Lost in that shuffle has been power forward David Lee, who made the All-Star team last year and averaged 18.5 points and 11.2 rebounds. Despite his big numbers, though, Lee is the one player on the Warriors about whom many remain ambivalent, mostly because of his consistent inability to play solid defense. There’s also the sense that Lee is too focused on boosting his rebounding numbers and that he gives up too easily on defensive plays.

When Lee went out with a hip injury in last year’s postseason, some scouts felt that the Warriors might be better off without him. There were rumblings—denied by Warriors brass—that Lee was being shopped on the trade market this summer. To the extent that there is a negative perception about his game, Lee is aiming to change that this year.

“I put a lot into the offseason working on getting into the best shape of my life, working on my jump shot and things like that,” Lee said. “It is just a matter of trying to get better, and I don’t think anyone has ever said they want to come back and be the same that they were the previous year. I thought I had a pretty good last year, but there are things that I can improve on.”

Defense is chief on that list. Lee played better on D last year, but still left much to be desired. The Warriors allowed 105.7 points per 100 possessions when Lee was off the court, and 107.0 when he was on it. The team’s effective field-goal percentage allowed was 49.0 percent with Lee in the game, and 47.4 percent with him out.

Part of the issue, Lee said, is that he and Curry were carrying a heavy offensive load and took on big minutes (Curry averaged 38.2 minutes per game and Lee averaged 36.8). A deeper roster might take some of that pressure off and allow both to play better defense. His improved conditioning will help, too.

“With a more balanced team, hopefully Steph and I don’t have to be at the top of the league in minutes this year,” Lee said. “Defensively, that is going to help a lot—so much of defense is energy and effort. Being able to do that is going to help defensively, and being quicker laterally will help, being lighter will help. And then being in shape is going to keep me healthy throughout the year.”

For coach Mark Jackson, that’s a good start. Jackson said that last year’s success, and the way his teammates have elevated their games, should push Lee to get better on both ends.

“He understands just how special it is right now,” Jackson said. “You look around, you see the talent, it is a different place and it is a different time. He has worked his tail off in the offseason, give him credit. I expect him to have a great year. … There’s things that he knows and we know that he can do better. That’s nit-picking because he had an outstanding year. But our job is to push him even further, and his job is to not settle.”


WESTBROOK'S RETURN


The Oklahoma City Thunder could have Russell Westbrook back on the basketball court within two weeks, according to a Yahoo! Sports report.

Westbrook, who was initially expected to miss 6-8 weeks, has made progress in recovering from a second procedure to his left knee in October to repair loose stitches that caused swelling.

He recently starting practicing with the team and had teammates raving about his athleticism on Day 1.

Westbrook's initial injury came in April when he suffered a torn meniscus in the first-round playoff series against the Rockets.

With Westbrook out, the Thunder will rely on star Kevin Durant to handle more of the offensive load.


MAVS GM RESIGNS


The Dallas Mavericks have parted ways with general manager Gersson Rosas only three months after he was hired, ESPN.com reported.

Rosas, who previously rose through the ranks in Houston, resigned from the team, according to a statement from the team. It was "solely" his decision to sever ties with the Mavericks organization as of Tuesday, one day before the team set to open the season against the Atlanta Hawks.

The departure is said to stem from Rosas' desire to be "in charge," someone briefed on the departure told ESPN.com. He was initially hired to work in concert with president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson, but problems arose almost immediately after he arrived, according to the report.

As is the trend, the Mavericks sought out Rosas to have a hand in analytics during free agency.

It's hard to know how influential Rosas was in summer choices, but numbers were not considered much in their free-agency moves. Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon both were overpaid this summer, a decision that will set Dallas back in the final few years of Dirk Nowitzki's career.

Rosas' work in Houston put him on the Mavericks' radar. There, he moved from intern to member of the Rockets front office.

"The position was not the best fit for me at this point in my career," Rosas said in a career.


LIN WON'T START


Jeremy Lin will not start at point guard as the Houston Rockets begin their 2013-14 season, it was revealed to CSNHouston (via ProBasketballTalk).

Instead, Patrick Beverley will assume the role, one he played with proficiency in last year's postseason.

“I haven’t had the fortune to play in the NBA on opening night,” Beverley told CSNHouston. “It’s going to be my first. I’m definitely excited.”

Rockets coach Kevin McHale had no intentions of sharing this information with the media on Tuesday. Rockets forward Chandler Parsons didn't see any reason to wait for opening night, though.

"I don’t know why it’s a big surprise," Parsons said. “It’s the same as how the preseason ended.”

In the preseason, Houston played Beverley at starting point guard and Lin came off the bench as the sixth man.

This could work for Houston because Beverley excels where Lin struggles. He is a solid defender and he doesn't turn the ball over at a high rate. James Harden's ability to handle the ball will also help this situation. His ability in screen-and-roll situation is as good as anyone in the league, and Houston is likely to run plenty of its offense through him.

When this won't be a net positive is if Lin cannot start in his third season with the Rockets, when he is due $15 million as part of a 3-year, $25 million deal.

Contributors: Sean Deveney, DeAntae Prince