Ellis was interviewed via ESPN. Q: I'm sure by now you're used to hearing people say that your numbers were inflated by playing in Don Nelson's system. So what do you say in response now that your numbers have gone up without Nellie? A: I gotta give a lot of credit to Don Nelson. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't even be known at all in the NBA, because he gave me an opportunity to show my talent and let me do me. [But] playing for Keith Smart is just like playing in the Nellie system. It's just a younger Nellie [coaching]. He's just got more energy. Nothing's really changed. The system is still the same. I would say numbers-wise it's the best that I'm playing. But I have a lot of guys around me who are willing to work and can actually make plays, so it really makes my job much easier than last year. I don't have to force too many shots. I don't have to try to make plays for everybody. We've got guys that make plays for me also. ESPN.com http://hoopshype.com/rumors/tag/golden_state_warriors If the offensive system is the same as last year, then obviously the coaches are not doing enough to get Lee involved like he should be in a productive way. It's kind of like the 49ers and Vernon Davis - wasted talent due to lack of effective strategy to put them in positions to shine. Defensively there definitely needs to be some change. But hasn't Smart been the defensive coordinator so to speak for the last year or so? I guess that could explain the lack of change there. It seems to me that the defensive mind-set coach is the new fad for coaches (Stan Van Gundy, Rick Carisle, Doug Collins, etc) . I think that may be what the Warriors need to explore.
Nothing's changed is right. The back court continues to be our strength. The problem is still in the front court even though Smart is playing two bigs together. The Warriors still do not grab enough defensive rebounds as they are 26th in the league!!! Udoh needs to play more and Amundson needs to do more on the glass. Even Biedrins needs to crash the defensive glass. Also, we need some shot blockers. No one is blocking shots and the Warriors do not intimidate anybody in the paint.
Unfortunately, I think for the Warriors to be a decent defensive rebounding team, they need the tandem of Biedrins and Lee playing together (i.e. healthy). I'm sure there are some numbers out that that show the disparity of rebounds between them playing together and them not playing together. I don't know, but I know I'd like to see them playing together more often!
I don't have the numbers on me but I think rebounding was fine at the start when Beans and Gadz were healthy at the start of the season. In fact I think it was the most improved aspect of this team. Also, just how strong of a rebounder is/has been Udoh this year and in the passed? He seems to be better at altering shots than rebounding up to this point. Then again being a big on this team and trying to board is no small task with all the opponents who go unblocked for the board.
I don't think Udoh is a good rebounder yet. That's why it's silly, IMO, to think Biedrins is expendable. Udoh may alter and induce missed shots, but we'd need a team effort (or the other big to grab everything) for him to be truly reliable. We're just not that team this season. I'd like to see a long stretch of a healthy team and then assess where we're at with rebounds and defense.
Hey Monta, how about grabbing a few more rebounds yourself (see JKidd, Lafayette Lever, Walt Frazier (5.9!), even Ray Allen) and boxing out your man once in a while instead of leaking out.
I think the Warriors need to start going to the D league for help. This is ridiculous. No more small forwards as centers... Even if Rodney Carney starts over Radmo. Plus, the warriors health issues... WTF is going on here? We were ready to go into this season healthy for once and all these guys keep getting injured. Same as last year. I think some athletic trainers ought to get canned for being bad luck. You put on a warrior uniform you get injured... We might as well trade for Andre Miller and watch as he gets hurt for the first time in 7 or 8 years.
I think that this season was never about making the playoffs. Everything points to the front office looking to showcase certain players in order to move them, IMO. The plan seemed to be, get Curry, B. Wright and Lee to get some shared PT, showcase Ellis, inflate Vlad & Williams numbers. Now, there have been some injuries that have shifted that dynamic. If that's truly what happened, I imagine that there will be a few moves to re-shape the roster at the trade deadline. If not, there will be some massive off-season moves. I fully imagine that bringing in a new coach will be part of that. If that happens, I'll be happy with this season. Re-shaping along with a 30-ish win season wouldn't be the worst thing in the world moving forward. It would put us in a position to make a dramatic 1 season turn-around. There's no other legitimate explanation other than front office incompetence.
