It's the opportunity of a career for the Warriors' Marcus Williams. Does he realize it?

September 3, 4:54 PMGolden State Warriors ExaminerMatt Steinmetz

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Opportunity of career falls into Williams' lap

We’re going to find out an awful lot about Marcus Williams on the first day of training camp.

Like on media day.

That’s when the Warriors introduce their players to the media for the 2008-09 season. It will be sometime late in September. The players show up, read promos, get photographed, conduct interviews, etc., and do it all in their game unis.

If Williams doesn’t look like he’s in good shape on that day, it’s going to be wholly disappointing and a very bad omen for the Warriors heading into training camp.

And it's already been a long, hot offseason summer.

Now that Monta Ellis will be missing the first portion of the season because of who knows what, Williams has a point guard’s dream scenario in front of him.
 

How many games will Monta Ellis miss?

Forget getting something handed to you on a silver platter. This one’s gold. He’s been struck by two pieces of professional good fortune, and should be the envy of many a player around the league.

Earlier this summer the Warriors got Williams out from under the obtrusive and half-court hand of coach Lawrence Frank in New Jersey.

Automatically he went from playing for one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league to the highest. That was going to help, regardless.

Williams played tentative under Frank and was said to be always looking over his shoulder at the coach. In Golden State, Williams might get fined for that. 

Lawrence Frank: not a lover of uptempo

On top of it, he just found out that because of injury he’s going to be put in charge of this potent offense to the tune of 35 minutes or so a game _ assuming he can handle it.

He's always wanted more time and now he gets it. Problem is, conditioning issues have dogged Williams throughout his career. And rightfully so.

That doesn’t matter anymore, if he can figure it out here.

Hopefully Williams got to work in early July, right after he learned he was going to the Warriors. But even if he’s been slacking a bit, he’s got a good four weeks to get it together.

He’s got the type of opportunity most point guards dream about.

We’ll know on Day 1 of training camp _ with one look at his body _ whether he realizes it or not.