<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ellis thriving for Golden State in Nelson's offensive system By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer November 18, 2006 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Monta Ellis moved from basket to basket shooting free throws during a break in practice when Chris Mullin came by to offer a handshake and some kind words to Golden State's emerging second-year pro. The Warriors' vice president of basketball operations has to be thrilled with Ellis' steady shooting hand and marked improvement less than a month into the season. And Mullin's not the only one: Ellis, who just turned 21 in late October, has opened a lot of eyes around the NBA to his quick progress and untapped potential. He was the only member of the Warriors to score in double figures in each of their first nine games, averaging 16 points, 3.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds heading into the weekend. And if Ellis keeps up this impressive pace, he will likely be packing for Las Vegas in February for All-Star weekend -- as a member of the sophomore squad that faces the league's top team of rookies. Ellis is thriving in Don Nelson's up-tempo offense that has been known to go with four guards. "It's really great because that's what I like to do," Ellis said. "I like to run and get up and down. That's the style of play I'm used to. He just makes me feel comfortable being me and not worrying about making mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. Hey, I'm young." It hasn't hurt that Ellis and Nelson immediately hit it off this summer and came to an understanding that the speedy guard would develop his game by assuming a bigger role in his second season with the Warriors -- and that his new coach would take an extremely hands-on, tell-it-like-it-is approach in the process. Both Ellis and Nelson acknowledge his game is still rough around the edges. "He's killing me," said Nelson, never one to hide what's on his mind. "I love him dearly but he turns the ball over. He still doesn't understand the game isn't that easy. Maybe it's easy in his eyes, but there are just too many good players to not be playing at that high level at all times. He'll go to sleep on me occasionally and make a risky pass he shouldn't make. It's just me staying focused with him so he understands he can't do that." Moments later, Nelson added, "He's really a great player." Ellis, among the final group of high school players allowed to turn pro last year before the league raised its mandatory minimum age to 19, has been a pleasant surprise so far with his production and hard work on both ends of the floor that earned him a starting job. His small size -- he's 6-foot-3 and 177 pounds -- hasn't held him back, even if it dropped his draft status in 2005. The Warriors selected him 40th overall, in the second round, out of Jackson, Miss. For Ellis, it was a chance to leave his rough neighborhood of drugs and gangs back home that easily could have steered him the wrong way as a teenager. Ellis considers himself fortunate to be learning under the tutelage of a coach who worked closely with Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki during their formidable years in the NBA. "He made me feel comfortable in my role and what he wanted me to do, and that's why everything is going good for me so far," Ellis said. "I've got to stay on myself and him being the head coach, he's got to stay on me so I stop making those mistakes. As the season goes on, I won't be making those mistakes." Teammates Baron Davis and Jason Richardson have made an investment in Ellis' career, too, taking on mentoring roles for their young teammate. They know it's in their best interest to do so. The Warriors are going to need contributions from everyone on the roster if the franchise is going to end an NBA-worst 12-year playoff drought. Having Ellis around to run the point position has allowed Davis to work on other aspects of his game and attack the basket more in the off-guard spot. "It's tough at times," Davis said. "It's a new position and he's young, but he's starting to realize how tough it is. He's open to everything that people say. Sometimes he thinks we get down on him, but he always takes it in stride and makes up for it on the court." The 27-year-old Davis, the third overall pick by the Hornets in the 1999 NBA draft out of UCLA, only wishes his game were so advanced at Ellis' age. Ellis, whose first name is pronounced MON-tay, averaged 6.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 49 games as a rookie. Ellis credits constant communication with Nelson as the reason for his fast start. A simple approach is working, too. All Nelson asks is that Ellis plays his game, learns from mistakes and values every possession. What has most impressed Davis? "His ability to learn on the fly," Davis said. "When I was young like that, 20 years old, I only played at one speed. I'm trying to get him to play at different speeds at a consistent level. He's doing a wonderful job for us, and I'm happy and I'm proud of him."</div> http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=At6U...ov=ap&type=lgns This whole situation has Gilbert written all over it. This time our foe isn't the 2nd round rookie contract f'ing us in the A. It's our cap situation.
Yeah all because of a rookie GM who didn't estimate the market right in '04 and got owned by sports agents who bilked him to signing role players that don't fit together at starting positions for the next six years. He's got to do something because this is like an accident waiting to happen. This time there is no wait and see, it's time to act. If the warriors can make the playoffs and win like they are doing for an entire 82 game season, maybe we can ship out the deadweight players and keep the players that actually fit together. This means cast out all those slow footed softies so we can make room for the guys that actually play like their intended nba positions. This could include Jrich, but IMO we better be getting a good player in return for him. I wouldn't want to trade away a guy that managed to get better every single year, was rookie-soph MVP, and accomplished some things that few rookies could do that early on. Plus, he is the best player on our team that is not named Baron Davis and IMO he fits somewhere in between SG and SF. Wheras guys like Murphy and Dunleavy IMO do not fit anywhere if we are trying to accomplish some form of defense inside and score inside and also run the break. Guys like Biedrins and Zarko can run the break, but guys like Murphy and Dunleavy are not as quick compared to the matchups they are facing. I'd rather go with the euros than the slow college players where we knew what we were getting in terms of role playing jump shooting 6'10++ forwards. I'll take the proven college stars over them like Diogu anyday of the week or an uncertain college project like POB or Dajaun Wagner. I just don't think we can win if we have two of the slowest inside guys in the league when we had Foyle, Murph and Dun as our frontcourt. Only Foyle is the most reactive player when it comes to making defensive stops. Anytime Murphy is on the floor he will let guys blow by him when Jrich or Dun fails to cover and Dunleavy will just flop anytime he's beaten with quickness. Foyle is so slow now he can't cover as well as he used to... So, I'm pretty relieved that Nelson also knows this and is actively doing something about Mullin's messups. Montgomery knew what the problem was but he didn't anything to tell Mullin that his roster sucks and there's no way to play 5 man motion offense without a center. If we had reliable bigs under the hoop, the less small ball we need to play. That's the truth, plain and simple. So, I just wonder what was in Mullin's mind when he signed Fisher (who needs shooting guard to penetrate for him and a big man that can get defenses to collapse inside), Dunleavy (who got better each year, but was still considered a mediocre role playing type of guy), Murphy (who was a double double guy and consistent and added something new each year, except for inside game, interior defense, passing, and basically all the things real centers and power forwards should do to become an anchor for a franchise)... Then we go back to Foyle who is probably Mullin's biggest mistake of them all. Picking Montgomery was a huge mistake if he wasn't going to take steps to give him a better halfcourt lineup because that is what Mullin seemed like he was doing and totally forgot about guys like (NVE when was healthy enough to make impact), Speedy, Jrich, Pietrus, the guy he just drafted Biedrins (who didn't have much offense game to play halfcourt). Those are all quick backcourt players that like to push... How can we run halfcourt if there aren't any setup guys that can break people down, guys who can shoot, big guys who can play D and post up inside the paint? That is what puzzles me to this day. I know it's a learning experience for Mullin, but I swear we should have gone with a coach who knows about assembling a team and guys who can negotiate with sports agents and can predict the player markets better. Mullin could be the talent evaluator like David Twardzick is for the Orlando Magic. It would also be nice if we had more guys in the front office who have played for more than two different style coaches to understand the system varieties so we can estimate what works right in the beginning. Too many Warrior gms in the past have tried to collect talent rather than trying to build a team. And that's why we've failed for so long. They collect talent, but don't make any good trades. Only Baron Davis was a good trade because we were at the right time, right place, but there were several other bad moves and not enough good moves to gain momentum back in '05. Coaching was an issue, but lots of players stopped becoming the players they were before signing big contracts... it's frustrating. But that is why I'm glad we have Nelson because he understands that good teams don't need small ball, but he can definitely help bad teams because he knows small ball very well and he will bench guys like Dun, Fisher, Murph, Foyle, Jrich if they are not playing well. That was our 5 starters from last year. Even if we played nothing but rookies, we still have to grow them properly, so it's all about finding that balance of talent/experience so that we avoid becoming another inexperienced, rookie mistake type team that goes to the lottery every year. We have to be the bulls or the Hornets last year where we actually improved and everyone fit together as a team for the most part.
Sorry for the long post yet again. But it is true. NBA teams are defined by their big men at center or power forward for security in the paint and the backcourt that can create for or finish for them. Those three positions are important for ball movement as well as defense because those guys will probably be guarding the league's toughest mismatches. Their differences in styles of offense do the most to spread the floor when you compare C/PF to those of PG/SG. That is why I hoped Jrich would become a better dribbler, but he is just not a shooting guard because his ballhandling and first step never came. Still a great scorer though, but he needs guys like Ellis. And entire backcourt needs Biedrins and Diogu IMO over Murphy and Dunleavy. If we want special player get Zarko Cabarkapa back in the rotation and get his confidence up. He's legit 6'11 with long arms, can shoot some, and he's great off dribble penetration or starting the break. Great first and second step too.
