Monta Ellis wins Most Improved Player

by Fantasy Junkie on Apr 26, 2007 2:18 PM PDT in News

Image courtesy of Sleepy Freud

In what was the closest Most Improved Player voting ever, Monta Ellis came out on top, just 3 points ahead of Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Martin. I have no doubt in my mind that his amazing performance at the Rookie-Sophomore All-Star game is what put him over the top. We can call that his national coming out party as he was the most dynamic player on the court. Alley-oop after alley-oop opened the eyes of the media members to something that Warriors fans knew all along, this kid can play.

Ellis averaged 16.5 points, 4.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds this season with new coach Don Nelson and the revitalized Warriors, who returned to the playoffs after a 12-year absence. The second-round pick's improvement on his 6.8-point scoring average in his rookie season was the NBA's largest increase this year.

People have drawn comparisons of Monta to Gilbert Arenas. Both were 2nd round picks, both didn't get to play much in their first years. Both are explosive guards. Neither fit into a typical basketball position because they didn't fit the point guard or shooting guard mold. Now, by winning the Most Improved Player award, Monta has continued to follow in Gilbert's footsteps. The one major difference between Monta and Gilbert? The Warriors are going to sign Monta and keep him on the team after the end of this year.

Anyways, big ups to Monta for winning the award! I'm sure they'll do a ceremony before the game on Friday where there will be 20,000 Warriors fans congratulating him.

Thanks to BD2JR for posting this earlier in MONTA!.

Who was your pick for Most Improved Player?

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weee

Biedrins was my pick. He got robbed IMO.

Playoffs in '07, baby! *It Happened.*

by coma @ Golden State Of Mind on Apr 26, 2007 3:20 PM PDT reply actions

It's crazy...

if you've been a Monta fan since his first pro year, like me when he was practically unknown to the rest of the world. Now he gets national attention on him like ants on candy.

In August when I checked for highlights on Youtube, there were only 2 videos of him, now there's like 4 pages of videos dedicated to Monta, and it's growing as time passes.

Now with the MIP award, his contract may get a little expensive(deservingly so); nevertheless, Mullin MUST sign him so we can keep him so us fans will have the opportunity to forget that the Arena's situation never happened.

by MVP @ Golden State Of Mind on Apr 26, 2007 3:56 PM PDT reply actions

top 10 monta ellis plays for 2006-2007

if you check out the nba.com story(see below) there is a link to watch monta's best plays of the year. some of them were not as deserving as some other plays that were not included, but all still very good highlights...
http://www.nba.com/news/ellis_mostimproved_070426.html

by stedanko on Apr 26, 2007 4:08 PM PDT reply actions

Kevin Willis

He went from averaging nothing to averaging barely anything.

With his past behind him, Adonal looks toward the future, wherever it may be....

by Zorgon on Apr 26, 2007 4:55 PM PDT reply actions

Ellis all the way

Ellis deserved, and took home the award. There were some Kings fans whining on Sportingnews.com that Kevin Martin got robbed. I disagreed, with the following few points.

Ellis averaged 16 points a game on a team where on any given night he could be anywhere from the 3rd to 5th scoring option on the team. On most nights this year Martin was their first option because Bibby had an off year.

Martin averaged more mintues a game and shots a game compared to Ellis. So, all of those Kings fans that felt Martin got robbed because he averaged 20 to Monta's 16 are completely overblowing the situation.

Although Martin averaged 20, both players increased their scoring average by 10 points a game compared to last year, so there goes that argument.

And last but not least, Ellis' team had a winning record and is in the playoffs, Martin did his damage for a 33-win lottery team. Enough said!

by manutefor3 on Apr 26, 2007 5:35 PM PDT reply actions

i was talking to Tim Roye

the radio guy and he said that Monta is so uncomfortable with interviews that he had to take Media classes. lol

The J-RICH show is back!

by dajrichshow on Apr 26, 2007 5:38 PM PDT reply actions

Monta eventually became my choice

Early in the season I was for Biedrins winning this award, but towards the end it seemed like he got overshadowed by Harrington and hasn't quite bounced back--not getting as many blocks and rebounds as before, and picking up fouls like crazy again.

Ellis, on the other hand, worked his way into the starting lineup and has been flourishing ever since. Sure, part of it has to do with Nellie's system, and it was really just a matter of getting more play time rather than sucking badly the previous year, but he's become an important part of the team's success.

Though I gotta admit, Kevin Martin's numbers still look very tempting, especially considering I never heard of the guy until this season.

Whoever marries the zeitgeist will be a widower soon.

by J-Triumf on Apr 26, 2007 8:39 PM PDT reply actions

Most Improved Team

Most Improved Player in Monta Ellis is certainly nothing to be surprised about. Anybody who has watched him over the past two years can attest to his maturation and growth as a player.

But you can't forget that not only did the Dubs have Ellis, but also Biedrins in the top 5. Safe to say GSW is the most improved team? Last year, despite a great fourth quarter-season run, the Dubs were still counted out of the playoffs come late March. Had JRich and Boom Dizzle been healthy all year, who's to say we wouldn't have wrapped up the 6th or 7th (which we almost pulled out) seed this year, and well over 42 victories. I'm just sayin'. Now it's time for the upset, Dubs over Mavs in 6, pulling out the final win in front of the home crowd.

by Swamp Thing on Apr 26, 2007 11:30 PM PDT reply actions