While a lack of consistency plagued Monta Ellis during his tenure with the Warriors, the Mavericks guard displayed a wholly efficient and explosive game Tuesday night against the Lakers.
Ellis scored 30 points on 11 of 14 shooting and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. He added nine assists and committed just a single turnover, more impressive considering Ellis is averaging 4.4 turnovers a game this year. It's the second game in which Ellis has tallied 30 points and at least eight assists in his short tenure with the Mavericks.
"The lane was wide open, so I just attacked, and when they came over, I passed the ball and that's what we wanted," Ellis said. "Me being aggressive opened everything else up."
Ellis' role seems perfect for the ultra-aggressive, ball-dominating guard. And working with Dirk Nowitzki appears to have drawn sufficient attention away from his attack.
Ellis has already begun to take three-pointers at a lower clip than he hoisted in Milwaukee or Golden State -- a shot that depleted his efficiency ratings. And he has played more sound defense in coach Rick Carlisle's controlled system.
"Monta Ellis was fantastic tonight, all aspects of the game," Carlisle said. "He defended, he made plays at the rim, he was under control, he hit midrange shots, he hit guys cutting to the basket."
Perhaps this is just a flash for Ellis, which would certainly not be out of character, but it will be interesting to see whether playing alongside a former MVP under a championship coach will continue to positively effect the former Warriors' game.
