OAKLAND, Calif. -- Most everyone came to the Warriors' start of training camp on Monday to hear what forward Stephen Jackson was going to say about that trade demand he made a few weeks back.But it was Monta Ellis who might have had the most interesting -- and perhaps the most troubling -- thing to say on Day 1.
Ellis was asked a relatively innocuous question about playing alongside rookie Stephen Curry, and responded emphatically that the two smallish guards weren't going to be able to play together.
"Us together? No," Ellis said. "Can't. We just can't. ... Just can't."
Update: Ellis, Curry and Nellie Look for Common Ground
SI.com: 30 Questions Teams Face Entering Training Camp
SI.com: 30 Questions Teams Face Entering Training Camp
"They say you can?" Ellis repeated. "They say you can ... but you can't. I just want to win and you're not going to win that way."
Nelson had said on Friday that he envisioned Ellis and Curry playing together despite their collective lack of size. Nelson said that the team planned to do a lot of scheming to help Ellis and Curry at the defensive end, but that the Ellis/Curry tandem was going to get a look.
In fact, Nelson had said that the idea to use Jackson more at shooting guard this season, which was his intent at the end of 2008-09, had basically been scrapped.
Ellis made it very clear why he thinks such a backcourt pairing would fail."It's different," Ellis said. "When you're trying to compare Stephen and you're trying to go back with me and Baron (Davis) playing. It's a different situation. You've got a nine-year veteran who has been in the game and understands the game and knows how to play the game and he's got a big body.
"You can't put two small guys out there and play the one and the two. You've got big two-guards in the league. You just can't do it. Yes, you're going to move up and down but eventually the game is going to slow down. You can't do it."
More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_Steinmetz
Previously on FanHouse:
Stephen Curry Isn't Gun Shy
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
there defense is gonna be worst than the suns, mavs and knicks defense together
How the hell did Don Nelson win so many games?
Even Ellis is admitting 2 small guards cannot play together. WTH is the Warriors front office doing?!? Can it get MORE interesting than this for the Warriors?!
NBA sucks.Nothing more than a bunch of guys that are in love with theirselfs too much.
why read about it then?
theirselfs? are you kidding?
You are right about the NBA. That is why I don't watch those primadonna jackazzs. College baskeball is still the BEST.
let the play together They will see that nelson is right .
It is the same problem the Cavs have with Wild West and Mo Williams. Who is going to guard Kobe Bryant? The 6 foot plus guy, or the 6`3 guy is going to guard the 6`7/6`6 guy? Bryant can shoot over a trio of guys his own size, and one little point guard is going to stop him? Please. So, in that sense, as Nels knows, Ellis is obviously right. But Allen Leavell, 6`1, routinely played for a while with Cal Murphy, 5`9. There are stretches in a game, as Ellis pointed out, more against some teams than others, when a small backcourt CAN play together. Nels knows that. He wasn`t claiming it was preferable to not have Jackson pair with Ellis and Jackson pair with Curry. Of course it is preferable. If Cap`n Jack is on the team, if he is not tired or in foul trouble. But when he is out, they can`t play Bellini at wing guard now. He`s in Toronto. They can`t play Crawford. He`s in Atlanta. They have to play guys actually on their roster. The best guys available. Which is how he upset Dallas a couple years back. Played the best guys, even though most of them were smaller than preferable. So even the small tandem will get a look, if they stay together. But with other small guards on the roster, someone may be moved. But Nels can`t comment on trades which haven`t happened yet. Nels has also played Manute Bol and Ralph Sampson together. He is NOT afraid of height. He just wants to get the job done. Somehow. As an athlete, Nels played both forward spots routinely, but at 6`6, there were times he had to match up with Jabbar at center. Just play the best guys, do your best, can`t do any better than that. If Nels can pick up a young Bol or Sampson to replace a reserve point guard or two, he`ll go big, he`s done it before. But you need to have the quality big athlete before you can put him on the court.
Basketball is a pathetic sport with a bunch of crack head babies playing it.Yes Crack was a mother bleeper in the 80's just look at product. What a bunch of skids THEY HAVE RUINED THE GAME ....I WOULDN'T WATCH THIS TRASH OF A GAME IF YOU PAID ME .....
Then why are you opening your mouth and letting your stupidity show?
PLEASE.
You have no idea what you are commenting on. You probably know about as much about basketball and the men who play it as you know about getting to the moon and back. NOTHING! Wait til you see something posted that you may know something about, and then try and comment. IDIOT!!!
Give that WANNEBE Curry what he wants. Trade his a-- NOW. He only shot 28% in the college NCAA March to the Final 4
Once again a reporter blowing something out of proportion. Stop putting crazy headlines just to get people to read the article.
Geez what an idiot...i dont care if you hate stephen curry......you definently dont handle the situation that way..as far as playing together goes...they surely can score together and whats this stuff about big 2 guards...besides d wade...whos he really talkin about...the 2 guard position nowadays is mostly a mobile shooter...teams don't want big 2 guards because it slows uptempo basketball.
Does anyone remember the guard tandem of Jerry West and Gail Goodrich (Lakers)? West was an average height guard, and Goodrich was a whopping 6'1". And they won an NBA title.
Yes...back when Nixon was President and they still wore the butt hugging shorts in 1972. Its a much different league now. They didn't have 6-7 2 guards that handle the ball like point guards or back you down in the post and use you like a handy wipe. They didn't have the freak athleticism that exists in the league now. They were fundamentally more sound but Jerry West/Gail Goodrich back court would be exposed on the defensive end. In reality thats the reason I say you shouldn't compare different eras of sports to each other because it impossible to play that what if game.
Actually, they did have 6`7 guards back then. Dave DeBusschere was a 6`7 guard for the Detroit Pistons, their head coach, at age 24, and a pitcher for the Detroit Lions before he was traded to New York for Walt Bellamy and Howard Komives. And ironic trade, since Bellamy was better the Debusschere. But the Knicks also added Jerry Lucas from Golden State, who, while his stats weren`t as good as Bell`s, could play forward, not just center. And when the Butcher arrived in New York, Bill Bradley 6`6, swang into guard from his forward sport, and 6`7 Dave Stallworth, off the bench, played guard and center, as well as forward. All five sports. But a 6`7 center, like Wes Unseld, WAS no more unusual than a 6`7 guard, and 6`7 power forwards were common. But that New York size is also why they beat the Lakers. Lucas and Reed drew Chamberlain away from the basket, Jackson and Stallworth outquicked Mel Counts so badly he couldn`t play forward, at 7`0 as he`d been doing, and the Knicks posted everyone else to death. The Lakers hadn`t yet learned the lane widening of `65 made it impossible to go with one center, and four midgets, even if the center was Wilt. 6`7, 6`5, 6`3, 6`1, or so, was no longer big enough at the four smaller spots to win consistently. Teams need to replace at least one of the three smaller guys with a bigger guy, at least about 6`7 or 6`9 or so, but the Lakers didn`t take that into account.
I hate to say it but Ellis is right.
Why does Donn Nelson always have to be the "wacky warrior"???
Stephon Curry is way too small in his physical presence; not to mention being a completely untested rookie....emphasis on completely untested.
Even when he scored significant points against top-tier college teams, his shooting percentage was nothing to write home about....certainly nothing good, anyway; best I can recall.
And I noticed some other comparisons that I don't believe hold water.
Calvin Murphy was one of the toughest guards in the league when he played....Jerry West was a good 6-4" when he played and one of the best to ever play...plus the players were much thinner back when those two played.
And a Delonte West comparison with Mo Williams in present day is off as well. West is a good 6-3 or 6-4"; I believe; and Mo Williams gives the impression of a shorter, yet stocky and strong guard that can hold his own in the physicality departmment.
Nelson could be doing little more than letting the fans know the circus is in town.
I agree that 2 little guards will get pounded, but he should have re-phrased his comments and not created tension with the front office.
GS and the Clippers...