Is This A Starting Backcourt?

by onlxn on Jul 9, 2008 11:39 AM PDT

This is admittedly jumping the gun, but jumping the gun is all we can do right now. And I'm reacting specifically to what Pree has been saying -- that the team's looking to move Al for PG/C help, but not necessarily expecting to get a starter-quality player out of that. It seems like our starting backcourt may already be in place.

There's an increasing sense that the team is planning on moving forward with Monta at the point, at least for this season. I think that's frankly a great call. Monta's a very good, very promising young player... but the only way he becomes a GREAT player in this league is if he can hang as a point guard. He's just too small to defend at the 2, and while he obviously scores pretty decently against the shooting guards of other teams, with his speed and elevation on his jumpers, I think he's an even tougher matchup for opposing points. In a year that's unlikely to produce a playoff spot, this is absolutely a worthwhile experiment.

But two questions immediately arise: 1) how can Monta actually distribute enough for the team to function, and 2) who's our starting shooting guard?

I think we have a surprisingly good answer to both question, and the answer's the same for both: Stephen Jackson.

Jack averaged 4.1 assists last year, which is actually more than Monta. He spent a lot time covering 2s, and did it well. As a semi-credible post-up option, he's arguably a tougher matchup for opposing defenses as a 2 than a 3. He's an absolutely dreadful rebounder for his size... we'd cover that up more easily if we kept him in the backcourt. His good citizenship this past season aside, I don't think many teams would be excited about trading for him... he's worth more to us than to anyone else.

It looks like our starting backcourt may be Monta Ellis and Stephen Jackson. And maybe I'm crazy, but that's looking better and better to me.

By splitting playmaking duties, I think they'd be able to run the offense. There's certainly no shortage of scoring ability there, and Monta's defensive deficiencies would be well-addressed by this. The biggest downside is the risk of faster 2s just running by Jack to the hoop, but in Biedrins, Wright and now Turiaf, we have some pretty good bail-out defense down low. I honestly think Jack might be more valuable as an oversized 2 than as the 3 he was last year.

The team's still not aligned properly... there are frontcourt questions, the usual defense & rebounding questions, and depth questions. Maybe I'm totally off-base here and we'll trade for a PG after all, and this alignment will never happen.

But there's a chance that Monta and Jackson will form our starting backcourt this fall. And for this one, transitional season, I'd be pretty interested in seeing that happen.

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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I agree. I think Monte’s speed makes him idea to run the break because he’s such a threat to run past everyone. I think they’ll list him as PG in sort of an Iverson way.

In more of a set offense, Jackson is probably better suited to start the offense; either with a superior entry pass or starting a pick-and-roll with Biedrins. If he starts the offense form the top of the key, he adds the threat of stepping back and shooting a three, which will force teams to play him tight.

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by Goofus on Jul 9, 2008 11:47 AM PDT reply actions

i'm trying to think of a good example

of a team that splits point guard duties. it’s interesting though, and i like the idea a lot more than just monta learning on the fly and running the entire offense on his own. i’ve talked a lot about how i didn’t want monta to be forced into the point guard spot, but if we just split up the duties with him and jax (something that jax would love and might keep him happy), it could work out.

example came to me: mj’s bulls did it, scottie and whoever played the traditional 1 both ran that offense. that was with the triangle, and don’t know if it works with the track meet we run, but monta is a better fast break guy than bj armstrong et al. of course, no mj on the dubs either.

the key would be to turn the warriors into a hectic passing team with no focal point from a slash and kick with an obvious focal point (boom), in the halfcourt. with the right chemistry it could work. i might be able to talk myself into “monta ellis, point guard” if jax can help out in a substantial way.

by cap'n hack on Jul 9, 2008 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

exactly

The one thing that’d make it really workable would be a big man who was also skilled at moving the ball… a Vlade, or going back further, an Anthony Mason. We’re currently looking at a Maggette/Wright/Biedrins frontcourt—not too much passing acumen there. That might make it tough.

But however they do it, I hope the team tries Monta at the point this year. His being able to carry that position would be a bigger benefit to the franchise than any signing we could make.

by onlxn on Jul 9, 2008 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I think

Monta at the point is a little like Tony parker. He scores and he won’t be going for 10 assists every night but he will get the job done. He still has plenty of time to improve his ball handling and all that good stuff, but he will suceed.

by boomdizzleness on Jul 9, 2008 12:53 PM PDT reply actions

GREAT BACKCOURT

this is perfect for so many reasons. jackson can guard the bigger guard while monta can poorly guard the smaller one. jackson wont have to play out of his natural position at the 2 and be forced to play the 3 or 4 where hes undersized

as important as baron was to this team, we dont need him anymore. let jack and monta play as guards so that we can get wright and maggette their time as forwards…

if we sign someone stupid like heinrich everyone will be shifted down. jackson wont be able to play SG which means he will be a forward and Brandon Wright, the player who everyone on this board says they want to see get more PT, will be left without a spot

by 3Kings650 on Jul 9, 2008 1:59 PM PDT reply actions