The best player on the Warriors is Monta Ellis.
The most dynamic player on the Warriors is Anthony Randolph.
Forget that crazy hype you thought you knew about Randolph. He’s only playing 22 minutes a game. It’s not enough to gauge him against the best of the best, let alone be in the all-star game debate.
Now Ellis, that’s a killer right there. This season, he’s exploited defenses with his quickness and slashing ability for 26.4 points per game (sixth in the NBA), 5.4 assists, 2.3 steals (second in the NBA) and 4.2 rebounds.
I wouldn’t be surprised that with his numbers he gets an all-star nod. The best players of each team should be represented. But Ellis stands up well against the entire league for his effort to keep the struggling Warriors afloat. And if there was a season in which he deserved it more, it would be this one.
It’s not just about the numbers. But they do tell a vivid story of how Ellis makes the team both a winner and a loser in one swipe.
Ellis is consistently going in every game (42.2 minutes per game) and leading the Warriors’ offensive attack. How he plays and distributes the ball directly correlates with the club’s success. The Dubs are 7-14 when he hits for average or higher, a 33 percent winning percentage that’s more malleable than the team’s 30 percent winning percentage (12-27).
In games he doesn’t hit for average? 5-13, or 38 percent.
Now put your eyeballs on two of the biggest stats of successful ball clubs: Assists and steals.
The Warriors are 8-10 (44 percent winning percentage) when Ellis has six or more assists as the off guard; 4-17 (19 percent) when he has five or less.
When he gets three or more steals, the club is 9-7 (56 percent) and 3-20 (13 percent) when he has less.
(As you can see, the Warriors are in dire need of more defense. But who doesn’t know that?)
Bottom line is, Ellis has to be Super Man for the Warriors to win games because all he has for help is the scoring ability of Corey Maggette, Randolph’s 22 minutes and Stephen Curry. And none of those fellas are pulling his minutes, grabbing steals like him, or have the ability to put the ball in the bucket like he does.
Unfortunately, the Warriors’ team defense sucks, putting the team at the bottom of the Western Conference doldrums at 12-27, 19 games behind the conference-leading Lakers.
Put Ellis on a winner with better defense, say, the Cavaliers and he’s an instant star.
Will he be denied one of the NBA’s most sacred accolades? Probably. Should he be? No way.
Thizzle
/ January 20, 2010Couldn’t disagree more. After the stuff he pulled with moped gate, the fact he tanked the beginning of the season, and how he plays terrible defense are reason enough to believe he isn’t an all star. This is a joke right?
Eric
/ January 20, 2010What’s with you and controversy?
Zuri
/ January 20, 2010Ball don’t lie. He’s carrying around Nellie’s disaster on his back. Give him his due.
Mando
/ January 20, 20106th on the scoring list this year, but nowhere to be seen on the all star list. But then you got T-mac and A-I; this makes no sense. Never any love for Oakland teams. Media’s got it messed up, son.
Eric
/ January 20, 2010He’s good, no doubt. All-star? Maybe. Being the best player on the West’s worst team makes it hard for me to say he’s worthy of that distinction though. More than T-Mac of course, but that’s another story.
Wing
/ January 20, 2010Monta Ellis shoots 8 million times a game, that doesn’t mean he’s an all-star. Steph curry is the best player on that team.
Zuri
/ January 20, 2010I’d like to see who would win that one-on-one. I’m pretty sure if Curry were the better player, he’d pump out more than 12.9 points per game. Technically speaking, he’s not even the most efficient on the team. He’s fourth, statistically speaking. That distinction is actually bestowed upon Corey Maggette who has a PER rating of 22.1. Best in his career.
Mando
/ January 20, 2010anyone who says he’s not an all-star is either stupid, doesn’t watch Warrior games, or is just a plain hater. This shouldn’t even be a debate. I would take Monta over half of the guards in the league. Probably even two thirds of the league. Show me five guards with better, more consistent numbers. Bottom line is, you can’t count out a player because his team is struggling — the clippers have sucked for years, but no one has doubted BD’s success. C’mon guys, quit hating.
Wing
/ January 20, 2010Like I said, he’s a ball hog. If you’re talking Point Gaurds eligible to be an All-Star in the Western Conference, you cannot have Monta Ellis ahead of Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, or Chris Paul. I would not even add him over Deron Williams, Chauncey Billups, or Brandon Roy. Enough said.
Zuri
/ January 20, 2010I’d take him any day over Jason Kidd. Kidd is not the same person he used to be. The rest of that list is pretty much a tossup in my mind. I’d say Chauncey and Deron aren’t having as good of years as before. Brandon Roy is another off guard who deserves the nod without a doubt. He’s gonna be on the team for sure. Chris Paul is likely to start and Steve Nash is going to make the team too. So with Kobe, CP3, Nash and Roy, you don’t think there’s room for Monta Ellis? 12 to a squad.
Wing
/ January 20, 2010It will be really close for whether or not Ellis makes it. Right now I have 8 that I know should make it – Durant, Dirk, Kobe, CP3, Nash, Melo, J Kidd (yes, J Kidd, check his stats, he hasn’t dropped off at all, he’s a beast), Duncan, and Roy. T-Mac is garbage! That’s 9. The other’s to consider for the remaining 3 spots – Ellis, Billups, Amare, … See MoreDeron, Boozer, Z Randolph, B Davis, Hilario, and Marcus Camby. I can’t put Gasol on this list because he hasn’t been healthy, therefore, he’s not deserving of a spot. Thoughts?
Zuri
/ January 20, 2010Amare hasn’t been healthy either, and he’s played less than Gasol. I’m pretty sure Gasol will get the spot because he’s a Laker and they always have a huge all-star entourage (Remember Kobe, Eddie Jones, Nick Van Exel, and Shaq?). David West will also probably be taking a spot and definitely Boozer. That’s 12 right there. But if anybody gets edged out, for any of the other players mentioned by you or me, it’s David West. Sucks to play for small market teams.
Wing
/ January 20, 2010Well if Boozer gets a spot, why doesn’t Zach Randolph who has played better?
Zuri
/ January 20, 2010Star power.