Big or small, Nellie says Wright, Warriors aren't rebounding well enough

December 2, 5:54 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Brandan Wright: More rebounds, more playing time 

There’s a healthy debate going on right now about whether the Warriors are better with their small lineup or a more conventional one.

Obviously, coach Don Nelson leans toward going small; others believe the team would improve if it went consistently with a more typical center-power forward front line.

Who knows?

But one thing is for sure, according to Nelson.

Big or small it doesn’t matter when it comes to rebounding: Both teams do it badly.

Nelson was asked after Tuesday’s practice whether it was difficult trying to go small knowing that rebounding was an issue with that group.

“Our big team doesn’t rebound, either,” Nelson said. “Brandan Wright played (31 minutes) and had four rebounds, you know? That’s the difficult part.”

Wright's averaging a so-so 3.8 rebounds at 17 minutes per game.

It seems like what Nelson ideally would want is half-a-Wright and half-an-Anthony Randolph. Nelson would like the offensive part of Wright and the defensive side of Randolph.

“Randolph is a better rebounder, but he doesn’t know what he’s doing yet on the offensive end,” Nelson said. “So I’ve got to be careful there. At least he will get rebounds. He gets good rebounds per minute.

“Now, we’re trying to get Brandan Wright to rebound, but he is what he is, I guess.”

♦

Good note from Warriors PR:

The 40 points Jamal Crawford scored on Monday night against the Heat were the second-most points scored in a game in league history by a player in his first home appearance.

San Antonio’s Larry Kenon scored 41 points in his home Spurs’ debut in October 1976 against Phoenix.

If Crawford hits that little runner in the lane at the buzzer of OT, he gets the record and the win.