Sonic Sharpshooter Ellis a Bit Off Target

DENVER —  Everybody knows somebody who hates to admit they’re wrong.

Those stubborn sorts who frequently have difficulties saying wr-- ... wro--. Well, you know the type.

Dale Ellis has the same problem --but with a different word. The Seattle SuperSonics’ All-Star guard, a shooter extraordinaire, shoots better sometimes than others.

He’ll have nothing to do with the obligatory word in this instance--slump.

“Sl--? I can’t even say it,” Ellis said. “What does it mean? I don’t believe in it. Let’s just say I’m not shooting well and leave it at that.”

OK, Ellis is off a little bit. Actually, more than a little bit. His 24.8 scoring average--the best on the Sonics entering the weekend--doesn’t really reflect his woes. For a man who has been arguably the most consistent perimeter shooter in the NBA the past three years, making just 45.4 percent of his shots from the field doesn’t cut it.

“I just don’t feel right yet,” Ellis said. “I don’t know what it is. I don’t have any distractions. It’s just different. I don’t feel like I’m getting as many shots. The offense is just different.”

Ellis is getting 20 shots a game. In 11 games, Ellis has converted 100 of his 220 field-goal attempts. But he’s right. The offense has changed.

It goes from inside out this season instead of outside in. The games began with Ellis drilling from all points on the floor, but now the ball is going inside to Derrick McKey on the first option, thus changing the timing to a certain extent.

“It was easier being the first option,” Ellis said. “Now I’m basically roaming the perimeter trying to find the open spots. Because it’s a change, I haven’t really put a whole game together yet. We all have to adjust to the change.”

Ellis shot better than 50 percent in each of his first three seasons with the Sonics. He even shot a remarkable 47.8 percent from three-point range last season after winning the Long Distance Shootout (three-point contest) at the All-Star break. Now he’s even tumbled from his trademark shot, making just 20 of 60 (33%).

“The only way to snap out of it is to shoot your way out,” Ellis said. “When I’m having trouble scoring, I try to improve in other areas to help the team, like rebounding and defense.”

His steals and assists are right on his career average. The 5.5 rebounding average is the best of his career, however. But the Sonics don’t pay Ellis more than a million bucks a year to rebound. He is their deluxe shooter. The top scorer. Not a rebounder and decoy.

“OK, slump, I hate to say the word,” Ellis said. “I don’t understand it. There’s no reason to try and figure it out. It’s just like anything else. You work your way out of it. I just don’t like the word.”

Neither do the Sonics.