04-08-2008, 12:24 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Tampa, Florida
Age: 25
Posts: 13,926
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Ellis continues to step up his game
I love watching him play.
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Quote:
As proud a player as Stephen Jackson is, he cannot deny what is becoming apparent in these final weeks of the Warriors' regular season. Though he and Baron Davis are still the overall leaders, Monta Ellis has taken up top billing on the court.
"As far as his game, what he's expected to do every night, he's mastered it," Jackson said. "Right now, we've got to catch up to his level, because he's the one who's risen to a higher level."
With teams focused on stopping the Warriors' big three of Ellis, Jackson and Davis - who are on track to become Golden State's first 20-point scoring trio since the Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, Chris Mullin "Run TMC" days in 1990-91 -only Ellis has been able to avoid a major slump lately.
At 22, he has the youth and speed to drive by multiple defenders despite logging heavy minutes all season. He has led the Warriors in scoring in three of the last five games, highlighted by Sunday's 35-point outburst in New Orleans.
Last year's Most Improved Player, though regressing defensively, has offset that by hitting 53 percent from the field - tops among the NBA's high-volume shooting guards.
That efficiency is why coach Don Nelson said after Sunday's loss to the Hornets that he'd like to see the ball in Ellis' hands more, especially when his teammates are struggling with their shot and the Warriors' offense stagnates.
"(Monta's) playing at an unbelievable level, and he's doing it without plays being called for him," Al Harrington said. "He's just doing it within the offense and finding opening and attacking guys. He's doing a great job of that and we need him to keep doing that, because he's getting guys open."
His emergence as the top offensive option hasn't come without bumps. Davis and Jackson, the only Warriors averaging more than 39 minutes per game, are still the team's best playmakers. Their ability to draw double-teams, and therefore open up things for other players, is partly predicated on their reputation as offensive threats.
It's finding that balance between getting themselves going and their teammates going, that has begun eluding them down the stretch.
"We're just trying to find ways to still stay in the game and still be effective," Jackson said. "I haven't found a way yet, because the last four games, I'm still struggling. Last time I came (to New Orleans), they played me 1-on-1. This time, they doubled me and they spotted a guy. So it's just about making adjustments."
So far, that has come with increased assist totals in the last two games. Davis and Jackson combined for 15 assists against Memphis and 18 against New Orleans.
Warriors vice president Chris Mullin, who acknowledges that his leaders have looked tired of late, is hopeful that the high playoff stakes - helped by the Nuggets' unexpected losses to Sacramento and Seattle - can help them catch Ellis' pace.
"The opportunity is there. If you look at it that way, it's more energizing," Mullin said. "The time is now, so let's take advantage of it."
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Ellis continues to step up his game
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