Lionel Hollins knows who he's going to start next week, but he's not telling anyone

The Nets have five days of practice left before Opening Night next Wednesday.  He says he has a good idea of who will be introduced under those fireworks when the Nets play the Bulls.  But he's not saying... as Andy Vasquez writes.

"With all the injuries that have taken place, we’re pretty settled with our starting lineup," Hollins said. "Now, I’m not going to tell you who.

"On the 28th when we step out on the court that night, you’ll definitely see," Hollins added. "I don’t see the big deal. Tell me, why is it such a big deal?"

In their last dress rehearsal, their win on Sunday vs. the 76ers, Hollins started Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young, Joe Johnson, Jarrett Jack and Wayne Ellington, with Bojan Bogdanovic and Shane Larkin coming off the bench. If Hollins goes that way again, the only surprise will be Bogdanovic, who has not played well this pre-season, troubled by a sore ankle hurt during Eurobasket.

Ellington a career 38 percent shooter from deep, says he's ready if called on.

"I’m ready, man," Ellington said. "I feel like my outside presence … guys really respect me from the perimeter. Those guys need room in there to work. I know to have that room, you’ve got to have guys respect [a shooter's] ability from the perimeter. They’re going to get double-teamed, they’re going to collapse and you’ve got to make teams pay for that. And I feel that’s exactly where I fit in."

However, the front court rotation remains a mystery with Andrea Bargnani still nursing a tight hamstring, an injury that kept him out last season through New Year's Day.

"Of course. It will impact on decisions that we make when we finally close down the roster," Hollins said of Bargnani's status. "But we got a few days to see, and it puts us in a position of having to delay a decision, or change any decision that may not have been made if he were healthy completely."

• Hollins not ready to reveal starting lineup - Andy Vasquez - The Record
• Lionel Hollins’ plan for impossible Nets challenge - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Why Lionel Hollins means more to the Nets than ever before - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
• Andrea Bargnani's injury complicates Nets' roster decisions - Rod Boone - Newsday