The annual Hawaiian hoedown the Lakers and Warriors participate in has been known to draw a bit of controversy that has nothing to do with the game. This year was no exception. But for the first time in a while, someone on the court is drawing attention too. His name is Kelenna Azubuike.Azu went 27/9 from the guard spot Wednesday and followed up with 22 last night. Shoals noted Golden State is really going off the rails of basketball sanity this year in a post at Free Darko; Don Nelson's Thursday night lineup proves that point -- Azubuike and Stephen Jackson in the backcourt, Matt Barnes, Brandan Wright and Patrick O'Bryant up front. Bizarre, as SLAM's Lang Whitaker also notes.
Nellie says the Dubs knew what they had in the spot duty Azu last season, but now it's time to unleash him. It certainly makes the starting two-guard spot more interesting. Nellie previously endorsed Marco Belinelli over Monta Ellis, but Azubuike is certainly making his case. And the team is flush with small forwards, too (Jax, Barnes, Mickael Pietrus). Someone's going to get squeezed, and I can't for the life of me figure out who it's going to be.




