Things weren’t always so peachy for the Golden State Warriors. There was a time not too long ago when losing followed the organization around like a bad stench.
They’ve always been a team who played an attractive style of basketball but who cares when that losing stigma is attached to your team. Well that all changed when the Warriors brought in new minds with a new vision to run the team and they moved quickly to get rid of the dead weight.
That brings me to Monta Ellis, who for so long was the poster boy for those losing Warriors teams and the first chance general manager Bob Myers got, he traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks for a much-needed big man in Andrew Bogut and to open up playing time for Klay Thompson.
It’s a move that is paying off for the Warriors right now, as both both players are important cogs for a team that for the most part has dominated the formidable San Antonio Spurs in their playoff series.
And according to Pro Basketball Talk, Warriors coach Mark Jackson told NBA.com, that the Ellis trade was the move that help start his team’s resurgence.
“It helped change the culture. Obviously it was easier to pull the trigger because we knew what we had in Klay and it was time for him to be a starting two-guard. And he does everything right.”
How did that trade change the culture? Jackson paused four seconds.
“It helped change the culture,” he finally said.
Anything specific?
“You know.”
There’s no denying Ellis’ talent, he can score with the best of them, but Jackson’s comments are an indictment of his negative presence on a team trying to win.