SB Nation - Monta Ellis

Is That Andris Biedrins In The Back Of That Car?

Shmuckreport — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 16:54:02 -0000

The folks over at Deadspin are always on top of the latest developments when it comes to professional athletes and scandal, and unfortunately for Golden State Warriors center Andris Biedrins, they were paying attention to him too.

Deadspin has gotten hold of some very incriminating photographs of what appears to be the Latvian big man getting some, shall we say, 'special attention' in the back seat of car from a very nice lady recently. Not exactly what the Warriors needed right now.

The timing for this to occur certainly isn't good for the W's, who recently settled on a sexual harrasment case with former player Monta Ellis, as well as currently dealing with an extorsion scandal with head coach Mark Jackson over an extra-marital affair.

Hopefully it comes out that this indeed is just a Biedrins doppleganger having himself a night on the town. But things like the little Jordan show hanging form the rear view mirror certainly isn't going to help the mans case. Neither is his face that looks strikingly like Biedrins.

But lets get some perspective on all this, shall we?

Per Ray Ratto on Twitter:

If Biedrins photos are as they are purported to be, Warriors didn't try "absolutely everything" to make him a good free throw shooter
— Ray Ratto (@RattoCSN) July 6, 2012

No, they certainly didn't.

For more on the Warriors, head over to Golden State of Mind.

WSU Alumnus Klay Thompson Making Strong Push For NBA Rookie of the Year

Shmuckreport — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:56:54 -0000

Washington State alumnus Klay Thompson has been immersed in the game since he was born, spending much of his childhood in and around the NBA along with his father, Mychal Thompson, the No. 1 overall pick by the Portland Trailblazers in the 1978 NBA draft.

Now as part of the Golden State Warriors, Thompson has been making the most of his time after getting starters minutes with the trade of Monta Ellis, and now is making a strong push for rookie of the year honors with his tremendous play the second half of the season.

Thompson led the Pac-10 last season with 21.6 points per game as a junior at Washington State, alongwith 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Now as part of the Warriors, he's been dropping 18.3 points per game since Ellis went to Milwaukee, shooting 44 percent from the floor and 42 percent from downtown to boot.

He's known to be a quiet guy, causing some to assume that he's a timid ball player. But as head coach Mark Jackson will tell us, it's quite the opposite.

"The guy is not afraid, Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "He thinks he's the baddest dude in the gym. He's a silent assassin."

Cleveland's Kyrie Irving is seen as the frontrunner for the award, while Sacramento's Isaiah Thomas (former Washington Husky standout) is also seen as leading candidate. Minnesota's Ricky Rubio was as well, though his season-ending knee injury will likely hinder his chances greatly.

For more on the Warriors head over to Golden State of Mind. For more on the Cougars, check out Coug Center.

Andrew Bogut Sports Illustrated Interview

Avinash Kunnath — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:51:13 -0000

The Milwaukee Bucks moved on from Andrew Bogut when they traded him to the Golden State Warriors this offseason. Bogut has been injured too often during his tenure to be considered a consistent performer, so the Bucks seemed willing to move on and try something new, grabbing Warriors guard Monta Ellis in the deal.

Now Bogut has to acclimate to a new environment in the Bay Area with a Warriors team that's wanted a good center for a long time. Bogut talked with Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated and provided a very candid interview. You can view an excerpt of it after the jump.

SI.com: How has this whole whirlwind been for you? You're familiar with hype from having been a former No. 1 pick. But this is a team where the fan base has been dying for a winner for a long time and you just got thrown on that hot seat in terms of being the guy. What has it been like?

Bogut: Well, first of all, it's a fresh start for me. These days, to be seven years in one spot in any pro sport is a pretty long tenure. But it has been a whirlwind. I got the call Tuesday night, packed my bags Wednesday morning, was here Wednesday night, went through all the physicals and have been here ever since.

I know NBA history pretty well, so I know a lot about the [Chris] Mullin, [Tim] Hardaway era -- Run TMC with Mitch Richmond and so on. I was a kid during all that. Obviously, I didn't know the history to the point of one playoff appearance in I think it's 16 or 17 years. That was all brought to my attention. I know Monta was a fan favorite, so a lot of people were disappointed to see him go. But in this league, I know you've got to give up something to get something, so hopefully I can be that guy to help us get back to the playoffs.

To view the full interview, click here for the full feature from Sports Illustrated.

To discuss the trade for Bogut and how good it'll be for the Warriors to have a healthy big man, hit up Golden State of Mind. To discuss what Bogut was like during his tenure in Milwaukee, check out Brew Hoop.

VIDEO: Warriors Fans Boo Owner During Chris Mullin Ceremony

Tom Ziller — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:00:43 -0000

Fans of the Golden State Warriors paid tribute to Chris Mullin last night, giving the legend roaring ovations as the franchise (finally) retired his No. 17 jersey in a halftime ceremony. Well, the fans gave up roaring ovations ... until team owner Joe Lacob took the mic. Then the fans gave up roaring disapproval.

As Golden State Of Mind puts it, this became the night that Oracle Arena turned into the Colosseum.

Via SB Nation Bay Area, here's a long video of the incredibly awkward scene:

I can't decide if this makes me like Warriors fans more, or makes me like Warriors fans the most. Here's the context: Monta Ellis was an incredible fan favorite, and Bay Area fans have spent the last four years pretty much only being able to cheer for him as the team remains stuck in the muck. The Warriors traded him for Andrew Bogut last week. Bogut isn't expected to suit up for the rest of the season, and Stephen Curry will likely also stay out, creating an impressive, irrefutable tank job atmosphere.

Paying fans don't tend to like to watch tank jobs in action.

That's the context of Lacob's appearance: he's the jackal who just traded their best player for a guy who will remain in the infirmary for the balance of the season. So they booed. And they booed. And they booed. Lacob decided to give them the pleasure of throwing him off his script, and tried to squelch by reminding them that they'd already said these were the best fans in the world. You know what? They were proving it. Warriors fans are great because they don't entirely care about context or couth, about authority or fate. If they did, they would have abandoned the broken franchise two decades ago. But they've stayed in their seats, they've remained loud, they've made sure we all know that they are there.

Lacob played right into it by so obviously being bothered by the boos. That he needed Mullin and then Rick Barry (!) to rescue him only added fuel. (Note that Mullin, who was a former Warriors executive run out of town at least in part by the GM who pulled the trigger on the Monta trade, Larry Riley, defended the trade better than anyone in Oakland has in the past week.) You know when a hotheaded player on the opposing team shows some visible aggravation, and the fans prey on that and try to exacerbate the frustration? That's exactly what Warriors fans did to Lacob. They booed, they saw it bothered him and they went for blood. And they got it.

Of course, it marred Mullin's ceremony, which should have been the only thing fans remembered from the night. There was one way to avoid all of this: Joe Lacob could have opted not to speak. He knew the trade was unpopular. He knew the wounds were still fresh. He knew Warriors fans are loud. He's owned the team for 18 months. Who cares what he has to say about Mullin's legacy? He could have let the others do the talking, handed the plaque and led the countdown for the jersey unveiling. Only by inserting himself into the proceeding -- as is his right as the bankroll of this operation -- did he allow the situation to play out as it did.

Oh well. I'm sure Rick Barry is still personally beating up booing fans. You'll notice that he disappeared into the crowd after telling Warriors fans that "this is crazy."

Dear NBA team owners: your fans' default setting is angry. Adjust your gloryhound strategy accordingly.

Chris Mullin Retirement Ceremony: Warriors Fans Boo Their Owner, Rick Barry Gets Mad [VIDEO]

Avinash Kunnath — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 05:53:33 -0000

The Golden State Warriors have experienced decades upon decades of disappointment from their ownership, particularly during the atrocious Chris Cohan era. The fans of the team have seen so much misfortune during their time and other than a brief spark, almost no playoff runs to count for it, and just plenty of pent-up frustration. The recent (and unpopular) Monta Ellis trade probably did nothing to alleviate matters.

The frustration boiled over during the Chris Mullin retirement ceremony when new owner Joe Lacob stepped up to the podium and addressed the crowd. The result was not pleasant for anyone, and leads to Rick Barry going madhouse on the fans. Fun times up in Oakland right now.

JOE LACOB BOOED AT CHRIS MULLIN JERSEY RETIREMENT CEREMONY (via RadioLund)

Obviously it's sad to see Golden State fans reduced to this during a ceremony for one of their greatest, but hopefully it can serve to remind all involved that these guys have had to put up with a lot, and the Warriors need a lot of healing as a franchise if situations like these occur.

To discuss the Mullin retirement ceremony with Warriors fans, check out Golden State of Mind.

TV Schedule, March 14: Celtics Face New-Look Warriors; Vermont Battles Lamar As NCAA Tournament Begins

Gethin Coolbaugh — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:00:38 -0000

Wednesday's TV schedule, complete with channels and times, customized for the Boston sports fan. Click on highlighted teams' names for complete schedules, scores, and previews, plus an active community devoted to your team. All times ET and approximate.

National Basketball Association

Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors - 10:30 p.m. (TV/Radio: CSNNE/WEEI): Don't look now, because the Warriors are a completely different team after Tuesday's trade. Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown (yes, he still plays basketball) are no longer on the roster after that trade that landed an injured Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson. But the show must go on, and the Warriors still have to face the Celtics. How will Golden State respond? We shall see.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Indiana Pacers, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)
Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

NCAA Tournament 2012 (First Round)

Vermont Catamounts vs. Lamar Cardinals - 6:30 p.m. (truTV): Vermont, winner of the 2012 America East Tournament, kicks off the 2012 NCAA Tournament with a play-in game against Lamar. The winner will take on the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season champion North Carolina Tar Heels in the second round (but really the first round).
South Florida Bulls vs. California Golden Bears, 9:00 p.m. (truTV)

More sports on TV Wednesday after the jump.

National Invitation Tournament 2012 (First Round)

Minnesota Golden Gophers Vs. La Salle Explorers, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

Valparaiso Crusaders vs. Miami Hurricanes, 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Bucknell Bison vs. Arizona Wildcats, 9:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

Illinois St. Redbirds vs. Mississippi Rebels, 9:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

National Hockey League

Colorado Avalanche vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)

Let The Monta Ellis To The Atlanta Hawks Trade Rumors Commence, Again

edthesportsfan — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:02:34 -0000

Its that time of year again, where personnel moves are gossiped about like pre-teens do in middle school. The NBA trade deadline is approaching (March 15th) and salacious trade rumors will fly across the internet, radio and television in ways that could make any fan's head spin. Of course, this would only be an issue if many of us didn't enjoy the rumor mill as much as we did.

So...how do you feel about Monta Ellis becoming a member of the Atlanta Hawks?

The Atlanta Hawks have always been ripe for potential trades by other teams, and with most desirable commodities being Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, a top-notch asset would have to be considered in return to the Hawks. Rusty Simmons of SFGate.com speculated Golden State's interest in Joe Johnson, with a swap of Monta Ellis. Would this trade really help Atlanta? I'll let the folks at Peachtree Hoops analyze it.

Jason Walker, Peachtree Hoops: It's not going to be 'are you tired of trade talk?' because I know the answer, and it won't matter until the trade deadline passes March 15.

No, the question is how you regard Ellis, who is an explosive scorer, but does lack on the defensive end. Now, balance that regard against the stunning financial commitment still due Joe and the fact that Ellis will likely terminate his contract after 2 years. Would you do it?

And what would you want from the Warriors if Rick Sund was determined to deal Smoove?

Josh Smith has been on a tear as of late, and with Horford out for the season, it seems that "Smoove" would be off-limits. Of course, I'm not the general manager, and Rick Sund could always pull a trick out of his sleeve.

For more insights and commentary on the Atlanta Hawks, check out Peachtree Hoops. For more news and notes on the NBA, head over to SB Nation's NBA page.

VIDEO: Alvin Gentry Epic Postgame Rant Complete With Podium Fist Slam

Seth Pollack — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:42:03 -0000

The Phoenix Suns lost to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night thanks to a buzzer-beating hero shot from Monta Ellis. It was the stuff of legends.

But who cares about that?

There were bigger shots Wednesday night in more important games that even inspired this oh-so-cute dance from everyone's favorite Spanish point guard.

Ellis' game-winner in Phoenix, however, was followed by something far more rare and at least equally entertaining: The Postgame Coach Rant.

Courtesy of SB Nation Arizona, we bring you one very mad Alvin Gentry.

Not shown on the video is this choice quote:

"I'm disgusted. I'm disgusted with the way we played. I'm disgusted we had the chance to end the break on something really upbeat and positive and instead, we just walked through the first f**king ten minutes of the game."

By the way, Gentry isn't mad about the Ellis shot. He's fuming about the Suns giving up 39 points in the first quarter where they played like a team that already had begun their seven-day All-Star break.

For more on the Phoenix Suns, visit Bright Side of the Sun.

Monta Ellis Insane Game Winner For Warriors Vs. Suns [VIDEO]

Avinash Kunnath — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:55:35 -0000

Monta Ellis had never beaten the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix before tonight's game. It sure seemed as if he was determined to do something about it with his fourth quarter performance.

With Stephen Curry and Ekpe Udoh both hurting themselves earlier and Golden State blowing a decent lead in the second half, Ellis was determined to finish this one right. Ellis drew excellent Suns defender Grant Hill, who was determined to not let Ellis drive past him and to the basket.

So Ellis had to do something slightly more insane. How about a stop, spin turnaround jumper off the wrong foot?

Check out the video of the play after the jump.

Warriors Vs Suns - Monta Elli's Game Winner Fadeaway - (22-2-2012) (via FunkyAxel11)

Yeah, it's going to be pretty hard for anyone to defend that. Tip your cap to Ellis for having the skill to do that.

To talk about Ellis and the Warriors, head on over to Golden State of Mind.

Monta Ellis on Jeremy Lin: 'He Fell Into A Better Situation' [VIDEO]

Shmuckreport — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:41:33 -0000

Monta Ellis spent a whole year with Jeremy Lin when he was a Golden State Warriors, getting to see just what the budding superstar is like and who is really is on he inside )aside from a cold-blooded winning machine.) And when recently asked at a Warriors practice, Monta (obviously) had nothing but terrific things to day about the kid.

Monta talks about Lin's improvement as a player since he's been with the Warriors, especially his jump shot. Improvement is something that GM Larry Riley was also adamant about regarding Lin's recent success; he put in the work to become successful, and shouldn't be overlooked. Monta agrees:

For more in depth discussion and analysis of the Golden State Warriors, make sure to check out Golden State of Mind to get in on the action and show of your fanhood. To discuss the Linsainty happening out in the Big Apple, head over to Posting and Toasting, the talk some Knicks.