OK, so maybe Monta Ellis can play alongside Stephen Curry -- every once in a while, here and there a little bit, and maybe when the matchups dictate.That seemed to be the consensus coming out of Warriors' training camp one day after Ellis said "you just can't" play he and Curry together because "you're not going to win that way."
Ellis certainly didn't backtrack from his comments from the previous day, but he did acknowledge that, yes, there might be times a smallish, quick-ish backcourt of Ellis-Curry could be used. But it's not like he was embracing the idea.
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"Basically, what it is is that the only way we can play together is matchups," Ellis said after the team's morning practice. "That's the only way. Point blank."
Nelson made certain to leave plenty of wiggle room when it came to how much that twosome would play together, likely knowing full-well that it might not be the best strategy in the world to announce that Ellis and Curry would be starting opening night.
"Certainly matchups will determine that," Nelson said. "We're pretty small in the backcourt. We can't expect them to play together when we play the Lakers when one of them would have to guard Kobe (Bryant) or something like that. But there will be plenty of times where they will play together, and that's a matchup situation.
"There are a lot of teams that don't post their two-guards, there are a lot of teams that have small guards who play together. So that will be a matchup situation. I've normally done pretty well at matchups. They will play together some but not always."
Nelson said he talked to Ellis briefly about his Monday comments, but told the media to ask Ellis about what was said.
When asked about what Nelson relayed to him about those comments, Ellis responded: "It was nothing ... He just asked me about them and he told me the interview was good up until that point. It's over with. Put it behind us and move forward. There's no problem. No problem at all."But what about Curry? He said he wasn't stung by Ellis' comments.
"Not at all," Curry said. "He's been here. He has experience. I don't know anything about what it's like to play in an NBA game or anything like that. He knows how to win, what's it's going to take. If that's what he sees then there's got to be some kind of validity to it. But it all comes down to what coach Nelson wants."
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ellis: Waaaaaaaaaah
Curry: *professional statement*
Welp. I guess they're writing their own roles to the press vis-a-vis "selfish" vs. "team player", even if Ellis ends up being right about the tandem not being a good simulataneous play.
Thanks for the update, nice to hear they're actually trying to make it work. I'm tired of all the dramas.
It was just last year that Monta Ellis was caught lying about how he tore up his ankle. He didn't seem to care about the possible loss of games when he climbed on that motor bike. Now he has seen the light and has developed a concern for the team. Uhh uhh, I ain't buying it, sounds like pure hatoration to me! The brother ought to keep his mouth shut before he finds himself out of work!
If anyone can get a smallish backcourt to play in an NBA that has big backcourts is Don Nelson..size isn't everything! Ellis should just work hard to stay healthy, stop riding mopeds, let the Coach do all the talking and Coaching!!!!
when Monta Elis has won as much as Nellie has, then he has the right to say "you can't win that way"....until then, he needs to STFU and play for the money they pay him, be grateful he has a fricking job that pays that much and get over himself...because he doesn't want to be shown up by this younger player or by having to share the ball and the spotlight...it's ALL ego on his part...poor baby..
Yeah it is pretty funny to hear Monta Elis whine and tell everyone what it takes to win ... he is a third year guard who spent most of his rookie season riding the bench ... then lies about his ankle and misses the biggest part of last year ... and now he is going to tell everyone what it takes to win? I agree ... too much ego for a whining small guard who hasn't won anything yet coming off like he is Lebron James! STFU and earn your way onto the court Monta! The Warriors need people who have good attitudes and who are willing to work hard! Shut up and let your playing do the talking! What a whiner! I like Curry's attitude and hustle ... and I'm betting he will pan out to be more of a star than Monta will if he keeps his good attitude going! I hope Curry plays so well Monta is once again riding the pine!
The W's are a product of there management. We as fans & reporters never know what happens behind closed doors when contracts are signed. As always the Warriors management never comes through.They make bad decisions on personnel Maggette;Baron;Pietrius,Dunleavy,Murphy,Diogo, Obryant the list goes on. I feel that SJAck has a legitmate grimp.I dont agree on how he did it. But how can you just deal with it. Nelson program of small ball does not work. Just look at the roster as we speak. All smalls and no rebounding. The story of all Nellie's teams. They never get it done as advertised and they destroy the team to "try & make it work". We fans then have to pay the price for a lousy product and bad basketball. The organization suffers as a result of there own choices.
Rebounding - hopefully stack, randolph, wright, and biedrins can do enough of that, and we'll have enough smalls to annoy the hell out of people.
On the other hand, no one could try and we could have another "we suck" instead of "we believe" season.
Do you really think things are going to change even though they are getting smaller? I really did not want to see them make a trade. However, I hate to see SJack go but package him with a few young guys Wright or picks. Get Boozer and sign him to an extension. Which would solve our problem with a lineup of Monte,Azubike,Randolph,Boozer& Biedriens. Second unit Watson,?, Maggette,Morrow,Turiaf.
Hey I forgot to put Curry as the off guard on the second unit!
Good post. I am not sure why Ellis is so sure this won't work. Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich did pretty well together. Not sure if he's threatened by the hype or the fact he has been on thin ice with Coach Nelly for the past year. If you get a chance check out my new blog "Everyday NBA" http://everydaynba.blogspot.com/
I'll check it out! Back to the W's. Make the trade for a known commodity like Boozer. If you move Sjack & BWright and any of the three extra point guards it will 1.) Make the W's look like they have a plan for improvement 2.) Move a problem in a positive way and not get the short end of the deal 3.) Create cap space if Boozer walks. Finally, have a legitimate roster that will compete every day instead of the generic small ball that only works againinst mid level and lower level teams.