Rookie Nelson Learning Quickly

Shapecity · Nov 3, 2008

MEMPHIS — Warriors rookie guard DeMarcus Nelson went into Saturday's game at New Jersey expecting to defend Nets perennial All-Star guard Vince Carter. No problem, he thought.

Then, just before tipoff, he wound up being matched up with Devin Harris, New Jersey's speedy point guard. Again, no problem. He stayed in front of Harris as well as you could expect. Then, as if to take advantage of the Warriors' inexperience at point guard, Nets coach Lawrence Frank had his defense apply full-court pressure early in the first quarter. No problem for Nelson. He handled the press with ease.

What was supposed to be a nearly impossible task — learning how to play point guard on the job — is going fairly smooth. Nelson appears to get more comfortable by the game, with his best showing coming in Saturday's 105-97 win over New Jersey.

"I'm not nervous at all," Nelson said. "It's just all about getting experience. Once my experience catches up to my heart and my talent, I'll be fine."

Nelson, in his third consecutive start, had career highs of nine points, three assists and 22 minutes.

Coach Don Nelson seems to be increasingly comfortable with Nelson. In the first two games, Nelson had just 14 seconds of fourth-quarter time. Saturday, he played three minutes. Coach Nelson showed confidence in his rookie by bringing Nelson in to combat New Jersey's full-court pressure.

The story hasn't gotten old for the former Duke star.

He said his appreciation for the opportunity hasn't waned. He said he doesn't want to lose the hunger and urgency that helped him jump from training camp invitee to starting point guard.

"I can remember just a few weeks ago, I was concerned about where I might be," Nelson said. "The fact that I'm here and doing well isn't lost on me. But to me, I had a good game, but there are some things I need to work on out there. This is just a start."

Assuredly, Nelson isn't the traditional starting point guard. He brings the ball up the court, he initiates the offense, he defends the opposing point guard. But he is mostly a substitute teacher for swingman Stephen Jackson, who gets most of the minutes at the position.

That said, he is showing more and more he is not such a liability on offense. He can get to the rim, his jump shot isn't as suspect as some thought, and he is among the best finishers among Warriors guards.

But, most important, Nelson he has shown he can hold his own on defense. Because of his athleticism and strength, he can keep up with the quicker guards and absorb the physicality of bigger guards. He helped contain Harris, who had 13 points on 3-for-12 shooting with five assists in 28 minutes.

"He's playing well," backup point guard C.J. Watson said. "He's doing what he's supposed to be doing out there."

It's Nelson's defense that keeps him on the court long enough to get comfortable on offense. And with every strong drive, every drained jump shot, you can almost see his confidence growing.

"Defensively, all I try to do is take away all easy shots," Nelson said. "What you want to try to do is take away the easy stuff — the catch-and-shoot shots that are uncontested, easy layups.

"As the games are coming," he added, "my mind-set is to be more aggressive, offensively and defensively."

Notes: Rookie forward Rob Kurz was re-signed, with Monta Ellis getting transferred to the suspended list to make room on the 15-man roster. Also, Ellis' agent, Jeff Fried, officially filed a grievance with the NBA against the Warriors.
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Source: Contra Costa Times

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Rookie Nelson Learning Quickly

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