"I had no problems (with the hamstring), I had a problem with my butt sitting on that bench for so long," Iverson said. "I'm not a bench player. I'm not a sixth man. Look at my resume and that'll show I'm not a sixth man. I don't think it has anything to do with me being selfish. It's just who I am. I don't want to change what gave me all the success that I've had since I've been in this league. I'm not a sixth man. And that's that."

Well, Wednesday night at Golden State, Iverson was still a sixth man, but he played considerably more minutes (27:33), scoring 18 points and dealing seven assists. Hollins said the team's training staff asked him to limit Iverson's playing time to 20 minutes against the Kings, but he played almost 28 minutes versus the Warriors.

"Every player has his own opinion and prerogative to speak his mind," Hollins said. "It isn't anything derogatory. In this case, it's Allen's opinion of himself and how he perceives his role on the team. He has that right. It's my right as head coach to do what's best for the team. If that means starting Allen, he'll start. If that means Allen comes off the bench, then Allen comes off the bench."

"As the season develops, roles develop," Hollins said. "Sometimes roles get defined that you have to be willing to accept. We're going to work it all out. There's going to be some snags, some bruised egos and squawking, but we'll get it together."

WARRIORS 113 GRIZZLIES 105: The Grizzlies, boosted by Allen Iverson off the bench, took a 13-point lead and then quit playing defense. They didn't guard anybody in the third quarter and were ill-equipped to handle a shootout. Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins tried some funky lineup combos that featured O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley and Allen Iverson in a three-guard lineup, but the Grizzlies lost their third straight game.