The Warriors' first day of training camp Tuesday lacked the fireworks of media day. With star guard Monta Ellis' proclamation Monday that he and rookie guard Stephen Curry couldn't win together still resonating, the Warriors took a step toward harmony. Ellis eased off his statements. Coach Don Nelson toed the line between being supportive and authoritative. And Curry played the part of humble newcomer. The consensus: the two can play together when the matchups allow.
"Well, (Ellis) didn't say anything that was not true," Nelson said, referring to Ellis' comments that he and Curry were too small to be effective as the Warriors' backcourt. "There will be plenty of times where they won't be able to play together. There are a lot of big guards in this league, guys 6-foot-8, 6-9 that play the two guard in this league. That's a little bit too much to ask for anybody that's 6-4 or 6-2 to play the big two guards. But there'll be plenty of other opportunities."
Curry said he wasn't "at all" hurt by Ellis comments, which hardly qualified as an olive branch by many accounts. He conceded to Ellis' experience and Nelson's rule.
"He's been here," Curry said of Ellis. "He has experience. ... And he knows how to win, what it's going to take. So if that's what he sees, then there's got to be some validity to it. It all comes down to what coach Nelson wants."
Ellis, one of three team captains, said he expects the two will build a relationship, and he plans to help Curry however he can. But Ellis was clear about one thing.
"It's a job," Ellis said. "This is what you do in training camp; you compete. It's nothing against him. ... I don't know him. He doesn't know me. But we're teammates. ... Same way when I was here with Baron Davis and Derek Fisher. They didn't come in here and butter me up, pat me on my back or nothing. It's Basketball. It's serious. That's what we do."
Nelson has said four players are penciled in as starters: Ellis, swingman Stephen Jackson, forward Anthony Randolph and center Andris Biedrins. The question that will constantly surface in training camp: who will be the fifth starter? If it's Curry, the Warriors will be extremely small in the backcourt and at a disadvantage defensively.
Tuesday, Nelson had second-year guard Anthony Morrow playing with the four expected starters and Curry on another team. Another option is swingman Kelenna Azubuike.
Former St. Mary's College big man Diamon Simpson is the only local player on the Warriors' training camp roster. But could the 6-foot-7 rookie make the team? Perhaps, considering Simpson is known for defense. He is the Gaels' all-time leader in rebounds, blocks and steals.
Guard Acie Law sustained a concussion and sprained neck in a pickup game last week. All tests have been negative, according to a team news release, but Law has not been cleared to practice.
