PROSPECT PERFORMANCES - 03/21/09

Blake Griffin: Oklahoma 73, Michigan 63
39 min, 14-20 fg, 0-0 3pt, 5-10 ft, 8 off, 17 reb, 3 ast, 3 to, 1 stl, 1 blk, 3 pf, 33 pts

Jrue Holiday: UCLA 69, Villanova 89
27 min, 1-6 fg, 1-4 3pt, 1-3 ft, 0 off, 4 reb, 7 ast, 4 to, 2 stl, 0 blk, 3 pf, 4 pts

Darren Collison: UCLA 69, Villanova 89
33 min, 4-10 fg, 2-5 3pt, 5-8 ft, 0 off, 2 reb, 1 ast, 5 to, 2 stl, 0 blk, 0 pf, 15 pts

Kyle Singler: Duke 74, Texas 69
33 min, 6-12 fg, 3-5 3pt, 2-2 ft, 4 off, 7 reb, 1 ast, 3 to, 2 stl, 1 blk, 5 pf, 17 pts

Gerald Henderson: Duke 74, Texas 69
36 min, 7-21 fg, 0-3 3pt, 10-13 ft, 1 off, 6 reb, 1 ast, 1 to, 0 stl, 0 blk, 2 pf, 24 pts

Damion James: Duke 74, Texas 69
34 min, 6-13 fg, 1-4 3pt, 2-3 ft, 4 off, 10 reb, 2 ast, 6 to, 0 stl, 2 blk, 3 pf, 15 pts

Marcus Thornton: North Carolina 84, LSU 70
35 min, 10-22 fg, 5-11 3pt, 0-0 ft, 4 off, 6 reb, 1 ast, 3 to, 1 stl, 0 blk, 4 pf, 25 pts

Tyler Hansbrough: North Carolina 84, LSU 70
34 min, 6-11 fg, 0-0 3pt, 3-6 ft, 3 off, 8 reb, 1 ast, 3 to, 2 stl, 0 blk, 3 pf, 15 pts

Wayne Ellington: North Carolina 84, LSU 70
37 min, 9-16 fg, 3-6 3pt, 2-2 ft, 1 off, 3 reb, 4 ast, 2 to, 2 stl, 1 blk, 0 pf, 23 pts

Ty Lawson: North Carolina 84, LSU 70
31 min, 7-13 fg, 2-3 3pt, 7-7 ft, 1 off, 2 reb, 6 ast, 0 to, 2 stl, 0 blk, 0 pf, 23 pts

Willie Warren: Oklahoma 73, Michigan 63
36 min, 5-10 fg, 3-7 3pt, 3-5 ft, 0 off, 1 reb, 4 ast, 1 to, 0 stl, 0 blk, 2 pf, 16 pts

Austin Daye: Gonzaga 83, Western Kentucky 81
19 min, 4-9 fg, 1-2 3pt, 1-2 ft, 0 off, 3 reb, 1 ast, 4 to, 0 stl, 0 blk, 4 pf, 10 pts

Tyreke Evans: Memphis 89, Maryland 70
32 min, 7-13 fg, 1-5 3pt, 4-5 ft, 0 off, 4 reb, 5 ast, 5 to, 2 stl, 2 blk, 2 pf, 19 pts

Hasheem Thabeet: Connecticut 92, Texas A&M 66
20 min, 1-2 fg, 0-0 3pt, 4-4 ft, 0 off, 4 reb, 0 ast, 2 to, 2 stl, 2 blk, 4 pf, 6 pts

KILL THE VOID

Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Robert Rowell and the Golden State Warriors should kill the option/threat to void Monta Ellis' 6 year / $66 million contract. After a disappointing return, he took a break, and came back almost as good as pre-injury Monta. It was reported by the Warriors organization that the reason Monta had to take several games off was because of stiffness in his ankle. He disputes that claim and sites family issues as the primary reason for his absence. He is fighting for his contract, is winning back the confidence of many, and should be rewarded with piece of mind by killing the option to void his contract. In the last 5 games, he seems to have regained his quickness and timing. His shot is going down and he is able to finish at the rim at a high percentage. Monta doesn't look as explosive, but hopefully that will come back next season, if not sooner.

2008-2009 Game Log

Comeback #1 Stats:
13 games
431 min (33.2)
70-176 fg (.398)
5-10 3pt (.500)
29-37 ft (.783)
20 stl (1.54)
5 blk (.385)
32 to (2.46)
50 reb (3.85)
36 ast (2.77)
174 pts (13.4)

Comeback #2 Stats:
5 games
192 min (38.4)
56-98 fg (.571)
0-4 3pt (.000)
18-21 ft (.857)
8 stl (1.60)
2 blk (.40)
15 to (3.00)
22 reb (4.40)
23 ast (2.60)
130 pts (26.0)

2007-2008 Season Averages:
81 games
37.9 min
.531 fg
.231 3pt
.767 ft
1.5 stl
.3 blk
2.1 to
4.9 reb
3.9 ast
20.2 pts

So far, Monta has shown that he can still be an elite scorer and help on the boards. What he hasn't shown is that he can successfully make the transition to PG, something coach Nelson insist is what he must do in order to be considered among the best in the league. He seems to have extended his range (although he has struggled recently on 3 point attempts). He has an assist/turnover ratio of 1.53 - unacceptable for a lead PG in the NBA. He will have to show vast improvement before the end of the season or the Warriors will seriously think about scraping the whole Monta Ellis at PG idea, throwing the future starting lineup and rotation into question. Moves will have to be made to bring in a competent true PG. Ideally, you want a big PG like Baron Davis, but here are some of the qualities this new edition must posses:

1. court vision
2. pass first mentality
3. basketball IQ
4. high assist / turnover ratio
   
5. ability to guard opposing SG's
6. size
7. athleticism
8. perimeter defense
9. perimeter shooting
   

Monta Ellis' recent good play gives many fans and the organization reason for hope. Ellis can become a star in the league if he has a backcourt mate that will compliment his skill set and elevate his game by finding him easy baskets, drawing double teams, covering up his defensive deficiencies, and simply allow him to focus on being an elite scorer. If Don Nelson ever has enough faith in his players to abandon small ball when match-ups are favorable, a backcourt with Ellis at SG could be lethal when a defensive trio of Randolph, Wright, and Biedrins are there to provide help defense as Ellis' man blows past him.

Brighter days are ahead for the Warriors and Monta Ellis.

Related Articles

Nelson surprised by shelving of Ellis - Janny Hu
Ellis Exits, Contract Law Returns - Adam Lauridsen
Monta Gets the Point? - Adam Lauridsen
Monta Ellis shelved with sore ankle - Marcus Thompson II
Sources: Monta Ellis unhappy with the Warriors - Marcus Thompson II
Trying to clear up some Monta Ellis/Warriors fuzziness - Tim Kawakami
Monta Ellis and the Warriors: Moving beyond the Void Land - Tim Kawakami
Anyone out there still think the Warriors don't need a true point guard? - Matt Steinmetz
Monta Ellis contradicts Warriors on the state of his left ankle and why he's been out - Matt Steinmetz
Shut down Monta Ellis? It might be the easy answer for the Warriors, but it’s not necessarily the best one - Geoff Lepper
The Monta Ellis/Warriors Angst: Can either side win here? - Tim Kawakami

PROSPECT PERFORMANCES - 03/19/09

Marcus Thornton: LSU 75, Butler 71
36 min, 10-15 fg, 3-4 3pt, 7-8 ft, 3 off, 6 reb, 4 ast, 1 to, 3 stl, 0 blk, 3 pf, 30 pts

Damion James: Texas 76, Minnesota 62
30 min, 6-15 fg, 2-4 3pt, 4-6 ft, 3 off, 9 reb, 2ast, 1 to, 0 stl, 0 blk, 3 pf, 18 pts

Kyle Singler: Duke 86, Binghamton 62
28 min, 4-11 fg, 2-3 3pt, 0-0 ft, 3 off, 9 reb, 1 ast, 5 to, 0 stl, 1 blk, 3 pf, 10 pts

Gerald Henderson: Duke 86, Binghamton 62
33 min, 3-9 fg, 0-3 3pt, 7-7 ft, 1 off, 6 reb, 3 ast, 3 to, 1 stl, 1 blk, 0 pf, 13 pts

Eric Maynor: UCLA 65, VCU 64
39 min, 5-15 fg, 1-3 3pt, 10-13 ft, 1 off, 6 reb, 7 ast, 2 to, 1 stl, 0 blk, 2 pf, 21 pts

Darren Collison: UCLA 65, VCU 64
32 min, 3-10 fg, 2-5 3pt, 2-2 ft, 0 off, 0 reb, 2 ast, 3 to, 1 stl, 0 blk, 4 pf, 10 pts

Jrue Holiday: UCLA 65, VCU 64
38 min, 5-12 fg, 0-0 3pt, 3-4 ft, 0 off, 1 reb, 6 ast, 2 to, 1 stl, 0 blk, 4 pf, 13 pts

Tyler Hansbrough: North Carolina 101, Radford 58
20 min, 5-16 fg, 0-1 3pt, 12-12 ft, 3 off, 5 reb, 1 ast, 3 to, 4 stl, 0 blk, 1 pf, 22 pts

Wayne Ellington: North Carolina 101, Radford 58
30 min, 11-16 fg, 3-5 3pt, 0-1 ft, 3 off, 8 reb, 3 ast, 3 to, 0 stl, 1 blk, 1 pf, 25 pts

Austin Daye: Gonzaga 77, Akron 64
29 min, 3-5 fg, 0-0 3pt, 4-7 ft, 2 off, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 to, 1 stl, 4 blk, 2 pf, 10 pts

Blake Griffin: Oklahoma 82, Morgan St. 54
31 min, 11-12 fg, 0-0 3pt, 6-10 ft, 2 off, 13 reb, 2 ast, 3 to, 0 stl, 1 blk, 2 pf, 28 pts

Willie Warren: Oklahoma 82, Morgan St. 54
33 min, 5-9 fg, 2-5 3pt, 4-5 ft, 0 off, 4 reb, 4 ast, 2 to, 0 stl, 0 blk, 1 pf, 16 pts

Tyreke Evans: Memphis 81, CSU Northridge 70
26 min, 6-11 fg, 1-4 3pt, 2-4 ft, 0 off, 3 reb, 5 ast, 4 to, 3 stl, 0 blk, 3 pf, 15 pts

Hasheem Thabeet: Connecticut 103, Chattanooga 47
20 min, 6-8 fg, 0-0 3pt, 8-12 ft, 5 off, 13 reb, 0 ast, 1 to, 0 stl, 2 blk, 1 pf, 20 pts

POLL RESULTS: MONTA AND THE VOID

Should the Warriors void Monta Ellis' 6 yr/$66M contract?

Yes: 20 (45%)
NO: 24 (54%)