UPDATED: Nelson just met with the media and said his back is “doing OK,” even as he wore an ice bag on it. Smart will be the coach working the sideline during the game, since going from sitting to standing is one of the things that pains Nelson the most right now.

Maybe he just didn’t want to miss the “big hug” that Stephen Jackson has promised him, but Don Nelson will coach tonight against the Charlotte Bobcats despite painful back spasms, according to general manager Larry Riley.

“We’ll see how long he lasts,” Riley joked.

Nelson complained of the back problem Thursday after practice and missed the Warriors’ shootaround Friday morning because of them. If Nelson is indeed unable to continue, Keith Smart will take over. Smart went 3-7 subbing in November and December when Nelson suffered from pneumonia.

– Geoff

Less than a week ago, Anthony Tolliver was toiling in the D-League. Tonight, in his third NBA game, he’ll start for the Warriors at power forward. Corey Maggette is simply playing too well — and there are too few healthy smalls on the roster — for Don Nelson to move him out of the 3.

Also: Ronny Turiaf, wearing a metal-frame brace on his left knee, is expected to give it a go tonight, which means Nelson will have nine “healthy” players available after three straight games with the league-mandated minimum of eight on call.

By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

Your daily guided tour through the national and local media coverage of the always-entertaining Golden State Warriors.

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San Francisco Chronicle (Rusty Simmons): Nobody does internally directed criticism like Don Nelson: “They posted when they wanted, they penetrated when they wanted, and they made us pay whatever price they wanted. We just didn’t compete.”

Also, Anthony Morrow and Chris Hunter will have the remainder of their contracts guaranteed this week, unless the team waives them. There’s no chance of that happening with Morrow, but there’s still a little bit of doubt on Hunter, although I’d hazard a guess that it’s a 90 to 95 percent “yes.” The team is expected to make its decision on Monday.

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By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

Your (back from the New Year’s break) daily guided tour through the national and local media coverage of the always-entertaining Golden State Warriors.

PRINT MEDIA
San Francisco Chronicle (John Shea): I wonder how this Don Nelson quote from Shea’s piece on the wretchedness that is Oakland sports in general is going to go over at 1011 Broadway: “You don’t have a 20-year reign in which you’re going to win titles and contend unless you’re a team that functions over the cap, like the Lakers and other big-market teams. When you can’t function over the cap, you’ve got to do a better job managing your cap and money and selection of players that fit.”

So, basically, Don, you’re saying that until Chris Cohan coughs up more cash (which won’t happen), the Warriors have no hope of contending? Yeah, that’ll sell more tickets.

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By Geoff Lepper
48minutes.net

Your daily guided tour through the national and local media coverage of the always-entertaining Golden State Warriors.

BLOGOSPHERE

Inside The Warriors/Contra Costa Times (Marcus Thompson II): Marcus has some thoughts on Anthony Randolph’s limited playing time: “Since the Warriors really can’t match up with the Lakers in the size category, Nelson presumably wanted to create an advantage on offense by going with either Maggette, who can score on the drive, or Radmanovic, who stretches the floor with his outside shot.”

Also included in the entry was this little nugget: “Randolph declined to comment. I think he was the first player dressed and out (he’s from Los Angeles, so he probably had people waiting for him).”

That makes perfect sense, all except for the fact that players have people waiting for them all the time and almost never rush to evacuate the locker room. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Randolph was pissed off, and mightily, at not getting more of a chance last night. We’ll see if Bill Duffy reaches out to the media in the upcoming days.

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