Monta Ellis' return will mean more pick-and-roll, less isolation for Warriors (thank goodness)

November 28, 3:16 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Monta Ellis: Will change Warriors offense 

When you take a look at the Warriors tonight against the Cavaliers in Cleveland, take a look at how they're scoring.

What you are likely to find is they score a lot on isolation, kind of another way of saying one-on-one.

That's not necessarily a bad thing if you have a clear matchup advantage at a position or two.

No surprise -- when the matchups aren't there, isolation tends to not work as well.

It could be a very tough slog of "isolation" basketball through the next few weeks or month or six weeks or whatever it is before Monta Ellis comes back.

With all due respect to living in the present, it's more preferable thinking of the future and Ellis running the team compared with the current offensive free-for-all.

Is the Stephen Jackson-Corey Maggette-Jamal Crawford trio capable of putting it together in a hurry and starting the Warriors' slow climb back to .500? ...

Let's take a look ahead at Ellis return, shall we?

When Ellis comes back the Warriors should be more efficient and better in the halfcourt because they'll go from an isolation team to a pick-and-roll team.

And that's what they've been the past few years. That's what the Warriors were with Baron Davis and that's what they'll return to with Ellis.

And to a lesser degree, with Jackson and Crawford.

Ellis is the team's best pick-and-roll player, and yes, better than Jackson. The mere fact Ellis shoots 10 percentage points higher gives him that title.

As good as center Andris Biedrins has been this season -- despite a level-off on this road trip -- he should get a boost upon Ellis' return. One more player to spoon-feed him.

In addition, the pick-and-roll naturally gets two players involved and a third gets involved in a hurry if something doesn't hit quick.

That beats the current hold it ... wait ... survey ... wait some more and make your move.

Ellis' return should also facilitate a desperately needed pecking order.

When Ellis runs the pick and roll, he'll be option No. 1, and if Biedrins is there, he'll hit him.

But if Ellis has nothing then it's up to Jackson, Crawford and Maggette to figure it out.

You would think Jackson would get first crack at it after Ellis but how is that going to go over?

Wait, we're getting ahead of ourselves. First Ellis has to return.

Still, when you see the basketball dying a slow death in various Warriors hands tonight in Cleveland, just know that it should move around a little better when Ellis comes back.