Post Jackson Trade- Is Monta a budding All-Star? (updated!)

Monta definitely has the tools. A little more work on his defense and point guard IQ is needed, but I’m sure he’s working on that. Getting another offensive threat that can take some of the scoring load off of him is critical for this to happen, though.

Assuming that our idiotic front office can create a healthy environment where:

1) Our players can develop for the better instead of getting frustrated for one reason or another. As much as I believe Nelly is a great coach, I don’t think he is a particularly good fit for this young team anymore…..maybe Avery Johnson? (let it be known that I’d love to be proven wrong on this point)

and

2) Free agents will at least give Golden State thoughtful consideration instead of the cold shoulder that we’ve more or less gotten (refer to our offer to Elton Brand during the time when we let Baron walk….we threw $100+ mill to him, and he politely turned us down because Philly supposedly had a better supporting cast for him).

…then we could get the difference maker (or two) that we need to lift this team up from the cellar. I think that Riley is heading in the right direction for orchestrating deals that got rid of Crawford (classy player, but not what we needed) and Jackson, therefore easing our financial burdens, but he’s got a mountain of work to do yet.

I do like Monta’s increased playmaking, but the problem is two bad things have come with it (one of which you pointed out). Turnovers. 3.5 per 36. That’s not good. Shooting efficiency. Has to improve upon this, he’s been below average this year, he needs to get back to above average. Whether that means choosing to shoot better shots, getting fouled more, shooting more 3’s (assuming he can keep making them at a respectable rate), I’m not sure, but he has to get it up. Also, his ballhandling needs a lot of work. If he can improve it (especially the left hand), that may help cut down on his turnovers, improve his assist rate, and get higher quality shots (raising his TS%).

easily yes. But he won’t get it. He just won’t. The league will snub us as always and it’s not even clear cut that he should be there. The only way I can see him getting it is if he is up to about 26 ppg and the dubs are at 500

play in an all-star game in his career if not more. he’s only gonna get better, and he’s a border-line allstar right now. his assist/turnover will become better. his assists will go up.

he is entering his prime……but the thing thats holding him back is the team (record) because we get no love around the league…..so people are not gunna vote for him.

Other than Kobe and Nash, which guard in the West s playing better than Monta right now? Obviously, he won’t get 40+ each night but if he averages 27-30 pts, 5 assists, 2-3 steals, 5 boards between now and the all star game he needs to get some love!

Also noted we are 3-4 since the trade (5 road games, 6 against playoff teams, all undermanned).

 If we could get a number 2 option w/ monta I’m not convinced this team can’t make playoffs this year in a ‘down’ west (down in the sense that after top 6/7 teams i dont see anyone warriors can’t pass up). but more so if it’s the right peice (not saying a 1 year rental) it could set this team up to be a perennial playoff team and a deep challenger w/ the continued developement of monta and the rest of peices

Among point guards in the west -

First in points per game (by a mile!), first in steals, sixth in field goal %, 9th in assists, 5th in blocked shots, 5th in rebounds

If he can bring up his assist total (as in guys make their shots!) and turn the ball over less – I think he passes up CP3 and others and coaches may select him. He won’t be voted on so he’ll need to impress the coaches.

I’m not sure if Ellis will be one this year, hopefully in the future. He might have a good chance because Yao Ming and Shaq won’t be competing (I know their centers) which could leave a spot for the center and a spot for another guard. Brandon Roy and Chauncey Billups are going to make the team, which the last two spots are tied between Steve Nash (very good season, #1 team in the NBA), Tony Parker, Deron Williams (who should be one already) and Monta Ellis. Those 4 guards will probably compete for the last 2 guards on the bench, so I’m not sure Ellis will be an all star. In my opinion, D-Will, Steve Nash, Brandon Roy, Chauncey Billups, CP3, and Kobe are going to make the Western confrence guards, but that’s my opinion.

He clearly was the worst of the 5 last year. Aside from that note which I pointed out, I have to admit I am surprised at how well he faired the previous 2 seasons (from 2006-2008, all of which ended in great disappointments for Bryant n his team, but I digress). I am also absolutely NOT surprised by any subsequent disparities between Bryant n Ellis you’ve alluded to thereafter, seeing as how Bryant’s- being the focal point of his team as opposed to Ellis’ in his first 4 years- numbers are padded by the fact that unlike Ellis, who came up playing alongside Baron Davis, Al Harrington, Jason Richardson, Jamal Crawford, Mickael Pietrus, n Stephen “ballhog” Jackson, Bryant post- Shaq had only Odom n a bunch of scrubs to defer to during his 2005-2007 seasons (while Bynum was still finding his way). Meanwhile, Ellis is only NOW since Stephen Jax was shipped to hell-out-of-here in a comparable situation to Bryant (or James and Wade post-Shaq for that matter), in that he has now (immediately as I had excitedly anticipated when the trade happened) become the undisputed focal point (indeed, he’s the first n second options) of his team since Jax was moved; it’s why I was absolutely elated when I heard Jax was traded- I realized the team was officially being turned over to ME8. So basically, I’m arguing that now being given the opportunity to lead a team (n not have to defer to the all-star to his right or left), Ellis’ career statistics will even out with Bryant’s output to the point that they’ll eventually exceed Bryant’s in any facet (including not only assists n points per game, but rebounds since Ellis is also an exceptional rebounder for his height, in addition to his already obvious superior efficiency as a shooter- the stuff I mentioned above). Just give the kid time.

if you’re the so-called “greatest player in the world” in Kobe, I think you CAN understate the fact that Gasol (an All-Star n one of the most dominant centers in the league since joing the Lakers) had barely played with the Lakers, especially if you’re comparing Bryant to MJ, who throughout the coarse of his career (especially having never played with a center even remotely resembling the calibur level of Gasol), CONSISTENTLY did much, much more with less than Bryant. MJ won six championships with the likes of Bill Cartwright, Stacy King, Bryan Williams, Bill Wennington, Luc Longley, etc. at the 5 position. Are you trying to convince me that Bryant can’t win ONE (his first post-Shaq) in 2008 with the likes of not only Gasol (with whom the difference in the ratio of wins to losses since being traded to LA midway through the season is something like 27-8 respectively, 5 of those losses coming with Gasol out in mid-March with a hamstring injury thing), but also Lamar Odom (a Scottie Pippen-calibur player that had previously starred for 2 other teams), n the highest-scoring/most productive bench in ALL of the league that season? Sorry, I don’t buy it, especially against a team that’s playing in its first year together (in the Big 3). There should be 0 excuses for Bryant’s legendary failures during that one series, from the terribly embarassing Game 4 loss @ STAPLES to the 39-pt blowout loss in the 6th n deciding game, second in highest margin of defeat in a Finals victory to- ironically enough- only the Utah Jazz in ‘97 or ’98, who lost to Jordan’s Bulls by 41 in one of those games. If you’re the renowned “best player in the world”, n the “leader of you team” (another Bryant allegation I whole-heartedly refute with regards to his role on that team, given the ridiculous collection of talent on they have since Gasol arrived), n have just won your first MVP that regular season, you don’t sit idly by as the 4th best player on the floor (behind the Celtics’ Big 3), and watch as you’re team drowns in a historic fashion. I GUARANTEE you that Monta Ellis- whom I’ve aready expressed my firm belief above will win multiple championships over the coarse of his career as well- will NEVER allow his team to meet a similar fate in a similar situation with parallel stakes/circumstances (e.g. a Playoff series) so long as he’s the leader of his team, no matter how outmatched they may appear to be.