The season is only two games old and many fans were ready to write the team off after one game.  Even after two games and a win it's difficult to see this team competing for a playoff spot in the talented western confrence.  I fought really hard to not jump all over the first game because I really believed deep down that they weren't that bad.  I think there is something to be said for opening night nerves, however the bigger factor in my mind was the starters really hadn't played together for most of the pre-season and then were thrown out there together on opening night against a Laker team that is really clicking right now because Kobe isn't in there to dominate the ball. 

Nelly is still tinkering with his lineups and trying to figure out where to hide Mike Dunleavy is getting more and more like trying to convince other GM's that Adonal's locker room pressence is worth five or six wins a year.  Dunleavy as expected (at least by the majority of people that ever have watched him play) isn't very good.  He was probably an excellent point guard in high school but I can't even really say he is a good ball handler for a guy his size, because quite simply put...He sucks at that too.  He is good at one thing...He is one of the best players in the league at passing to a better player who in turn can make a basketball play.  His assisting the assister ratio is topps in NBA history.  Nobody passes to a passer like Dunleavy and he continues to improve this aspect of his game no matter what position you put him in on the floor. 

On the bright side, the bench is fantastic and luckily it's not too late for these young players to bennefit from a real coaching staff.  Mickael Pietrus, Andris Biedrins, Ike Diogu and Monta Ellis are all fantastic young talents that will continue to get better and better as they learn the game correctly from the new coaching staff.  All these players have talents that if utilized correctly can make a difference in the game.  The hardest thing for Nelly and his staff to accomplish is getting the starters to compete at a level anywhere near that of the young bench guys, otherwise you might see the majority of these young kids inserted into the starting lineup this year.  Ellis has to improve his ball handling in order to become the teams backup point guard, but he is a very talented basketball player that will be a star in the league.  Diogu seems to worked his way out of coach Nelson's doghouse and into heavy rotation at the Power Forward spot.  In starting the second half against Portland, one might actually consider him the new starter at that position at least until they figure out what to do with Dunleavy.  Biedrins has been marvelous in the first two games and he is quickly emerging as the best finishing big man on the roster.  Pietrus is definately better suited coming off the bench and his energy and hustle on the defensive end can change the tempo of the game.  He was brilliant against Portland hitting his corner threes and attacking the defensive glass.  Anthony Roberson has already proven to me that he isn't ready for NBA action, and I for one am ready to get a look at DaJuan Wagner.

Back to the starters for just a minute.  Jason Richardson has been awful, but you have to give him credit for fighting through an injury to be on the floor.  He will continue to get better obviously and if he can regain his health we all know what he is capable of doing.  Baron Davis looks healthy and ready to have a good season.  He does however appear to have lost his superstar status and I no longer believe he is capable of being a league MVP or All-Star calibur player.  He is a very good player and could make an All-Star team, but unless he suddenly finds a fountain of youth, his days of being an elite PG appear to be behind him.  The Troy Murphy at Center experiment although not off to a roaring start, I still believe is a success.  Even with his shooting woes the first couple of games, Murphy has made much more of a contribution than Foyle has ever made. and his shot will eventually start to fall.  His biggest obsticle is finishing shots close to the rim without either being blocked or simply just missing.  Some of the problem is getting used to playing with a plastic mask on his face, but there is no excuse for missing point blank layups in this league.  Murphy is going to have to step it up a couple notches tonight against Utah if the Warriors are going to have any chance against the formidable front line of the Jazz.