San Francisco Chronicle

October 21, 2004
by Janny Hu

Roster Getting Close to Full Strength

Los Angeles -- Warriors coach Mike Montgomery could have his entire roster available for the first time this preseason tonight against the Lakers.

Guard Speedy Claxton, who has missed the last two games with a sore left groin, returned to practice Wednesday and participated in all drills.

If Claxton is ready to go, Montgomery will be able to use the 10-man rotation discussed at the start of training camp, before injuries slowed his player evaluations. Center Adonal Foyle just returned from a strained hamstring and guard Jason Richardson missed a game with food poisoning.

"My nature is (such that) I'm just a little bit irritated, but it's just what you've got to do," Montgomery said of the precautionary sit-outs. "It does us no good to run guys into the ground to get hurt when there's 82 games left."

The concern isn't with skipping preseason games. The Kings played without Chris Webber, Doug Christie and Greg Ostertag in the Warriors' exhibition opener, the Lakers had five players who didn't make the trip to Bakersfield, and the Clippers' Elton Brand, Kerry Kittles and Marko Jaric did not play Tuesday against the Warriors.

The company lines are usually the same -- had it been a regular-season game, the players would have been available. But in the Warriors' case, the lost time does put Montgomery's feeling-out process on hold.

Montgomery believes he has 10 viable players, not counting injured Mickael Pietrus, and the Warriors are eager to develop a substitution pattern that won't confound players the way Eric Musselman's did at times.

"There's definitely an anticipation to get healthy, but I think we'll be fine coming to the regular season," forward Troy Murphy said. "I think (Montgomery's) just trying to find out what combinations work well, if he needs a defensive team out there or a team that needs to score in certain situations."

Foyle follow: Nearly all of Foyle's baskets Tuesday -- two dunks, a layup and a short bank shot -- came with Foyle on the move and with an assist. Foyle believes that is when he is most effective, cutting to the basket and setting screens for his teammates.

Montgomery gave Foyle high marks for his 18 minutes, adding that he probably should have played Foyle longer. The Warriors need Foyle to establish an inside niche -- post-up player or not -- and Montgomery pointed to the presence Portland's Zach Randolph had during their preseason home opener.

Briefly: Montgomery was unhappy with his team's energy and shot selection against the Clippers. Mike Dunleavy went 2-for-9 and Richardson was 3-for-10. . .. In his Staples Center return, Derek Fisher scored 11 of his 23 points from the foul line.

Copyright © 2004, San Francisco Chronicle

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