WARRIORS NOTEBOOK
Ellis turns into dual threat
Janny Hu
Sunday, October 8, 2006


A strained right thigh kept Monta Ellis off the court for the start of
training camp, but it took just one scrimmage for him to show Warriors
coach Don Nelson what all the fuss was about.

Ellis is quick enough to guard anybody. He can make good passes.

"And when the point guard has the ability to score as well," Nelson
said, "That's a really good positive."

That's right. Nelson referred to Ellis as a point guard, even though
Ellis was technically making plays from the two-spot during practice
Friday night. It's an appropriate ambiguity for Ellis, who finds
himself in an interesting, and perhaps unexpected, position this
preseason.

Ellis has always been viewed as the heir apparent to Baron Davis or
Jason Richardson; an Allen Iverson-type guard who doesn't fit neatly
into either the point or shooting guard roles, but is best at simply
making plays.

The arrival of Dajuan Wagner, however, has created new competition.
Nelson sneaks Wagner's name into conversations about Ellis and is
treating the two as similar assets.

Both are off-guards who need to learn the point to become stars in the
league. Both have shown the passing ability Nelson plans to cultivate.
Both will have to defend opposing point guards no matter where they set
up offensively.

"Whatever position I need to play," Ellis said, "I can play."

Ellis is anticipating a big, consistent year from himself after working
on "everything" this summer. He says he focused on his left hand
because he expects team to play him in that direction.

Since Davis and Mike Dunleavy will be the primary ballhandlers, Ellis
sees no problem in spotting them. He said the actual in-game duties
will depend on who is closest to the play on the defensive end.

For example, if he's closer to the rebound than Davis, he'll push the
ball up and initiate the offense. If Davis is closer, Ellis becomes a
runner and has his route to follow.

How well he does both will determine his playing time in a crowded
backcourt that includes Davis, Richardson, Wagner and Mickael Pietrus
-- even if Nelson uses three at a time.

Briefly: Today marks the last of the Warriors' scheduled two-a-day
practices before Thursday's exhibition opener against Turkish club Efes
Pilsen. ... Nelson began installing his defensive rotations Thursday
and added zones Saturday. Though he has implemented twice as much of
his game strategy as he thought he would, Nelson said no new additions
are likely for the next month or two.

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