Garry St. Jean billed as a players coach.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

OAKLAND _ Garry St. Jean may not turn the modestly talented, injury-ravaged Warriors into contenders. Short of hiring Michael Jordan as player-coach, that probably isn't in the cards.

But with one declarative statement Monday, St. Jean uttered words never heard from P.J. Carlesimo, the man he fired and replaced.

``This is a players' game. I'll underline that,'' St. Jean said. ``This is a players' game, and I'm going to act as a facilitator.''

Carlesimo was the quintessential college coach, bringing to the NBA a controlling style that worked well with undergraduates. St. Jean was the prototype NBA assistant, bringing to the coach's chair the back-slapping encouragement that pro players …