Monta Ellis Finds His Shot Against Detroit Pistons

The Monta Ellis Era with the Indiana Pacers didn’t get off to an auspicious start as the Pacers were 0-3 and he was only shooting 29.7% from the field on 12.3 shots a game and was a woeful 14.3% from 3-point range.

Panic was setting in, but Monta did his best to ease those fears with his 7 of 16 (43.6%) night with 15 points against the previously perfect Detroit Pistons. Those aren’t staggering numbers by anyone’s standards, but it was his best performance of the season in points and he also added 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

So what went right? For starters he got back to one of the things he does best: A pull-up jumper. In Dallas last season it was his favorite shot behind a regular jump shot. On pull-up jumpers last season he shot 55.8% as he created space by driving and taking his shot before his defender could recover or another player could come help. In the first three games in Indiana that wasn’t happening nor was he driving like he used to and he was forced to settle for too many jump shots that he didn’t really want.

But last night he was starting to get more of the shots he wanted thanks to Jordan Hill and other coming out and setting screens. In particular high ones at or above the 3-point line.

What that did was create a bubble where Monta’s original defender was behind him and Andre Drummond (or anyone else) was still well ahead of him. That is something Monta appears to be very comfortable with. In the play below during the third quarter Jordan Hill comes up above the 3-point line to screen Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. After Ellis passes by and before Drummond collapses Ellis pulls up and sinks his shot.

It also gave Ellis the option of driving as Drummond and anyone else trying to guard the rim had to try to stay on their own man while engaging Ellis. Two of his 3 layups in the half-court came after Jordan Hill set a screen.

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The pick and roll wasn’t just benefitting Ellis either as all 3 of his assists were completed by Hill when he remained open at the top of the key after the screen had been set.

The pick and roll action created points for the Indiana Pacers and allowed Monta to get back into a groove he is much more comfortable with. It wasn’t an overwhelming performance from him but it was his best to date and certainly a respectable one.

If the Pacers can continue to get the ball into his hands and allow him to play the way he wants to play we’ll see Ellis do better than just respectable.