Monta Ellis — hunched over in his seat, trying to contain his frustration — summed up Friday night’s game in a way that gives this debacle complete justice.

ELLIS: “We all should be embarrassed. This is a terrible game, terrible performance. We looked like we didn’t know what we were doing out there. We looked like a high school team. We didn’t do anything. … I couldn’t tell you what it was. I just know that’s not how I want to play basketball.”

It was so bad, Ellis called it the worst game he’s played in during his four-plus seasons as with the Warriors. It was so bad, Nellie admitted he was embarrassed after the game. It was so bad, guard C.J. Watson questioned the direction of his life.

quietstorm_32: “Just realized my life has taken a 360 spiral downward. LOL. Don’t know what I did but, man, not looking so good. LOL. Back to the drawing board.”

It was so bad, swingman Stephen Jackson seemed to enjoy some sort of I-told-you-so moment. Technically, he declined to say “I told you so.” When asked if this is what he was worried about, he backed off and said he wasn’t going to say that. But his body language and his message screamed “I told you so.”

Jackson: “A lot of things went wrong. I’m going to leave it up to the coaches. I’m not going to stress myself out over this, you know what I mean? I’m not. Just got to go out there and do my job and do my work out there. I’m not going to get beat up by it. I know a couple years ago, when we had Baron and all those guys, I would upset right now losing by 30. Right now, it’s not bothering me. … I leave that up to the people who make the changes. I mean, everybody sees how we’re playing. Everybody sees the team. I’m not the one to make the decisions. Everybody knows how I feel. I’m just going to go out there and do my job, try to be as positive as I can. As I can. And right now I think I’m doing a good job. I don’t have any techs — yet. I’m in a good mood right now after getting beat by 60. So hey, I’m doing good for myself right now.”

It was so bad, Monta subconsciously conceded the Warriors were lottery bound again.

ELLIS: “We’ve got 79 more, 78 however many more we’ve got.”

*****************

It’s hard to pinpoint what went wrong. First and foremost, the defense was downright offensive.
Especially in the second half, Baron and Chris Kaman had their way with the Warriors. In the first half, Eric Gordon was scoring like he was playing against a 7th grade CYO squad.
The Clippers wound up shooting 57.9 percent for the game.

ELLIS: “It’s an NBA team. They’ve got NBA players. They’ve got players who can make plays. They’re not trash. They probably had a couple bad games.”

But nobody ever expected the Warriors to be good defensively. The expectation was that they would be able to score. But this offense is so out of sync, if not incapable.
Stephen Jackson missed at least four WIDE OPEN people. Azubuike was all alone behind the defense and prime for a lob. Jax didn’t lob it, instead pulled up for 3. Once, he was getting double teamed on the left low block (actually he dribbled into a trap). He drove towards the top and the double team followed him, leaving Morrow all alone in the corner. Jax forced a drive to the middle instead of kicking to Morrow.
Another time, he dribbled middle and the weakside helper followed him, leaving Randolph all alone for a sure dunk. Jax didn’t get him the ball. Then, one one of his hard drives to the left, he had Morrow all alone in the corner. Instead, Jax kept going to the rack and wound up unsuccessfuly trying to draw a foul.
Then there’s Maggette, who really let his hot shooting in the preseason go to his head. It’s unbelievable how he’s making a habit out of abandoning the part of his game that makes him worthwhile. He was 2-for-7 tonight. The two came on drives to the basket. He took four shots from 20 feet or deeper, all bricks.
Then there is Ellis. His head-down-into-traffic drives are tolerable and expected. But getting ripped twice at half court is unacceptable.
Nelson has gone small, making the Warriors vulnerable to defense, so the Warriors can be better at ball movement and more explosive offensively. Save for the easy time they had against Memphis, perhaps the second-worst defense in basketball, the Warriors offense has looked pained at best.

*******************

Randolph didn’t do himself any favors this night. Certainly, part of the reason is because he has no idea how long he’s going to play or which mistakes he can make. He’s caught between trying to do enough to prove he belongs out there, all the while trying not to make mistakes.
He’s not doing that good of job at the task.

JACKSON: “We have different line-ups every night, guys don’t know how many minutes they’re going to play, when they’re coming out… There’s stuff we’ve got to get more concrete. It’s not anybody to blame. You’ve just got to figure it out as a team from top to bottom. … It’s going to be hard when you have a whole bunch of young guys, because they’re trying to figure their game out, let alone what their role is”

His offense looks uncoordinated at best. He is committing a lot of fouls on defense and he’s getting ridiculous with the goal-tending. But he is rebounding better of late and he drew five charges Friday.
Was asking around and several are saying this latest rift between Randolph and Nellie isn’t Nellie’s fault. Randolph’s attitude and lack of humility is keeping him from excelling on the court.
Randolph has vowed to keep his mouth shut and he’s trying hard not to say the wrong thing. But even that is on a defiant tip. And Nellie, with his fare share of ego, isn’t going to take any attitude from some second-year player who has talent but still needs a lot of work.
But, from what I was told, Randolph is acting as if he’s arrived, like the summer league and first part of preseason earned him a starting spot, big minutes and some leniency. The moment he realizes he’s got to grind like he was this summer, and be coachable, he’s going to take off, insiders tell me.
There is a risk that the relationship deteriorates to the point of irreconcilable. We are talking about two extremely proud men, here.

*****************

Curry fouled out without having much impact. Gordon and Baron posted him up. They ran him off screens, played him physically. The scouting report on Curry is definitely making the rounds. Expect teams to try to pound him in submission.

CURRY: “In four or five years, I’m going to be looking at the rookie, saying ‘go at him until he proves himself.’ So I take it as a challenge, to work hard. I think I gave a great effort out there. Just calls didn’t go my way. Kind of got exploited down low.”

******************

The machine that is TK transcribed the postgame interviews. It is great reading.

RANDOLPH: “It’s kind of like déjà vu. But it’s different from last year because people know what I can do. I’ve just got to keep my head up. It’s a long season. I’ve got a long career ahead of me. These are the type of experiences that will make me a better player and person.”

********************

Monta Ellis played easily his most complete game of the young season. His shot was off early, but he still had his fingerprints all over the game. His stat line was impressive:

24 points (10-for-23 FGs), 12 assists, 7 rebounds, 5 steals, 1 TOs

But that was against the Memphis Grizzlies. Can Monta Ellis be that kind of productive presence every game? Will he look for others as much when his shot isn’t falling?
Wednesday, he was driving and dishing like you rarely see. He passed the ball up he court. It even looked as if he were operating with the intent to pass on some occasions, rather than passing as a last resort. Plus, he was after it on defense, in his manner anyway. Ellis certainly didn’t shut anyone down. But he was good on doubling down, decisive and disruptive.
Last week, Monta said Curry did not have to worry about being a leader despite being the point guard. “That’s not his role.” Sounds like Monta is bent on reminding the organization and the fans who the franchise player is. As long as he produces like he did on Wednesday, they’ll be fine with that.

**********************

Corey Maggette was 3-for-9 outside the key, which means he was 6-for-8 in the lane. I think he’s figuring out his success comes from going to the basket.

***********************

Curry quietly had a pretty good game. Nellie went with the lineup that was clicking, which didn’t include Curry. So he wound up sitting most of the fourth quarter. But 7 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in 29 minutes ain’t bad.

NELLIE: “We just need either an extender or a guy that can pass. So with Buike in the lineup, that extends the defense even more. I think there’ll be more openings offensively. I thought that was important for us.”

************

Stephen jackson has two new tattoos on his neck. Two Chinese characters right in the front. What do they mean?
Jax: “Honor and loyalty. Two things I’m big (on).”

************

SF Chronicle’s Bruce Jenkins brought up an interest point that I hadn’t thought about. Why don’t the Warriors retire anyone’s jersey? The last one was Rick Barry, so perhaps their standard for retiring jerseys is winning a championship. That would be gangsta if that is the reason.
They can’t start now, though. The obvious jersey to be retired is No. 17. That won’t be happening until a new owner comes town. Even if they offered, I’m not sure Mullin would show up.

JACKSON: “We don’t move the ball as well as we have in past years, but it’s the second game of the season, so hopefully it will get better. The chemistry we have is not even close to what we used to have. but I think it’s up to the coaches to figure out what guys to have out there and get that chemistry back.”

The Warriors like to talk about how they need to get it together on defense. But that is always the case. More troubling should be these offensive woes, which is hardly a cold shooting stretch. At best, the Warriors can hope to force sone turnovers, block some shots and get timely shots. That’s how the 2007 team did it. But they need the offensive prowess to a) stay in the game; b) capitalize off those rare occasions they play D, and c) to recapture that psychological advantage they once had.
In past Warriors-Suns clashes, GSW would give Phoenix all it wanted, occassionally outscoring the Suns. Last night, the Warriors’s offense never looked formidable. They turned the ball over 22 times, which led to 31 Suns points. The Suns turned the ball over 23 times, which led to 22 Warriors points. They had 16 assists on 36 baskets. They managed just 11 second chance points off 9 offensive rebounds. They were 20-for-37 in the paint.
And that was against the Suns, hardly a defensive juggernaut.
Why are they struggling? Largely because they are a collection of guys going for self. Monta, Jackson and Maggette are trying to single-handedly dominate, though Monta is the least to blame (as he’s the only one who can dominate game without killing the offense, because his game is higher percentage and promotes the uptempo style the Warriors want to play). Since Nellie refuses to control his vets, things just run amuck.
The players have other reasons. Steph Curry said they aren’t running the offense:

CURRY: “Not really sure. Not executing the plays very well. Transition we were fine, I think. Got the shots we wanted, just didn’t make a lot of shots. Got to the basket, didn’t get any foul calls, but that’s how its going to be sometimes. Other than that, I think it was just not being able to run the plays that we wanted to and getting the shots we wanted to. And we were kind of scrambling all night. That’s what inept means to me, I guess.”
 
“We’re all young. I guess most of us haven’t played together for more than two years. The chemistry still has to grow a little bit. I think it starts in practice, trying to get the play calls down. And even in games, I think we gotta stop, I guess in transition, in dead spots, we don’t really know what to do, always looking to the sidelines. I think a free-flowing offense should just be able to go and run itself kind of thing. So that’s just going to take time. We’re only game two. I’m not really worried about the offensive part. It’s the defensively we’ve got tostep it up a little bit next game.”

Kelenna Azubuike said they just made too many errors.

BUIKE: “We just made some mental mistakes, really. Our offense wasn’t clicking like it usually is. Lot of turnovers. We just can’t have that, unforced turnovers. … Just got to go back to the drawing board and get everything right.”

Ex-Capt’n Jack had a simpler explanation.

JACKSON: “It’s a new team, so guys have to figure out how I want the ball.”

****************

Big man Ronny Turiaf tweaked his left knee a minute into the 4th quarter and never returned. Nelson said a while back that Ronny had torn cartilage in that knee, which kept him out most of the preseason. Definitely looking into this.

*****************

Curry got schooled by Steve Nash. No shame in that, though. Nash was at the top of his game: 18 points, 20 assists, 6 rebounds. He dragged Curry through screens, he weaved him all over the court as he toyed with the Warriors defense.

CURRY: “He’s one of the best PGs I’ve played against. 20 assists, that’s hard to do. He was always in the right position to set his teammates up. Didn’t really force anything. Made the shot when he ahd to take them. That’s how he plays. That’s why he’s one of the best point guards in the game.
 
Steph, learn anything?
 
CURRY: “Not in the moment, really. You’re focused on your own game plan and what you’re trying to do. Especially when things are going bad, you gotta try to go back to the drawing board during timeouts and try to figure out what’s going to work. But I’m definitelty going to look at this film and study how he manages the game and try to pick some things from that. But during the game it’s just trying to get yourself going.”

***********

Maggette’s is 5-for-21 from the field so far this season.

***********

C.J. Watson made his season debut, as did Mikkie Moore. Last active player left to get in is Acie Law.

***********

Didn’t get a chance to talk to Randolph after the game. He dipped out before I ask him how he feels about being jerked around in the rotation.
Friday, he played the first 7 minutes, then sat the rest of the half. He started the third quarter, played the first 5:29 and didn’t return until the start of the fourth, when the Warriors were down 19 and Nellie resigned to defeat.
He finished with 12 points on 2-for-9 shooting with 7 rebounds, a block, an assist and a turnover in 25 minutes.
Nelson said after the game he didn’t think Randolph was getting it done.
He was certainly helter skelter. He doesn’t appear to have the confidence he once seemed to have gained. He is steady looking at the bench, and he’s got that look on his face, the one from last year. Not the fired up and hungry look. That worried and frustrated look.

************

According to an NBA Fanhouse tweet, Suns coach Alvin Gentry saw the Warriors roster and said: “Speedy Claxton?! I thought he was dead!”

Sent from my iPhone

JACKSON: “Fans are so predictable about that. Any time you say you want to leave, that’s going to happen. I was prepared for it. They can do it all they want. I’m going to go out there and play hard for the fans that do support me.”

You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Booing someone who just wants to win.

Let me stop. That was me reading between the lines, saying what I bet Jackson really wanted to say. That was my opening statement in the case of GSW Fans v. Stephen Jackson.

(For the record, I say boo all you want. You are paying the money. You make this entire thing click. Boo to your heart’s desire. Jackson is making millions. He will be all right. And if it turns out he isn’t all right because you booed him, then that’s on him. Boo whoever you like.)

Nellie said he hoped it didn’t happen. He said that is behind them, so he hopes its behind you. But fans don’t owe anything to not a single person in the organization.

The Warriors are coming off a 29-win season. They have changed course and went into rebuilding mode two years after building a playoff team. The only major acquisition, which was the plan heading in the offseason, was a rookie point guard in the draft. Yet, the opener was a sell-out.

Boo as much as you like.

********************

So Morrow played 22 minutes and 28 seconds, and he took 7 shots.
Ellis took 29 20 shots (making 10). Jackson took 16 shots (making 7). Maggette took 14 shots (making 3). Even Curry took 12 shots (making 7).
Why is it the best shooter on the team gets only seven shots?

NELLIE: “And we have some work to do to get Morrow more involved. … But if you don’t get him the ball when he’s open, it doesn’t do him that much good to be in the game. We have to do a better job of understanding he’s our best shooter and you’ve got to know where he is at all times.”

This is quandary Nelson has. Ellis and Jackson mostly pass to each other or Biedrins (that’s not all the way fair to Jax, I admit). Maggette and Azubuike don’t pass to anybody unless something opens up while they are trying to score. Biedrins, Turiaf and Randolph don’t touch the ball enough to make a difference.
Curry is the only guy who promotes passing with his style of play. He’s the only guy who is reading angles, and temperatures of his opponents. He’s the only guy driving to set up a pass, with his shot being a secondary option. So Nelson has to start him.

But, that leaves no one to get the ball to his offensive weapon in Morrow. Remember, he wanted to bring Curry off the bench so he and Morrow can play together. Curry and Morrow have chemistry. Curry makes sure Morrow gets his shots.
The two got their first action together when Curry checked in with 4:49 left in the second quarter. At the 4:42 mark, Morrow’s 3-pointer was splashing the net on an assist from Curry. The next time down, Curry turned the ball over trying to sneak a cross-court pass to Curry, a pass Shane Battier snuffed out. They played the rest of the second quarter together. Morrow took two shots. Curry assisted on both.

But because Curry is starting, and Morrow is not, the rotation doesn’t allow for them to spend that much time on the court together. Wednesday, they got 10 minutes, seven seconds together. All in the second and fourth quarters.

Why is it important that someone finds Morrow? Because the dude can get 30 easier than anyone on the team if he gets a rhythm going. But when he’s taking one shot every three-plus minutes, he can’t be so dangerous. He started the fourth quarter and played 5:11. He got two shots and was pulled at the 6:49 mark because he missed them and wasn’t really doing much.

So, with 6.6 seconds left and you need a 3-pointer, it makes sense to go to Morrow. But he has no rhythm. Teams know about Morrow now, so it will be harder for him to get looks. He needs his teammates to help.

**********************

Anthony Randolph sat the first 20 minutes, 52 seconds of the game Wednesday. He had 4 points, two rebounds, a block and an assist over the final 3:08 of the half. He played well enough for Nelson to start Randolph the second half, over Biedrins, who with Turiaf had 3 fouls in the first half.
Randolph played the first 6:50 of the third quarter, posting 4 points and 2 rebounds in that span. He was taking out and never returned.
So, in 10 minutes, Randolph had 8 points, 4 rebounds, a block, an assist and a turnover.

NELSON: “I thought he did pretty well when I put him. Started him the third quarter… he happened to be in there when we didn’t do very well.”

Sounds like somebody is in the dog house. Again.

*****************

On the Jax trade front, I am hearing nothing has really changed. The Warriors still don’t want to take bad contracts in exchange and they don’t want to give up too much with Jax to sweeten the deal (I’m told Ronny Turiaf is off the table).
Here is another thing. The Warriors would love to just let their expiring contracts (Speedy/Law/George), which equal $10M, to just come off the books at the end of the year and give the Warriors some cap space to work with. So there is naturally some reluctance to include a Speedy in a deal with Jax. They would prefer to use those expiring contracts in a trade if it means getting the difference-maker they want.
What does that mean?
Say the Warriors trade Jax and Claxton for Peja. Peja is making $15.3 for next season. Jax $8.45. So, as of July 1, when this coveted free agent season start, they will have added some $7M in salary.
(Sure, Jax has two more years for $19.3 after Peja’s deal would expire, but what is most important is the impact it would have this coming offseason). That’s not good. Everyone is trying to dump salary, which is why Jax is hard to trade.
If you throw Speedy in the deal, that $7M jumps to $12M added to the cap because Speedy’s $5M would not be coming off the cap. So even though the Warriors would be shedding more money in the long run, it would hurt their chances to land an impact player next offseason. Why add $12M to cap and not land a difference maker? They are better off holding serve, keeping their options open for next offseason, and try to trade Jax at a later date.
The Warriors would, I think, be willing to take back a salary close to Jax’s salary. That way, it wouldn’t hurt the plan they’ve currently got in place to be a player on the market. Other than that, they are looking to cut salary like everyone else.
The most likely scenario, I am convinced, is the Jax to Cleveland. (Denver has nothing the Warriors want; the Warriors probably want New Orleans to take Maggette, too;) But it won’t be until Cleveland gets desperate and become willing to give up Ilgauskas to get the piece they need to win now. If LeBron starts making noise about needing help, the pressure would really be on the Cavs to get Jax.
The Warriors might even be willing to throw in Speedy because they’d be getting back an $11M expiring contract and free themselves of Jackson.
The Warriors don’t have to move Jackson, which is their best chip. Something else could pop up (Portland? Washington? To Phoenix for J-Rich? Just brainstorming). But they know Jackson doesn’t want to lose money, and with Jackson playing hard they can be decent.

****************

So there is my prediction. On the record. Official. Now where is yours?

Let’s see what guy think. Post your prediction. Gimmie the record you think they will finish with. Factor in whatever you like and come up with one record.

********

Interesting lineup on the court right now. Ronny Turiaf is playing PF with the first team and not Corey Maggette. Of course, that leaves Maggette playing PF on the second unit and Anthony Randolph as the center. Acie Law is playing the shooting guard spot and guarding Monta Ellis. Anthony Morrow is playing SF and guarding Stephen Jackson.

The last few practices, Morrow has been matched up with Jackson (at least when we have been able to watch). Jackson has been dogging Morrow, too. Taking him off the dribble every time, getting whatever he wants. Definitely good training for Morrow.

*************

Today’s Monta Ellis’ 24th birthday. Being the lone rookie on the team, Steph Curry had to lead the estimated crowd of 4,000 in a rendition of Happy Birthday. Some kids brought him cake and cards.

Nellie said they are just going to have to deal with whatever defensive mismatches they come across a result (such as Ellis v. Battier or Curry v. Ariza). He said Ellis will play some point, but Nellie wants him at his strength, which is off the ball.

NELLIE: “Right now, anyone who plays with Curry looks good. I would think Monta should love it.

I didn’t think Nelson would be able to resist starting Curry because I think he prefers Curry running the point over Monta. But Curry, because of his court vision and passing ability and unselfish nature, is really good at finding Morrow and feeding him in a timely manner. That is a good thing for the Warriors offense.
Morrow is at his best when he gets the ball knowing that he will get it again. Otherwise, he gets so hype when the ball gets in his hands, that he gets tunnel vision and wants to jack up a shot. With Curry, he knows he’s going to get looks, so he can be more selective.
There is no question Morrow needs shots. But the others don’t look for him like they should, too busy looking for their own shot. Morrow and Curry already have a connection. Nellie isn’t ready to break that.
Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if Curry started on Oct. 28.

Question: Do you Like Curry and Morrow together?

NELLIE: “Oooh yeaaaah. That’s a natural. That’s a natural. … The quality of our subs, our B unit that have played together and played well together, I think is really important, especially if you’re young. Those two play great together and they will play together.”

The only option is to bring them off the bench together. He can’t start both, because then either Ellis or Jackson would come off the bench, which would start a riot in the locker room, or Jackson would start at PF, which probably not that far off.

******************

No, Anthony Randolph didn’t get demoted to the bench.
Though he’s been inked in as the starting power forward by coach Don Nelson all summer and preseason, Randolph said Nelson’s announcement that Corey Maggette will start at PF is not a set back.

RANDOLPH: “I haven’t been running the floor how I can or rebounding. There’s something wrong when I get one rebound in 20 minutes. That’s all it is. I don’t look at it as a bad thing or a set back.”

Randolph actually said he understands. Even he isn’t arguing with his lack of production lately. Over the last two games, he totaled 13 points (4-for-8 shooting) and 5 rebounds in 50 minutes of action. Randolph said it was because his back has been hurting. How did he hurt it? This is how …

After Baron put Randolph on his back - he didn’t return and his sat out the next couple of practices - he hasn’t been the same. Randolph was hesitant to talk about it. When I asked him why he didn’t practice, he said nothing was wrong, he was just getting a day off.
So, he kept playing and didn’t look good. He was categorically outplayed by Kings PF Jason Thompson (no relation). He was absent in the Lakers game on Tuesday, and re-aggravated his back during a first-half spill while fighting for a rebound.

RANDOLPH: “I was just playing with my back a little hurt and I really wasn’t saying nothing so when I get back healthy, I’ll get back to how I was at the beginning of preseason and over the summer. I’m just right now, not explosive or able to move how I want to because of my back. So, right now I’m just taking as much time as I need until I get to be 100 percent. It was already hurt. That’s the only reason why, cause ain’t no way – not to say nothing bad – most of the guys we’ve been playing against are going to out jump me for a rebound. Because that’s what I do. It’s just that I’m not able to explode like I can because of my back.”

Randolph may be onto something. Over the first four games, he averaged 15.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in 33.3 minutes. He outplayed Amare Stoudemire and Pau Gasol/Lamar Odom in Anaheim. He had 8 points and five rebounds the first 10 minutes of the game at the Los Angeles Clippers.
And then this happened …

Nellie sounded like he couldn’t care less what reason Randolph had for his subpar performance.

NELLIE: “He’s going to have to play a certain way to be effective with us. He knows how he needs to play. He did that the firs two or three games, then he kinda got away from it. I don’t know if it was injuries or what, but he wasn’t as productive. When he does the things that we need him to do, and plays at a high level, he’s going to be playing time. It’s hard to keep him off (the court). But he’s going to have to be evaluated by his number of rebounds as probably the main thing. His running and his defensive presence, shot blocking, things that he does very well, is what we want him to do.”

****************

So, the starting five tonight is as follows: C.J. Watson, Monta Ellis, Anthony Morrow, Corey Maggette and Andris Biedrins.
Nelson said he chose C.J. to start at SG because Watson is the best among the guards at defending two guards (swingman Kelenna Azubuike is still battling a bone bruise in his left ankle). Not only is Watson able to guard shooting guards, which means Ellis won’t have to, but Watson gives them another point guard on the floor.
MY OPINION: Nelson doesn’t think Monta is ready to play point guard, so he desperately wants a second point guard on the floor.
It’s not like it’s a secret or anything. Nelson practically said it himself.

NELLIE: “The main thing is he can guard the 2s better right now than anybody else I have out there even though we’re small. C.J. is a good defender. That puts Monta guarding the 1s and (C.J.) can guard to 2s. We thank he can guard bigger 2s as well. That helps. And then it gives me another point guard out there so we can run our offense, run Monta off the ball. I think that’s kind of a natural 2, that’s where he’s most effective. And we hope that whole thing works out.”

Nelson said he’s starting Maggette at PF because Anthony Randolph belongs in that mix, too. He wants the veterans to get the game going, then bring in the exciting youngsters to take it up a notch. So Curry, Morrow, Randolph, Buike and Turiaf is a B team Nellie wants to go with.

NELSON: “I’m trying to play my veterans so we can get a good start and follow our game plan. (I want to) have those guys playing together more than our young guys going in and you know they’re going to make errors and mistakes. Let that second unit maybe have an identity to themselves. I think that will be a real positive. They played together in summer league so they know each other and they play very well together. That’s kind of what I’m hoping. We haven’t had enough time really except for this game to figure all of this out because CJs been hurt. Well, anyway, we’re going to look at it tonight and have five days to practice.”

Of course, this all could change come Tuesday or whatever. Randolph thinks so, if he’s healthy. Monta Ellis said he expects Randolph to be healthy in a couple of days, and Nellie will set the lineup for real after this game.

UPDATE: Watson didn’t play much on Thursday. He was at 16 minutes through the first three quarters. He checked in for the second half of the fourth when the game was over, the Warriors up by 20-plus. He didn’t do bad guard the shooting guard, though it was Morris Peterson.
Watson did run the point, with Ellis playing the two. One thing is for sure, Watson can put the ball in the whole. He’s starting to get his groove back.
He finished with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes.
But guess who most of the PG minutes went to? Curry. He looked good, too. His outside shot was sketchy, but he created offense by getting to the basket. He’s not bad at finishing in the paint.
Still most impressed by his passing and defense. Not lockdown defense, but his peskiness. He plays that Iverson-in-his-hey day type of defense. Quick hands. Anticipating well. Scrappy. Irritating. Unafraid.

****************

Nelson wasn’t completely disappointed in the big lineup. He still has some plans to play Ronny Turiaf at power forward. But it sounds like he still prefers Turiaf behind center Andris Biedrins.

NELLIE: “There will be match-up situations where I’ll probably start him at the PF. Certainly going to play him there some during the course of the game. He can play two positions for us. And we’ll just have to kinda see how that works. I’m a little concerned about playing him too many minutes. He’s got that torn cartilage we have to be careful not to overplay him. And I love him as the back-up, he and (Biedrins) splitting the time.”