Nellie intends to continue changing starting lineup

[Twinkie defense]

Aside from the first six, Warriors have lost only to teams with winning records. Maybe starting Al every game would have moved one or two tough losses into the win category, but I don't think that's a given.

In fact I think Nellie has a pretty good idea which teams are just flat out better, and while he may simply roll his five guys out against the other team's five guys when he thinks we've got the better team, it's against those elite teams where he thinks he's got to find an edge with matchups to try to get them over the hump.

But has Al even done enough to say he should be the unquestioned starter? Maybe when a guy is pretty good, and better than the guys behind him, you put him in there more often than not. But you hardly ink him in like you'd ink in Baron or Jackson, it seems to me.

Phil Jackson has been talking about switching up the starting lineup with a tag-team of Trevor Ariza and Luke Walton... and even with Bynum and Kwame, when Kwame got better (moot point now). Lakers are a half game out of first in the West... is Phil killing their team?

[Sleepy51]

Walton vs. Ariza?
Bartruskie vs. Al?

Are you serious.

[Chris Cohan]

hester's on stupid watch tonight

[turk3d]

Aside from the first six, Warriors have lost only to teams with winning records. Maybe starting Al every game would have moved one or two tough losses into the win category, but I don't think that's a given.

In fact I think Nellie has a pretty good idea which teams are just flat out better, and while he may simply roll his five guys out against the other team's five guys when he thinks we've got the better team, it's against those elite teams where he thinks he's got to find an edge with matchups to try to get them over the hump.

But has Al even done enough to say he should be the unquestioned starter? Maybe when a guy is pretty good, and better than the guys behind him, you put him in there more often than not. But you hardly ink him in like you'd ink in Baron or Jackson, it seems to me.

Phil Jackson has been talking about switching up the starting lineup with a tag-team of Trevor Ariza and Luke Walton... and even with Bynum and Kwame, when Kwame got better (moot point now). Lakers are a half game out of first in the West... is Phil killing their team?

I think unquestionably so. Let's see who Nellie has started over him at times:

Barnes 7.2 pts, 4.9 reb, 23.1 min, 39 fg%, 31.2 3pt%
Pietrus 6.2 pts, 3.1 reb, 18 min, 42.5 fg%, 31.2 3pt%
Bukie 10.5 pts, 4.2 reb, 25.2 min, 45.3 fg%, 40.2 3pt%
Wright (not listing his stats, it's obvious)
Harrington 14.6 pts, 5.3 reb, 27.7 min, 45.9 fg%, 40.4 3pt%

Also keep in mind that this is the power forward spot. None of the above guys are legitimate 4s (with the exception of maybe Wright who has only started once and is a rookie and has hardly seen the court so far this season). Bukie is really a 2 and can realistically play 3 (got his starts in Monta's place). Barnes and Pietrus usually are the ones who start at 4 when Al doesn't start. What else can be said?