Recap: Rookies 114, Sophomores 155

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 16, 2007 8:26 PM PST in NBA

Tonight was further proof that the 2006 NBA Draft Class might be one of the worst of all time. Still, the Sophomores put on a show tonight!

Final Box Score

Sophomore Sensations.
(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images)

Crazy Stat Lines

Chris Paul missed a triple double by one steal- 16 points, 17 dimes, and 9 steals
MVP David Lee hit everything- 30 points, 11 boards, and 4 dimes
Monta Ellis acted like it was a dunk contest out there- 28 points on 13 for 16 shooting

Tonight's MVP puts on his best DUNK FACE!
(Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images)

One of the many Ellis to the Rim's!
(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

TO THE RIM.
(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

On a side note, can you imagine if the Warriors drafted David Lee instead of Ike Diogu? Think the Warriors' rebounding problems would be solved? There's a lot to like about Lee.

If you find any video clips of the dunkfest that was the Sophomore domination, definitely link to them in the comments. Bonus points if you can collect ELLIS TO THE RIM clips.

Also see: OPEN THREAD: 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend- Rookie Soph Game

UPDATE: By popular demand more...

ELLIS...
(Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images)

TO...
(Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images)

THE...
(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

RIM!!
(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

UPDATE 2: Bonus points go to loyal GSoM community member Caught Backcourt for digging up this footage of Ellis to the Rim from last night's exhibition. DO NOT SLEEP.

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Comments

That last shot...

is hot! I'm gonna use that as my PSP wallpaper.

by ssmokinjoe on Feb 16, 2007 8:46 PM PST 0 recs

I was going to say exactly the same thing. (Some things we do agree on...) That image is so hot it makes me want to leap out of my seat! As Fitz said, Ellis has 'em out of their seats at the Oracle!...

Is there anyway to get a super high-res version of that? Forget computer wallpaper ... I want that as my living room wallpaper!

by Sleepy Freud on Feb 16, 2007 9:15 PM PST up 0 recs

I love...

...love...love the contrast between the two wide-angle shots. First half: everyone at least try to run toward Monta. Second half: ahhhh forget it!

by Dactyllic on Feb 16, 2007 9:58 PM PST up 0 recs

Monta

Monta could have had more points if he shot more. He was too unselfish.

The game should give him more recognition around the league, and definitely more fans who like his style of play. Dude was straight sick today.

In the beginning of the game, I was pissed cause he was the last player to get into the game. I thought that the Suns assistant was still upset about the Monta dunk on Barbosa.

Overall, it was pretty entertaining. The Rooks showed that their team doesn't have many great players.

This was really Monta's day. He brought most of the excitement to it. He gained many more fans because of the show he put on.

by illmaticwarrior on Feb 16, 2007 8:53 PM PST 0 recs

that last dunk

was VICIOUS!! rudy gay had a few like that, but monta's was more impressive considering he's only 6'3"

by AJC3317 on Feb 16, 2007 9:11 PM PST 0 recs

Ha, check out Roy/Millsap in the last 2 shots

Boy, people weren't kidding when they said Roy looked uninterested ... I mean, does that even count as "posterized"?

by Sleepy Freud on Feb 16, 2007 9:25 PM PST 0 recs

bargaini

i have no idea how to spell his name, but i thought the #1 pick this past year looked nice. i know there was no d, but he seemed to have some nice handles, mobility, stroke and surprising quickness. He looks like he'll be a scorer in this league or what people expected morrison -- the "seasoned" college player -- to be this season.

by dj fuzzylogic on Feb 16, 2007 9:30 PM PST 0 recs

Gotta say

...all that SCREAMING in the arena drove me nuts. I thought I saw some mascot running up and down the stands - were the kids screaming at that?

"The rookies looked helpless later in the half, when Ellis had five alley-oop dunks in a span of less than 3 1/2 minutes, pushing the lead to 31 points on his final one."

heh heh heh. :) http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-rookiechallenge

by Dactyllic on Feb 16, 2007 9:55 PM PST 0 recs

Coming at ya

by ssmokinjoe on Feb 16, 2007 10:15 PM PST 0 recs

Sophs 155-114

Score needs to be fixed.

And Monta needs MOAR DUNKZ!

by Yoyo on Feb 16, 2007 10:34 PM PST 0 recs

That was great to watch!!

I have to say, Monta gained the recognition he deserved...

It was great to have the W's represented again in the All Star Weekend, even if it was the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge..

By the way, CP3 is a great point guard! He really showed what he can do for any team he plays on... I know Nelly wants to turn Ellis into a PG, but he seems to be a fit better a SG... He showed it tonight...

by Agent 0 on Feb 16, 2007 10:38 PM PST 0 recs

the tnt post show

at the end of the show when they were showing highlights of the rookie/soph game Dwade say "show the Ellis highlights!" but they showed david lee.
Anyway we got love from Dwade baby! Monta can get up!

by djchuckdeez on Feb 16, 2007 11:29 PM PST 0 recs

Monta acts like there's no gravity.

Super shot.

Which five would you like on the Warriors? Mine would be:

Monta
Chris Paul
David Lee
Luther Head
Andrew Bynum

by callahan on Feb 16, 2007 11:32 PM PST 0 recs

re

Monta or Paul is a tough choice, but Bynum is more valuable than Head

by gsw4life on Feb 17, 2007 10:33 AM PST up 0 recs

AHEM

2 Statements:

MONTA ELLIS FOR DUNK CONTEST!!!!! (I said it first, Reggie.)

CARROT TOP GOT ROBBED!

by Zorgon on Feb 17, 2007 1:05 AM PST 0 recs

monta

I dont know what happen but why did he not start everyone knows hes good and way better than head, conspiracy i tell you. we all know if he had started he would of had 40 at least but oh well. and man cp3 if we only got him, but hey we got the hornets former pg (davis) for what speedy claxton! hmmm?

by 24k state fan since 87 on Feb 17, 2007 1:38 AM PST 0 recs

My guess...

is that they wanted to exploit his explosive scoring prowess against the rook's bench so that they could gain an advantage.

Sounds good to me.

by ssmokinjoe on Feb 17, 2007 1:51 AM PST up 0 recs

i think the coaches didnt realize what they had

with Monta. Since you know, no one knows the Warriors exist, the coaches probably didnt know exactly what Monta is capable of. it's funny cause for like the last 15 minutes, the coaches FINALLY realized Monta's abilities and left him on the floor for the rest of the game. the sophomore coaches just made david lee man the middle and had 4 point guards out there because they were performing the best.

monta repped the WARRIORS to the fullest last night.

by ZombieWarrior on Feb 17, 2007 1:13 PM PST up 0 recs

wow

that last dunk was nasty! Chris Paul with the no look sick dish, and Ellis to the rim! Even though David Lee got all the air time, you could tell the sophmores knew who to throw the ball to. Good outing for our boy, and a little national exposure! I think it showed us that Monta can play the point, but it much more effective off the ball.

by tadams1080 on Feb 17, 2007 7:32 AM PST 0 recs

That David Lee guy is a beast

How the hell did the W's miss him?

Billy Beane for Warriors GM! Time 4 sum Moneyball -Crypt0naut

by Crypt0naut on Feb 17, 2007 9:17 AM PST 0 recs

If we wanted an undersized power forward to...

complement Troy, Mike, and Andris, this guy would have been perfect at the time. With enough growth, he would have made Troy and Mike expendable anyway.

http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/davidlee.asp

Strengths: Uses his size well...Quicker than most big men, and can slide through players in the lane... A good rebounder who really works on the glass... Relentlessly hits the offensive boards ... He can step out and hit the occasional 18-footer ...decent handle for a big man and can drive past slower post players...gets great position in the post, and has excellent footwork... A sound passer... Solid defensively and gives great effort He's tall. 6'10 with long arms and very quick for big man...crafty player who knows his strengths and plays to them. Excellent athlete with very good quickness and explosiveness. Has a great feel for the game.

Weaknesses: Not strong enough and can be overpowered down low ... Really must focus on expanding his range ... Has some moves on the block, but not a real threat offensively... He can block shots, but not as great at it, and you'd expect with his height/length and leaping ability that he would swat more.

Billy Beane for Warriors GM! Time 4 sum Moneyball -Crypt0naut

by Crypt0naut on Feb 17, 2007 9:32 AM PST up 0 recs

I ain't gonna say anything

But Lee really didn't deserve MVP. Chris Paul did. Monta really made me get up a few times though. That reverse alley oop was nuts.

If you take a look out of your windows, you can now see Dallas, TX. Quite the site, no?

by coma on Feb 17, 2007 9:25 AM PST 0 recs

seriously

if lee wasnt a knick there's no way paul doesnt take mvp. next we'll see stern have boston w/ the 1st pick (oden) and the knicks w/ the 2nd (durant).

by the evil monkey on Feb 17, 2007 12:05 PM PST up 0 recs

Monta Highlights

by Caught Backcourt on Feb 17, 2007 10:21 AM PST 0 recs

great video

great stuff, it went straight to my myspace page

by Nellieball on Feb 17, 2007 1:52 PM PST 0 recs

monta was tight

i thought if he made that last dunk then he should have gotten mvp, but he probably still wouldnt have because the other guy is from new york and all the text message voting and crap. i was wondering where tyrus thomas was and rodney carney. i think those guys are some really good rookies