Monta Ellis: All Star?
Ā For starters, Monta Ellisā stats this year (entering Tuesday) are as follows: 20.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.7 SPG on 46% shooting, and 32.6% from 3. His defensive rating (points allowed by a team with given player on the court per 100 possessions) is 108, and his offensive rating is 106. By itself, this is quite a season. However, he plays in a tough Western Conference, and believe it or not, he has had seasons very similar to this one before, and he did not make the all star game.
Ā The better seasons he had were in Golden State in his final 2 seasons there, from the 09-10 season to the 10-11 season. In 2009-2010, he scored about 5 more points per game on 1% worse FG%, and had almost a whole assist more a game, as well as 1.5 rebounds a game more. In the next season, a similar result occurred. 24.1 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.5 RPG on 45% shooting. In neither of those years did he make the all star game, where not only his numbers were better, but the surrounding talent was worse. Some all stars from those years included Chauncey Billups in 2010 (19.5 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.1 RPG on 42% shooting) and Manu Ginobili in 2011 (17 PPG, 5 APG, 3.7 RPG on 43% shooting). Not to take anything away from them, but you can make a legitimate case that Monta Ellis had better years than both of them in the respective seasons.
Ā In the present though, here are his opponents he has to compete with for the likely last guard spot in New York for:
Ā Klay Thompson (24 PPG, 3.4 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 1 BPG on 46% shooting and 44% from 3, with a 111 offensive rating, and 107 defensive rating)
Ā Damian Lillard (22 PPG, 6 APG, 5 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 46% from the field and 39% from 3, and a 118 ORTG, 102 DRTG)
Russell Westbrook (26 PPG, 7 APG, 5.6 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 43% FG%, 26% from 3; ORTG of 109, DRTG 101
James Harden (27 PPG, 6.6 APG, 5.8 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 44% from the field, 36% from 3; ORTG of 117, DRTG of 100. Also carrying his team to a top 3 record in the West and is a strong MVP candidate)
Mike Conley (18 PPG, 6 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 46.6% FG%, 44% from 3; 115 ORTG, 106 DRTG; one of the top defensive point guards in the NBA)
Ā These are the guys I would honestly put in front of Ellis right now. Since Conley plays superior defense and gets more assists and shoots the three so much better, I would give him the edge before Monta. Missed games for Tony Parker helps Monta inch closer into the conversation. One thing that Monta has an advantage over Westbrook though is that his team is playing at a much better level, and Westbrook was hurt for a lot of the season.
Overall, I really struggle to see Monta make the all star game, unfortunately for Mavs fans. Maybe if Kobe didnāt get voted in, he would have a chance, but it may not be a bad thing. Monta is the Mavsā best chance at an all star (you could make the case Tyson Chandler is having an all star caliber year, but he is unlikely to get in since the frontcourt is just as crowded as the backcourt). If the Mavs get no all stars, they will be well rested for the second half of the season and towards the playoffs. Maybe Monta getting snubbed could be a blessing in disguise.











