Nellie Announces Opening Night Lineup

When thou is smaller than thy opponent, thou doth not goeth bigger, thou shalt goeth even smaller.

-Book of Nellie

PG: Baron Davis
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Kelenna Azubuike
PF: Mickael Pietrus
C: Andris Biedrins

• Nellie also mentions that Patrick O'Bryant and Al Harrington will come off the bench together.
• Why is Pietrus, the very last man to make it to Hawaii, starting? Matt Barnes gives roughly equal production as Pietrus, with fewer mental errors and more ballhandling skills. Pietrus did not live up to his status as lockdown defender last season, rather fouling at a rate of 4.5/40 minutes.
• I'm not too sure why Monta is back at SG. During training camp, Nellie said that he would have to play as a PG. He'll probably slide over to PG with Kaz/Marco Belinelli moving to SG once Baron gets his rest.
• My guess: Everyone except Dre camps out around the 3-point line, with Dre manning the high post. This should space the floor and clear the lane enough for Baron, Monta, Kaz, and Pietrus to take it to the hole.
• Nellie must be trying to counteract any stagnant bench performances with Al coming in as 6th man.
• We'll be out-rebounded badly... again.
• Knowing Nellie, he could change the starting lineup 5 times in the next 9 days, so I'll take this with a big grain of salt.

[Warriors.com]

Other: Pat Burke and Tierre Brown were cut from the squad today. [Janny Hu]