How Do Curry and Ellis Impact The Warriors Now, and in The Future?

The Warriors are in transition, in more ways than one. This year has been very trying on the patience of loyal Warriors fans, which has been a pretty consistent theme the last 15 years or so. Golden State is stockpiled with much young talent, though the majority of this talent is untested and unproven. As has been the case the last few years, the Warriors have pieces to the puzzle that need identifying in terms of longevity with the team, and in the best interest of the team as well.

Looking back at the 2007 playoff team, the following season of 2008 that had a team with almost fifty wins, and last season's mediocre finish also; Monte Ellis has been the one player most Warrior fans were in agreement on regarding value and potential. Monte was just coming in to his own on the court, and his unfortunate accident off the court and lost time on the court notwithstanding; he has been held in high esteem by Warriors fans as a player worthy of star status and a talent in need of being in the organization for a long time.

Fast forward to today and times seemingly have changed as this 2009-2010 season has unfolded. While there is no denying Monte is a very talented player, capable of scoring 25+ points a game on any given night; the question in need of being asked now is "can Monte make the Warriors a better team night in and night out?"

Stephen Curry has pleasantly surprised and impressed many fans, coaches, players, and general managers alike with his stellar play and overall understanding of the game. His ability to drive the lane, draw defenders, and dish the ball to his teammates for an easy bucket has been a joy to watch. His court awareness is mature beyond his years, and the accolades being lauded upon him from his peers and evaluators around the league has made him a leading candidate for Rookie of The Year honors.

Along with his outstanding court knowledge, mastery of the fundamentals, and poise during the games, Curry has shown that his ability to score includes an arsenal of creative moves and shots that draw comparison to some of the league's top scorers and creative players. The driving shot and basket he made during the nationally televised game on TNT last week against Denver that ruffled the feathers of the 'birdman' of Alcatraz, I mean 'birdman' of Denver, has been a sensation on the internet and television highlight reels across the country.

Stephen Curry is no longer a rookie, and with all due respect, really didn't seem like one to begin with. As a result of Curry's play, Warriors fans through the Bay Area are excited and looking forward to a brighter future. The key question now is, as the Warriors roster is currently comprised, are there any drawbacks or impediments in place that could stunt the growth and excellence of Curry?

That question may be partially answered through looking at some of the Warriors games this season. When Monte Ellis was healthy and playing 48 minutes a game, and hoisting up shot after shot, after shot, after shot; Curry's numbers and impact on the game were not as great. With Monte Ellis running the show, Stephen Curry and the rest of the Warriors seemingly were relegated to knowing that there was a good chance that Monte would take a shot or drive to the basket to create for himself on any given possession.

Monte is a workhorse and can get his shot almost whenever he wants, to the tune of 20+ shot attempts a game; but at what cost is this being done? To the casual observer, and dedicated basketball fans alike; Monte is more likely to shoot first then pass, while Curry would be a pass first then look for his own shot type of player. In essence, Curry is much more of a playmaker, while Monte is much more of scorer. Which one of these talents is better for the Warriors, and which one of these players will make the Warriors a better team for years to come?

Only time will tell the answer to this question, but as indicated by his triple-double and escalation of his game while Monte was not playing one thing is evident for sure: Stephen Curry needs to have his hands on the ball and making decisions for the Warriors during games as much as possible.