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2k6-2k7 REPORT CARD: Monta Ellis

Fj_cruiser_tiny by Fantasy Junkie on in Report Cards

Ellis to the RIM!
-- Bob Fitzgerald

Oh my gawd! That still gets me pumped up. I love how when he flushes it. You can hear how hard he throws it down as the rim rattles and Fitz simultaneously yelling "Ellis to the Rim!" as his voice strains to get as loud as he wants it to. Wait let me go watch it one more time…Okay, I’ve calmed down now. Whew. What a great outlet pass by Dunleavy.

Monta report card is all about multimedia and the wonder that is youtube. There’s not a whole lot I can say in words that can describe the kid. He’s got to work on a few things this offseason and not rely so much on his athleticism, but he’s so damn good already.


Hello rim

Okay one more video to get me and you amped. This is his national coming out party, the Rookie-Sophomore game.


Make the jump for the grades.


I'm diggin' Sleepy's work and JRich 4 MVP's vision.

"I knew it was gonna go in when it left my hands"
-- Monta

Monta Ellis – All Access



Adam Lauridsen (Fast Break)  

Grade: B+
Monta plays with so much poise and confidence that it's easy to forget how young he is, leading many to judge him under the strict standards you'd use for a veteran player. There were times this season when Monta carried the team on his slight frame, which shouldn't be overlooked despite his playoff woes. More worrisome to me than the end of the season fade is what position he ultimately plays. He doesn't have the handles yet for a PG and seems small for a SG. But he does put the ball in the hoop, and that'll earn you a spot in this league.

Fun Score: 7
Would have been a 10 if he had ever publicly performed the (in)famous Monta-shuffle.
Atma Brother #1  

Grade: A-
Putting aside that choke job in 10 of the 11 Warriors' playoff games, Monta had a pretty spectacular season out of nowhere. I'm a little surprised he beat out Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams for the Most Improved Player award, but there's no denying Monta was a worthy recipient of the trophy with his big improvements in finishing drives to the basket, knocking down that midrange jumper consistently, and picking pockets on D. It's amazing how Monta put up 16.5pg and 4.1apg this year in spite of his suspect handles, careless passing, questionable decisions with the rock, and inability to hit the 3-ball. I'm not sold that he's a superstar in the making or Gilbert Arenas Part II, but I do see him as a top 6th man or 3rd guard in the rotation for years to come on a winning ballclub.

Fun Score: 7
Ellis to the... RIM!
DJ Fuzzylogic  

Grade: B
Does winning the MIP award mean Monta's career trajectory will follow former Warrior fan favorite, Gilbert Arenas (who also one the MIP)? Probably not. Despite his horrendous shooting in the playoffs, Monta generally was one of the better mid-range shooters on this team. Yet, for a guy his size, you kind of expect better guard play. Highly turnover prone -- shaky handles and passing -- you begin to wonder if the ceiling is a little lower than expected.

Fun Score: 7
Fantasy Junkie  

Grade: B+
From 2nd round pick to earning Most Improved Player award, no not Gilbert Arenas, this is Monta Ellis. He started to get national attention with the NASTY throwdown on Leandro Barbosa. His incredible performance in the Rookie-Sophomore game put him in a whole new light for the entire NBA world. The kid is super quick and can finish with the best of them. He broke down a little in the playoffs, but he's sure to bounce back next year with more arsenal in his game.

Fun Score: 10
Never get tired of the Ellis on Barbosa dunk
Hash  

Grade: A
MIP for the league? That's what I'm talking about kid! I said it last year and I'll say it again this year. We are going to see big big things from Monta as he matures on the court and makes better decisions with the rock. He is literally overflowing with speed and natural talent. If he keeps this growth up, he is soon going to be a premiere point in this league.

Fun Score: 10

Overall Grade: B+

What grade would you give Monta for last season?

They said what?!


We have a winner! MIP!



2006-2007 GSoM Report Cards

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Sophomore Slump?
I think not! What a season! Monta was on the come up... and yea, that dunk over Barbosa was insane- even though we lost that night It'll be a night my wife and I will never forget. The rise of a legend... (no doubt sleepy!)


Monta-Cop... can't be stopped!

by Tony.psd on Sep 12, 2007 12:44 AM PDT   0 recs

"JRich 4 MVP" was the Art Director
The concept was all his. I was just his humble photoshop boy ;-)...

by Sleepy Freud on Sep 12, 2007 5:38 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Haha
you deserve half the credit, without you I'd still be using the blurry image. I thunk'd it and you created it.

by J Rich 4 MVP on Sep 12, 2007 9:41 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

yo sleepy
do you have that picture in wallpaper size?
i got an elevator in my house...... thats f'ing ridiculous

by eddie925 on Sep 12, 2007 3:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The highest res one
Is the one FJ posted in this diary. It gets pretty fuzzy any bigger than that, since the image I was working with was kinda low-res. I'd love to get my hands on the original nba.com photo and make it into a poster.

by Sleepy Freud on Sep 12, 2007 4:35 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

funny thing
I love how all 5 rookie defenders are nowhere even close to guarding the basket. I know it's an All-Star game and nobody plays D, but at least be within 10 feet of the guy.

by Fantasy Junkie on Sep 12, 2007 10:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah haha
It was either a crazy, ridiculous backdoor cut from Monta or just the All Star Rook-Soph game.

by Atma Brother ONE on Sep 12, 2007 10:54 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's in your video ^^^
From about 0:24 to 0:02. Not really a backdoor cut so much as your standard 3-on-5 break in which someone "blew an assignment" (i.e., couldn't be bothered). Nice dish from CP3, who, it must be said, was the real star behind most of those dunks...

by Sleepy Freud on Sep 12, 2007 11:13 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

man
I wish we could play the Suns every game. Barbosa, Nash, and Stoudamire supplied the best guys for us to dunk on.

Questions? Complaints?

(AIM: JetForze; email: Jon.d.ma@gmail.com)

by OptionZero on Sep 12, 2007 12:56 AM PDT   0 recs

If the Clips hadn't choked away the #8 seed
That would have been the highlight of the Warriors' season.

I shudder when I think how close we came to "We Believe" never happening...

by Sleepy Freud on Sep 12, 2007 5:31 AM PDT   0 recs

Or, looked at another way
If that shot v. New Jersey doesn't fall, we don't make the playoffs.

I actually enjoy that clip even more than "Ellis to the Rim," for the way Baron embraces his young protegé (a la Han Solo and Luke, "yahoo, you're all clear kid!"), and the sheer joy on the faces of Harrington and AB ...

by Sleepy Freud on Sep 12, 2007 5:47 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

also
the game where we snapped Dallas' 17 game win streak, and Monta took that pass from Barnes and made the acrobatic reverse layin after getting hacked by Dampier. The kid is amazin.
Playa's Ball

by tadams1080 on Sep 12, 2007 6:28 AM PDT   0 recs

Monta vs Dallas
Dampier highlight is at the end of the clip

by Fantasy Junkie on Sep 12, 2007 8:45 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

In the doldrums of pre-training camp
we get the Monta season grade on the GSOM.  Sometimes injuries create opportunities to strengthen the team.  The Spurs got over the hump when they had to learn to play without Duncan.  Monta made the most of his opportunity to be the first option and he didn't disappoint showing us a myriad of moves to slash into the lane at will.  Its true that he has a niftyness that reminds you of Pistol Pete, AI and even his Airness.  The question is can he keep it up over 82 games and the war that is post season play?  Answer seems to be know unless he is able to muscle up.

Now, I expect 50 wins this season and Monta will contribute to that.  I think its great to have another Monta-type in Marco.  Will the battle-tested Italian star transcend the rookie hazing Monta will dish out (shaving cream pie, what comes around goes around).  Will they challenge each other in practice sharpening their defensive skills?  Marco has significantly more range than Ellis and I'm sure that Nelson is figuring out how to use them together for amazing court spacing.

Anyway, back to 2006-7.  I have to give Monta an "A-" for the year including the playoffs.  He has chronic issues with that balky knee, and I would like to see him train with the best to strengthen it.  Because without his elevation, his game suffers.  His active hands make up for defensive positioning and footwork problems.  I'm not sold that his handles are terrible for a shooting guard or a Nellie-type point guard which is usually more Steve Kerr than Steve Nash.

A-

by eshock on Sep 12, 2007 10:08 AM PDT   0 recs

i give him
an A+ for being healthy and steppin up when he had to

but an overall grade of a B+/B, hes a G but I don't think hes going to be an all star.  I hope im wrong about that statement.

by djchuckdeez on Sep 12, 2007 10:43 AM PDT   0 recs

i give him a B
Would have been an A minus, but he choked in the playoffs.  completely understandable that he did, but the grade must be lowered

by jrizzle on Sep 12, 2007 12:43 PM PDT   0 recs

C+
And you all can give me a hug now. :-D
Tony.psd = Da Man

by Zorgon on Sep 12, 2007 2:39 PM PDT   0 recs

i give him a............
B-

Best seat in the House

by kaszowski on Sep 12, 2007 3:42 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Let us
UNITE!!!!
Tony.psd = Da Man

by Zorgon on Sep 12, 2007 5:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

ahahha
you give him a C+ but Foyle gets an A, makes sense

sike!

by djchuckdeez on Sep 12, 2007 5:41 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No, Foyle gets a
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tony.psd = Da Man

by Zorgon on Sep 12, 2007 7:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

monta is good
he didnt do much in the playoffs and when baron was injured i think he coulda done a lot more he needs to perfect that mid range jumper and learn on to pass like baron besides that his a real good player

by gswLLBatman on Sep 12, 2007 6:02 PM PDT   0 recs

solid b
played real well during the season and provided a lot of exciting moments. however he does have some things that he really needs to work on and he definitely faded during the playoffs

by AJC3317 on Sep 12, 2007 6:23 PM PDT   0 recs

im not about to give
chris and rod the same grade as monta.  they did good this year, but it was really all nellie.  monta is great.  he is so talented.  he was our best player at times.  he is the best finisher and the quickest on the team.  MIP.  dude is just a stud.  had his struggles here and there.  hes still young.  ima give him a solid A to an A-

by Proof on Sep 12, 2007 8:01 PM PDT   0 recs

LIFE MOVES FAST
Figured this was as good a thread as any to post a high-res version of my classic retired webpin. Can't remember who took the amazing photo -- the girlfriend of a GSoM member? -- but still I love it ...

Cute anecdote about it: when I first started using it as my webpin, I had the following email exchange with my college buddy, a crazy Dubs fan/NYTimes staff writer (yeah, we're everywhere):

Him: I LOVE your new Monta webpin!
Me: Thanks. But how can you tell it's Monta?
Him: It's a blur. It's Monta.

by Sleepy Freud on Sep 12, 2007 8:30 PM PDT   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed

YaoButtaMing  

Grade: B
Ellis exceeded expectations but I wanted more! I keep replaying the dunk over the suns in my head, and it makes me smile every time. Had he been more consistent maybe we would have beat the Jazz?

Fun Score: 8