said he would like to see Monta develop into a PG in order to be a truely great player in the league, so I could see him experimenting with some time at the 1, and if he succeeds there, then Mcleod could quickly find himself with Foyle at the end of the bench.

by MoUpInTheO on Oct 9, 2006 1:07 PM PDT reply actions

By the way....

I found the Nellie quote regarding Monta playing the point I was refering to...

He's a small (shooting guard), just like Ellis is a small (shooting guard), and both those guys eventually need to become capable of playing the point if they want to be great players. Otherwise, they'll just be good backups at the best.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/basketball/nba/golden_state_warriors/15702747.htm

The other guard mentioned here is Wagner, so if he sees both of them playing some point, then Mcleod REALLY gets shoved to the end. Not to mention poor Andre Owens. My guess is that if Ownens is still on the team come the beginning of the regular season, then he would be shipped down to the DL with POB.

by MoUpInTheO on Oct 9, 2006 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions

2nd Team

There doesn't have to be a designated 3 man on the second team. All of our options at the 3 are in the starting lineup. I assume J Rich will see plenty of time at the 3-spot as the bench rotations start, with a combo of B-Diddy, Monte, and Wagner at the 1 and 2 spots. Remember that it's usually a blow out situation when no member of the starting 5 is on the court.

by bigrobbieb on Oct 9, 2006 1:38 PM PDT reply actions

Backup 3

I would think Dunleavy and Richardson would be the de facto "backup 3s," with Diogu and Ellis, respectively, taking some of their "starters' minutes" at 4 and 2. Rather than think of it as simply "backup five v. starting five," I think it may be more useful to break down the 48 minutes at each position. Just to throw some numbers out there:

1 Davis 36 / Ellis 10 / McLeod 2
2 Richardson 30 / Ellis 8 / Wagner 10
3 Pietrus 28 / Richardson 10 / Dunleavy 10
4 Dunleavy 18 / Diogu 22 / Murphy 8
5 Murphy 24 / Foyle 14 / Biedrins 10

Or something like that...

by Sleepy Freud on Oct 9, 2006 4:41 PM PDT reply actions

Nice man!

I like that way of looking at it. You're totally right. The game is 48 minutes of chaos at each position. Nellie is flexible, our players are flexible, and WE are flexible.

Top 7 of '07 draft = Warriors only chance of being good over the next 5 years

by jgodoski on Oct 9, 2006 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions