Monta Ellis was a surprise visitor to Warriors practice on Friday morning, greeting teammates and coaches and walking around the facility with a ball under his arm for much of the time.
What is most important for the Warriors’ organization and its fans, though, is what Ellis didn’t seem to have:
A limp.
That’s right. He was moving around pretty well.
Ellis, who injured his left ankle in a moped accident in September, had a little bounce in his step around the facility. He didn't seem to be favoring the injury at all.
After sustaining the injury, Ellis had to get around in a rolling walker. From there he graduated to a boot and crutches.
And now, he's getting around on his own.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Ellis is expected to have surgery on Wednesday to remove the screws that remain in his surgically repaired ankle.
Ellis’ agent, Jeff Fried, expects his client to get back out onto the court sometime around Thanksgiving week.
Ellis, who is serving a 30-game suspension and can't return until mid-December regardless, didn’t address the media.
But it must be considered a positive that Ellis was at the facility and that he was talking and joking among teammates ... any kind of grievance notwithstanding.
Said coach Don Nelson: “Yeah, it was good to see old Monta … or make that young Monta.”
When asked how Ellis will help the Warriors upon his return, Nelson said the team will obviously become better in transition because Ellis is the team’s fastest player.
Nelson also said that the Warriors’ halfcourt offense will likely improve also because Ellis is the team’s best screen-and-roll player along with Stephen Jackson.
Without Baron Davis, who was the best Warriors' screen-and-roll player a year ago, and Ellis the Warriors haven't run nearly as much of that in the halfcourt.
ALSO: DeMarcus Nelson sent to D-League.
Comments
Good to see Monta moving around. A question about harrington trade. doesn't want to play for Nellie and Maggette doesn't really fit Nellie's style of play.
Do we really need Maggette? Could we package him and Al? I'm not a fan of Marbury, but send Al & Maggette to the knicks and Marbury comes off the cap next season. Seems like we will have a pretty down year anyway, that puts us in a better place to get a top notch free agent to go with the core we have.
Or package both as part of a 3 team deal. Who would you want to see added? I'd like to see some of the young guys we have play if this year the way things look.
Once Monta gets back, what would the line up look like without Al?
mark. i was thinking the same thing. al and maggette for someone... marbury would work if knicks don't buy him out. of course they lose cap space, so probly wouldn't do it. i hope someone's working on a deal like that though.
Baron was the warriors best screen and roll player last year? I don't know if i agree with that.
Baron WAS: the best point guard on the controlled fast break. The best passer in general. The best ball handler. The best post up player. The Best on the ball defender against most 1s and 2s.
BUT was he the best pick and roll player? I think of Jack-Biedrins or Monta-Biedrins as the most effective pick and roll combos. Or i think back to the game against phoenix where Monta scored 15 strait in the 4th quarter, he was running the 2 man game with Baron, but Baron was off the ball.
any thoughts?
Isaac: I should have been more specific, but Nelson said that's what he thought (that Baron was the best). I don't disagree with him there.
Good to see Monta moving around. A question about harrington trade. doesn't want to play for Nellie and Maggette doesn't really fit Nellie's style of play.
Do we really need Maggette? Could we package him and Al? I'm not a fan of Marbury, but send Al & Maggette to the knicks and Marbury comes off the cap next season. Seems like we will have a pretty down year anyway, that puts us in a better place to get a top notch free agent to go with the core we have.
Or package both as part of a 3 team deal. Who would you want to see added? I'd like to see some of the young guys we have play if this year the way things look.
Once Monta gets back, what would the line up look like without Al?
Great get, this video. He looks quite spry and the mood seems to be upbeat too. Thanks for making my day, I've been bummed about this situation since the news first broke. This is the first positive development since we learned about the moped mishap. Enjoy your work, on TV and online. Keep it up!
Monta really can't come back too soon. OK, I guess he could, given the healing and suspension he still has to undergo, but when he's back for the dubs, it won't be a game too soon.
My real question: where can I get one of those giant foam faux defender figures? That thing is hilarious.
Whoever is coming . . . it MUST be a big name . . . Marbury? Could one team have THAT much bad luck? They cleared 2 places & MW was playing like a zombie last night ... unless MW is going, too . . .who would demoralize MW? VINCE CARTER - JASON KIDD - it's NOT Carter . . .
Marks idea seems pretty tempting at this point.
Michael Redd and Charlie Villanueva? Who is available at Al's pay/value level? Has to be someone else involved - if MW knew that he was going somewhere, he'd have been on fire last night . . . I have a really bad feeling that Monta's days as a Warrior are numbered - - - who could they get for Monta and Al? ? ? Dallas is in the crapper . . . Donnie works at Dallas . . . remember Nellie benching Baron for the 2nd half last yr. in a must-win-to-beat-out-Dallas-for-the- last-playoff-spot-in-the-Western Div. - - - Mpnta & Al for Kidd & Howard ? ? ?
Why does he seem mad at the end?
He's not mad. He's nervous and he's in pain (accidentally walked out the doo)—he's putting on a face. As much as I'd love to see him on the court, he needs to get another medical opinion if he's going to practice one week after they take out the screws. My experience w/ Cal's athletics doc was team first, player third. I can only imagine the pressures are worse in the pros.
He needs to listen to his ankle, not his agent nor his coaches, and proceed VERY cautiously. Inflammation and pain portend scar tissue, which will ruin his ability, long term.
"doo" = door
Very good observation, N - - - scar tissue, calcification, adhesions . . . we really won't have a realistic idea how he is doing until after the screws come out and the stability of the repaired joint can be tested.
Very good observation, N - - - scar tissue, calcification, adhesions . . . we really won't have a realistic idea how he is doing until after the screws come out and the stability of the repaired joint can be tested.
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