3-on-3: Thoughts From Thunder-Warriors

AP Photo/Paul Sakuma

After watching Monta Ellis light up the Thunder for 48 points in a thrilling but heartbreaking Golden State loss, the Warriors World staff came together to answer a few questions about the Dubs.

1. Can we expect Stephen Curry to ever evolve into an elite level point guard playing next to Monta Ellis?

J.M. Poulard, Warriors World: I have been one of the biggest supporters of the Curry-Ellis tandem but as this season unfolds, it seems as though both players are unable to find a perfect balance. Far too often, Curry defers to his backcourt mate and encourages him to hijack the offense while he goes and positions himself on the weak side of the court with the hope of receiving a pass for an open look.

Curry has proven that he is more than capable of scoring and setting up his teammates especially in the pick-and-roll; mind you those scenarios only happen when Monta goes to the bench or when he takes a breather on the court. The best example of this came last night against the Thunder; Curry essentially turned the OKC defense into a matador thanks in large part to the screen-and-roll action with David Lee in the third quarter.

The Davidson product picked apart the Thunder and Brooks’ unit never really figured out how to stop them. And yet, in the fourth quarter with the game hanging in the balance, the Warriors chose to repeatedly isolate Monta Ellis on the wing instead of putting the ball in Curry’s hands to play a two-man game with Lee where Ellis could play off the ball and finish on the catch (Lee routinely found Monta on the move).

Thus, I’m not sure Curry will ever evolve into an elite guard paired up next to Monta.

Jordan Ramirez, Warriors World: I don’t believe Curry can become an elite level point guard with or without Ellis. Curry at times shows flashes of brilliance and grace on the floor, but they are often overshadowed by costly turnovers and bad defensive play. There’s no doubt Curry is a gifted shooter, but his size and inconsistency have hindered him up to this point. He just doesn’t have the physical gifts like a Kyrie Irving, Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose or Chris Paul has. Obviously those are the ultimate examples, but this who we have to mention when we throw around the word “elite.” To be fair, Curry hasn’t exactly had championship caliber pieces around him his first three seasons, but in his third season you would expect to see signs of growth and maturity no matter who your teammates are. We haven’t seen that from him. I’m not even going to talk about the ankle issues…

Rasheed Malek, Warriors World: No, because that would mean Monta has to take a backseat to Steph and we all know that isn’t happening anytime soon. In a perfect world, Steph has the ball in his hands the majority of the game allowing Monta to play off the ball, come off screens and score but we will never see that happening.

2. Who was the best player on the court during last night’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors?

J.M. Poulard: Monta Ellis was a raging inferno with 48 points last night, David Lee played one of the best games of his career with a triple-double and Stephen Curry was masterful a point guard when actually ran the offense. Despite all of the big nights from Warriors players, there is still a reason that they were unable to close out such a tight game at home: the best player was on the other team.

Kevin Durant scored 33 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished off for seven assists and yet the numbers still fail to tell the whole story.

KD started the game off a little slow but he became completely unguardable in the second half. Indeed, he flashed off a beautiful crossover as well as an emerging post game last night against the Warriors that allowed him to essentially get any shot he wanted. The Dubs tried to force him into tough shots, but for the most part Durant was able to dictate when and where he would get to his preferred spots in the fourth quarter as he set up shop in the pinch post against Dorell Wright.

He was a presence on the boards and willingly gave up the ball to the likes of James Harden and Daquean Cook for open looks from 3-point range; but when the game needed to be decided, KD consistently took high percentage shots from below the foul line while Dubs players seem confused as to where to get their shots from.

Jordan Ramirez: Ellis was the best player on the floor last night. In a game where defense was an afterthought, he was the greatest offensive force on the floor. We’ve seen Ellis go HAM before, but not quite to this extent. He was playing with a certain passion last night that is a welcome sight from a 8-14 Warriors squad. Sure he shouldn’t have shot the three when trailing by only one, but I put that on David Lee, who passed back to Ellis when a 6’5′ James Harden was his only obstacle in the paint. It’s clear Ellis is one of the most talented scorers and finishers in the NBA, it’s just a shame he doesn’t get the exposure he deserves.

Rasheed Malek: Kevin Durant. Durant hit clutch shots and led his team to a win. Not to mention he dropped 33 points rather easily.

3. The Warriors’ backcourt is obviously their biggest strength and yet they struggle to execute late in games. What gives?

J.M. Poulard: The guards are to blame in this one: all three of them. Mark Jackson, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry are far too content with putting the ball in the hands of Monta late in games in isolation situations instead of running their normal offense or simply going with the strategy that was successful throughout the game.

Last night was a clear cut example of this. Stephen Curry was nearly impossible to stop or trap coming off screens, while Monta Ellis was able to score the ball three times right at the rim thanks to passes from teammates when he actually decided to play off the ball (very rare occasions). Hence, the Dubs could have altered their strategy and put the ball in the hands of Curry and ask him to direct traffic late. Instead, the Warriors stuck to their same redundant strategy that seems to work a mere handful of times each season. As odd as this may sound, Golden State has the same crunch time issues as the Miami Heat; they have the talent to execute late in games but just chose not to.

Jordan Ramirez: I put this on Mark Jackson. With two gifted (albeit small) scorers in the backcourt you would think coach would find some plays to free them up in end of game situations. Yet, when that situation comes up, everyone and their mother knows what’s coming: an Ellis isolation at the top of the key. The last two possessions last night, where the game was indeed in the balance, the ball ended up in the hands of David Lee and Brandon Rush. On the Lee possession, Ellis was forced to put up a contested three. On the final possession, Rush was put into a nearly impossible spot with the ball coming to him in the corner, 1.1 seconds on the clock and a 6’9′ Kevin Durant in his face. It’s a young team, but Warriors fans have become far too accustomed to these late game failures. Jackson will learn from these mistakes, but the process is disheartening.

Rasheed Malek : Lack of ball movement, bad decision making and no clutch genes in the main players. Monta, Steph and David Lee all are atrocious in the final two minutes of games which is the reason why the Warriors often fail in close games. If your best players can’t step it up when it counts, you’re  not going to win, plain and simple.