September 4, 2008 8:00 am  |  142 Comments

SLAMonline Top 50: Monta Ellis, no. 46

The definitive ranking of the best players in the NBA today…

by Ryne Nelson

Sadly, there may never be a more relevant time to justify Monta Ellis than now.

When the SLAMonline crew finalized its Top 50 in early August, little did we know the explosive guard would sustain a serious offseason ankle injury.

Originally, I pushed for the 22-year-old to be higher than no. 46 (I’ll explain why soon), but now I wonder if this is the highest he’ll ever get.

To be real, we’ll probably never know the exact cause of Monta’s injury. And that’s fine –  who cares if Monta injured his ankle by ‘working out,’ riding a motorcycle or dropping his wallet on his foot?

What matters is this: A torn deltoid ligament and a high ankle sprain is no laughing matter. Right now, no one knows if Monta Ellis will ever play at 100 percent again.

You see, to say that he’s a good player isn’t enough now. With an injury of this magnitude, Monta’s character and leadership should also be at the forefront of discussion.

Some call Ellis’ injury irony, karma, or the SLAM curse (Ellis was featured prominently in KICKS 11). I call it fate – there’s never been a better time to talk about the Monta Ellis we all knew…

*****

Can anything diminish the true rawness of a healthy Monta Ellis?

You won’t find a player in the League with Ellis’ skill set. He possesses one of the NBA’s deadliest mid-range games and a petrifying first step. His blazing speed allows him to beat even the savviest defenders off the dribble.

Let’s talk anecdotally for a minute.

If there ever was a month last season when Monta proved how dominant he could be, that month was February. He shot over 60 percent, averaged 40 minutes and only 1.7 turns per contest. And those other averages: 26, 5 and 5.

In the four games prior to All-Star, Monta was even hotter, averaging 29.5 points on 69.4 percent shooting.

But Ellis didn’t just decide to turn-up his game in February.

During a 21-game stretch beginning Jan. 21, Monta scored over 20 points a total of 18 times and shot under 50 percent only thrice. Over those 21 games, he connected on an incredible 59 percent of his attempts.

Monta’s also a model NBA citizen. He co-hosts the Mo Williams and Monta Ellis Basketball Camp at Jackson State University and is heavily involved in Warriors community events.

Oh, and he’s never received a technical foul at any level.

*****

As No. 46 approached, I kept thinking about what embodied Monta Ellis the most to me. And a post-game interview with Warriors reporter Matt Steinmetz kept coming to mind.

There was only one problem – that interview was no where to be found.

I captured and uploaded over 375 clips during the season’s final months, but somehow I managed to skip this video. So I spent a several hours on Labor Day trying to dig-up the interview. Finally, I found it.

Now, I’m ecstatic to share a final tribute to Monta Ellis.

Around 0:56, Steinmetz asks Monta: ‘How would you guard you?’

There’s a brilliant pause for a second as Monta thinks over the question. Then, matter-of-factly, Ellis responds:

‘Ain’t no way.’

Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.

  • Add a Comment
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Facebook
    • Google
    • StumbleUpon
    • TwitThis
    • Yahoo! Buzz
    • Print this article!

This story is filed under: Blogs, NBA, SLAMonline Top 50, The Notorious D.N.P.

Read more like this in: Tags:

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Sep.4 at 8:01 am
    nice article, but…. video doesn’t work?

  • Gerard Himself Posted: Sep.4 at 8:07 am
    also, thanks for commenting on my blog, Ryne.
    About Ellis: I think you guys ranked him at the right place. No matter how talented he is, I am wondering if he could be a floorleader like Baron, or that Ellis is more of a short shooting guard. Who will rack up the assists in Cali this season? (when Monta returns, I mean) I’m having a bad feeling about the Warriors…..

  • andrew Posted: Sep.4 at 8:12 am
    can we not talk about the ankle in this one? Please? Thanks in advance.

  • TADOne Posted: Sep.4 at 8:14 am
    Those were some eye-popping averages that you listed Ryne. I knew he had a good stretch run for about 2 months, but damn. And because Andrew begged of it, I won’t mention the ankle. Oops….

  • Bryan Posted: Sep.4 at 8:16 am
    The warriors had a terrible offseason. This guy has to have some ridiculous ceiling for them to let Baron walk for him.

  • Money Bill Williams Posted: Sep.4 at 8:21 am
    good selection at 46

  • Bryan Posted: Sep.4 at 8:23 am
    I still think I’d rather have Josh Smith though…

  • andrew Posted: Sep.4 at 8:25 am
    I think there are likely 45 players in the lig better than him, but that doesn’t make me like him any less. He’s super. So few warriors games get coverage out here, but only three times in the last year did I jump out of my seat on a play - Monta was one of them…

  • andrew Posted: Sep.4 at 8:26 am
    Also, I need his jersey in one of those ol’ school city colourways…

  • German Reignman Posted: Sep.4 at 8:27 am
    “dropping his wallet on his foot” = classic

  • TADOne Posted: Sep.4 at 8:28 am
    Shia: Him and Josh Smith are the future, true indeed. However, I think Monta gets the Calista Flockhart slight nod in his favor.

  • Hursty Posted: Sep.4 at 8:28 am
    Yeh…. I think its going to be verrry tight in the next few rankings from around 40-46. He could have gone as low as 40 imo but the guy who goes 40th could easily be in Monta’s place.

  • Money Bill Williams Posted: Sep.4 at 8:29 am
    andrew, don’t you mean ” so few NBA games get coverage out here”

  • Hursty Posted: Sep.4 at 8:31 am
    Calista Flockhart is yat. urgh TAD.

  • andrew Posted: Sep.4 at 8:32 am
    Money yeah, I know, but I used to have the platinum Fox package, so I got four games a week… every now and then, between Bucks v Rockets and Lakers V Spurs, they’d throw on a GS vs PHX and I’d wet my pants.

  • andrew Posted: Sep.4 at 8:34 am
    Anyways, on to the topic at hand, I’m really really curious as to who it will be from 45-35. There are so many of these guys that are kind of averagely awesome that this list will keep me occupied for weeks. Which I’m sure is the plan.

  • Hursty Posted: Sep.4 at 8:35 am
    Watch the games on youtube or justin.tv they usually have medium to high quality streaming Aussie boys.

  • Money Bill Williams Posted: Sep.4 at 8:36 am
    hursty what has happened to PP?

  • Hursty Posted: Sep.4 at 8:36 am
    Thats my contribution for the day/night. Peace.

  • Hursty Posted: Sep.4 at 8:38 am
    PP has been MIA for a looong time my friend. havent even been able to get in email contact with him either. Nobody on our blog has any idea either as far as I’m aware of. Free People’s Princess! Im out.

  • DP Posted: Sep.4 at 8:41 am
    Representing for Mississippi to the fullest is my boy Monta. Just watch the video when he sh*tted on little Barbosa and you will become a believer. I thought Monta would be at least in the mid-30s but with his injury maybe this ranking is just. He might never be 100 percent again, but I doubt it shakes his confidence. Dude has a hella work ethic and I expect him to be dropping 30 on dudes pretty soon next year. So this has to mean Al Jefferson is in the mid 30s is Monta is not? Monta is better than Al so I want to see how this pans out. play wit it.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.4 at 8:41 am
    @andrew: I have a feeling 35-45 will be just as contentious in the comments as the order of the Top 10. It’s that mid-to-late group that will most likely birth one of the League’s next stars, in my opinion.

  • Money Bill Williams Posted: Sep.4 at 8:43 am
    @ hursty, ater majok does he have a twin named farooq or something?

  • DP Posted: Sep.4 at 8:43 am
    Yeah PP hope you alright my dude.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.4 at 8:44 am
    @DP: You’re comparing apples to oranges. It’s tough to say if I’d rather have Ellis or Jefferson at this point…There aren’t many bigs like Jefferson any more, but there are *no* smalls like Monta Ellis. :-)

  • a_whiteman Posted: Sep.4 at 8:45 am
    i hope he gets back nice and healthy there isnt another 2 guard at his size that can dow hat he does its very iverson-esque…

  • andrew Posted: Sep.4 at 8:46 am
    Ryne: yeah, that’s kind of how I think my list would turn out, if I ever compiled it. I’m not really one to sh!t on other people’s picks, so don’t expect any nasty comments on my behalf. I’m always bemused by the whole “How can you pick X over Y? Y has (insert totally intangible x-factor type qualities) and X hasn’t!” Plus, I really really can’t wait for Bruno and some of these other weirdos to call slam out for being something like conformists to have Kobe or whoever being number one. Is bassy gonna be on the list?

  • DP Posted: Sep.4 at 8:46 am
    Yeah it’s going to be some beef after this pick because I have to know who is ahead of Monta right now because I just don’t see many cats ahead of him without his injury. and I mean where I would place him, like number 36 or 35.

  • DP Posted: Sep.4 at 8:49 am
    I feel you Ryne. I like both of them I guess I just have a bias toward Ellis because he is a small two guard doing his thing.

  • DP Posted: Sep.4 at 8:50 am
    If Al not in the 30’s, then we might have some problems. 20 and 10 every night? yes sir that is top 30 to me.

  • H to the Izzo Posted: Sep.4 at 8:50 am
    Yet again,I agree.I’m worried.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.4 at 8:52 am
    @DP: Lang and I had some heated Monta Ellis vs. Joe Johnson arguments when I first arrived. I eventually conceded because Joe’s the better all-around player (better passer, rebounder, shooter) right now. But thinking about that conversation makes me wish Monta was healthy again - so he can continue to prove he’s a Top 30 player.

  • WhaHuh Posted: Sep.4 at 8:54 am
    Al Jefferson is a PF with post moves, they are a dying breed and he puts up 20 and 10. Teams have always been built around bigs which is why Ellis future also depends on the improvement of Biedrins.

  • TADOne Posted: Sep.4 at 8:58 am
    DP: The thing you need to remember with Monta is that he plays in a system that compliments everything he does well. I don’t think he would do as well in a halfcourt, slow down system. He wouldn’t be bad, but he would not be as effective. The young man needs to improve his court vision, passing, and leadership, which I am sure he will. Come next year, Monta should be climbing the list. Unless that injury really does hinder him…

  • andrew Posted: Sep.4 at 9:01 am
    TAD - don’t mention the injury…

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.4 at 9:09 am
    @TAD: Exactly. Nellie’s system is key. I’m not sure how well Ellis would fair on say, the Pistons…

  • TADOne Posted: Sep.4 at 9:17 am
    Ryne: I’m not sure if that was sarcasm or not. I mean, you could have said the Knicks or Bulls, but you mentioned the Pistons. Do we have E-beef?

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.4 at 9:24 am
    Rather have Josh Smith. I don’t really like point guards that can’t pass, or shooting guards that can’t spot up.

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.4 at 9:25 am
    Still, pretty good placement

  • Bryan Posted: Sep.4 at 9:25 am
    F*ck the pistons. He would be excellent on the Knicks with Dantoni pulling the strings.

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.4 at 9:27 am
    I’m also not a fan of using two months of a season instead of the entire season/entire career to describe a player. While you can argue that he has shown glimpses of that ability and just needs consistency, you can also argue that it was more of a fluke than anything. Bogut once averaged a 20-12-4 month. Does that make him the second coming of Hakeem, pork chop?

  • Eboy Posted: Sep.4 at 9:28 am
    Yeah, f*ck the Pistons. (Shia has me inspired)

  • TADOne Posted: Sep.4 at 9:33 am
    FTH.

  • Michael Posted: Sep.4 at 9:35 am
    hmm, small combo guard…think i would prefer smith, and al jeff should be pushing top 25

  • Eboy Posted: Sep.4 at 9:35 am
    That sh*t is old, TAD. Get a new tagline.

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 9:37 am
    “A’int no way”, i LOVE that response. Kinda Jordanesque. Confident ballers with a quiet demeanor are the best. And no technicals on ANY level of play? That’s just impressive. Good spot for Monta, definetely better than the guys behind him on the list.

  • Lang Whitaker Posted: Sep.4 at 9:40 am
    I’d take Josh Smith over Monta Ellis 100 times out of 100.

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 9:41 am
    Oh really, what a surprise Lang ;-)

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Sep.4 at 10:05 am
    I agree with Lang - Josh plays the other end of the court like very few, Monta? not so much. I still think Monta should be ranked higher, his offensive game is scary at times. Need to do my own list before I put an actual number on though.

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Sep.4 at 10:07 am
    * Yikes.. sorry for the mocking of the English language in prior post.

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 10:11 am
    What is this, this “shia” thingy that the Kemp offspring bloggers have been using lately? anyone care to enlighten those not born of Shawn Kemps loins?

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.4 at 10:14 am
    Bryan = Shia

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.4 at 10:18 am
    @TAD: No e-beef. The Pistons just run a different system than the Warriors.
    @Jukai: You don’t think MIP in 2006-07 and 20, 5 and 4 last season are justification enough? Those two months were just an anecdote, as I said.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.4 at 10:21 am
    @Lang: If Josh could hit a jumper, I probably would too. :-)

  • TADOne Posted: Sep.4 at 10:25 am
    Darksaber- SKO didn’t start that, but old posters know Bryan as such. If you get confused, just call him f*cker. He responds to either.

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Sep.4 at 10:38 am
    What about RIP, where would you guys rank him?

  • KA Posted: Sep.4 at 10:38 am
    love this guy, am a fan. dude can flat out ball. good example of tweeners who get to the next level by pure, raw talent.

  • Fresh Posted: Sep.4 at 10:41 am
    Quickness and athlete. should have more room to grow running a team on his own. still very underrated and keeps getting better and better. will come into his own this season handling the ball more and can take over games with scoring mentality, and rounded off into a player to make the right passes. Monta still got about 4-5 assits with a player like Baron Davis who dominates the ball for so much and players like Stephen Jackson who also handled the ball a great deal. I think he has capabilities to play the point guard position successfully, that being his new calling on the team. will still be his style of play with the up tempo game.
    THIS IS ALL PENDING ON HIS INJURY. But we don’t know the full extent so we cannot assume so he should have been a higher on the top 50 list

  • Fresh Posted: Sep.4 at 10:42 am
    ANY BETS ON WHO THE NEXT PERSON ON THE LIST IS ………….??

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Sep.4 at 10:47 am
    Fresh; Vince Carter’s jersey.

  • Eboy Posted: Sep.4 at 10:48 am
    I believe I originated the Shia monicker, Darksaber. Sorry for the confusion.

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Sep.4 at 10:49 am
    So proud Eboy, so proud.

  • Eboy Posted: Sep.4 at 10:52 am
    Hey, the fu*king kid looked like Shia Labouef in his Myspace picture back in the day, it’s not my f*cking fault he had facial reconstruction to look like a Key West pole pirate! :)

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.4 at 10:56 am
    @Ryne: I didn’t know those were his season averages. That’s actually incredibly impressive.

  • Michael Posted: Sep.4 at 10:58 am
    next player will be…jamison or deng

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Sep.4 at 11:07 am
    Eboy; Hehe fair enough. Also; I know you are old and all, but seriously are people still using Myspace?

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Sep.4 at 11:07 am
    And Deng wont make the list.

  • Bryan Posted: Sep.4 at 11:08 am
    I didn’t look like f*ckin shia lebouf.

  • Eboy Posted: Sep.4 at 11:10 am
    Yeah, right.

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Sep.4 at 11:16 am
    Well Shia at least you can comfort yourself with that your name is Bryan.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.4 at 11:18 am
    Maybe that’s why Bryan links to MySpace.com now…not his profile.

  • Bryan Posted: Sep.4 at 11:19 am
    Happy now Ryne?

  • TADOne Posted: Sep.4 at 11:24 am
    Well, Ryne looks like he was/is in a boyband and I supposedly look like a lost member of House of Pain per Eboy, so theres that.

  • TADOne Posted: Sep.4 at 11:27 am
    In all fairness, Eboy looks like the lead singer from Color Me Badd.

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 11:30 am
    First off, Ryne really FEELS strongly about Monta. Never seen you defend a player this badly on these pages man. Passion, good on ya. And thanks to Eboy and TAD for clearing up the Shia/Bryan issue for me, started to think the annoying c*nt Leboeuf had used an NBA quip in one of his movies that was the new catchphrase in the states. Kinda like the 08 version of “show me the money”. And TADOne? Damn son, you don’t like Bryan much do ya?

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 11:31 am
    Oh my gawd, Eboy looks like George Micheal’s twin? Interesting.

  • Eboy Posted: Sep.4 at 11:42 am
    @Tad, b*tch, I have eyebrows!!!!!

  • Bryan Posted: Sep.4 at 11:48 am
    All love with me and Tad. Except about the pistons. And Eboy is the one who christened me with this bullsh*t nickname but its part of my slam message board identity so I embrace it haha.

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 11:49 am
    Eboy is always so heated (assuming he means all the swear words he uses) Colour me badd wasn’t that baddddddd. “i adore, me amore” has a special place in my mind (and my first girlfriend’s too. Lol.

  • Eboy Posted: Sep.4 at 11:53 am
    Darksaber, your cool point level dropped about 70000 points just then. And no, I’m not always heated, I just kind of talk the same way I type.

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 11:57 am
    How don’t you get T’d up growing up playing organized b-ball all the way to the nba? Wow. When i started, guys were spewing insults at me, so every once in a while, i’d lose it. But never getting 1, at that level of competition? That floored me. You sure about this Ryne?

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 11:58 am
    Ah that’s ok Eboy, still got about a million cool points left. i can take the deduction buddy. And don’t you tell me you didn’t listen to smarmy marmy 90’s pop back in the day…. a touch of Milli Vanilli perhaps?

  • Eboy Posted: Sep.4 at 12:00 pm
    You saying “touch” and “Milli Vanilli” in the same sentence drops another 1580000 points, Dark.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.4 at 12:03 pm
    @Bryan: You remembered!
    @Darksaber: I won’t lie, the Warriors made every one of those 10-, 11- and 12-game nights enjoyable to watch until 1 a.m.

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 12:03 pm
    You just made me laugh out loud at my desk Eboy. Thanks for that.

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.4 at 12:05 pm
    @Darksaber: Monta’s the definition of *silent* assassin.

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 12:07 pm
    Ryne: i started watching the NBA for real back in 89, there was this kid i met who was reading a french mag called “cinq majeurs” (maybe you heard about it) and even though my french back then was horrible, the pics of Worthy etc. fascinated me. And Run TMC was one of my all time favorite group of players, EVA!!

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 12:08 pm
    @Ryne: seems like it. I mean, scrawny kid like him must have heard his share of smacktalk and gotten verbal abuse on the courts, and no tech!! He just rose to a whole new level in my book.

  • Darksaber Posted: Sep.4 at 12:21 pm
    Have a good lunch people. I’m out to get me some dinner. Do Svindanya.

  • Lang Whitaker Posted: Sep.4 at 12:39 pm
    I’d take Josh over Monta because in the NBA, finding scoring is one of the easier things to find. But finding a guy who can average nearly double-figures in rebounds and lead the league in blocks and can guard the 2, 3, 4 or 5 is damn near impossible.

  • Michael Posted: Sep.4 at 12:40 pm
    lang - agreed, short scoring combo guards dont usually lead you to the promised land.

  • thesubwayconnection Posted: Sep.4 at 12:45 pm
    Shoulda responded earlier, but I feel for him. I tore ALL of the ligaments in my right ankle two years ago and had a high ankle sprain. He’ll be back. If a nobody like me can physio out of it, Monta can.

  • DP Posted: Sep.4 at 12:57 pm
    I will agree that he is a product of his surroundings. Slow pace is not his style and he would not suceed in it.

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.4 at 1:01 pm
    Lang - Agreed, but there is also the arguement that you would rather have someone who could consistantly play at a certain level over someone who may dominate or may not show up

  • Bryan Posted: Sep.4 at 1:30 pm
    Co-sign Lang.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Sep.4 at 1:31 pm
    I actually think Monta could thrive in detroit. his numbers might go down, because he’d get less shots and there would be far less possesions overall. Think Rodney Stuckey but better in almost every conceiveable way. Dude was consistently the W’s best player last year. His shot selection and decision making can be erratic but he shoots such a high percentage. I’m not mad at the ranking, but I’d almost certainly take him over a bunch of guys who will be ahead of him on the list.I really have a soft spot in my heart for Monta’s game, so I may be a little biased. *Praying he gets all the way back to 100%*

  • B. Long Posted: Sep.4 at 1:38 pm
    You guys have been dead on so far with the rankings. I’m sure it will get a little more heated when when get in the top 25 and out right deadly when we get to the top 10. Get well soon, Monta.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Sep.4 at 1:40 pm
    JSmoove is probably slightly more valuable because of rebounding and what he contributes defensively. Although, premier NBA 4s (or 3s) really need to be able to score from the post and/or midrange, not just dunks and freethrows (Josh IS a great FT shooter. Yes, Smoove attacks the rim like nobody else but his handle is a little shaky. On the other hand, Monta might be one of the most explosive combo guards EVER (IMO he’s already really only behind Iverson in that regard) He’s hasn’t been around long enough to acheive great statistical success or win a bunch, but the young man’s game speaks for itself.

  • YAY AREA'S FINEST Posted: Sep.4 at 2:10 pm
    aint no way… that thers 45 players in the nba better than monta ellis…

  • Ryne Nelson Posted: Sep.4 at 2:44 pm
    I agree scorers are a dime a dozen…but not scorers like Monta Ellis. Like ciolkstar said, the League has never seen a guy like this.

  • BETCATS Posted: Sep.4 at 2:47 pm
    dudes that can score pop up all the time, but everybody in here said it, nobody has done it like Monta.

  • B. Long Posted: Sep.4 at 2:48 pm
    Monta is a slighty bigger and more athletic version of A.I. but doesn’t quite have his range yet.

  • TADOne Posted: Sep.4 at 3:13 pm
    B: Get the f’ outta here! More athletic than AI? Dude is fast and can do some things, but please don’t go THERE. In case you didn’t know, Ivy was a top-rated QB in high school before he gave it up.

  • BETCATS Posted: Sep.4 at 3:19 pm
    yeah B, that was a pretty dumb one liner but i am not going to call you out because i make about 4 of those per day.

  • Ben Osborne Posted: Sep.4 at 3:26 pm
    Monta is the man. Nice work, Ryne.

  • B. Long Posted: Sep.4 at 3:32 pm
    @Tad: I’m talking about right now. Not A.I. 2000. And yes I knew he was a badass quarterback for Newport News. I also remember him banging on Camby when he was with the Raps. But right now Monta is definitely more atheltic and he gets up on the regular.

  • BETCATS Posted: Sep.4 at 3:38 pm
    B Long, if you think that when Monta gets to the point in his career that AI is at right now and is anything more than a just a little bit more atheltic then the Iverson of today, you are beeing a Silly Billy.

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.4 at 3:47 pm
    Ryne: Ginobli.

  • B. Long Posted: Sep.4 at 3:53 pm
    @BETcats:I never said that. And for someone who calls people homo’s alot you might want to kill the Silly Billy talk.

  • BETCATS Posted: Sep.4 at 3:56 pm
    B. Long stop being such a negative nancy!!! IF what you meant that was if today we broke down the athleticness of Iverson and Monta going into the 09-10 season, i would agree monta would win, but that it is invaild since they are both at different points in their career. Good try though!

  • B. Long Posted: Sep.4 at 4:00 pm
    Meh.

  • underdog Posted: Sep.4 at 4:00 pm
    When I saw this skinny dude among the top HS players presented by SLAM, I dindn’t even imagined he would be this dominant ever. Hope his ankle gets better and we’ll see him in his prime.

  • BETCATS Posted: Sep.4 at 4:03 pm
    i win!!! the spoils of victory!

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.4 at 4:30 pm
    Spoils of victory being you patting yourself on the back then going back to masturbating and not having any friends?

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.4 at 4:31 pm
    Sorry, that was overly aggressive. Just a long day at work, is all.
    (douche)

  • BETCATS Posted: Sep.4 at 5:15 pm
    pst jukai that wasnt funny.

  • B. Long Posted: Sep.4 at 5:29 pm
    That’s the funniest thing Jukai has said…ever.

  • BETCATS Posted: Sep.4 at 5:44 pm
    B Long is just mad he lost, so he needs to take Jukai’s comment (which i am guessing is really what Jukai does, i dont need to beat my meat, i can actualy use it) and have a ball. Touche.

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Sep.4 at 5:48 pm
    He shot over 60 percent, averaged 40 minutes and only 1.7 turns per contest. And those other averages: 26, 5 and 5. In the four games prior to All-Star, Monta was even hotter, averaging 29.5 points on 69.4 percent shooting.

  • Money Bill Williams Posted: Sep.4 at 5:55 pm
    @ eboy & bryan, i think you look more like fred durst now bryan

  • Colin Posted: Sep.4 at 6:21 pm
    I fail to se how Monta is better than Kevin Martin. His per was worse than Martin’s and he has no outside shot. He is also a worse defender than Martin. But he can dunk really well!

  • B. Long Posted: Sep.4 at 6:34 pm
    Colin makes good points.

  • YAY AREA'S FINEST Posted: Sep.4 at 6:39 pm
    colin’s points seem flawed to me… monta has no outside shot??? are you kidding? he doesnt have consistent 3 point range yet but he might have the most consistent 18 footer in the league.. and at his age, thats a very valuable skill, put that with blazing speed, incredible quickness, crazy bounce, and an amazing ability to finish in traffic despite his stature… monta will be top 25 on everyone’s list in 2 years

  • B. Long Posted: Sep.4 at 8:10 pm
    Someone named Yay’s p.o.v. seems biased to me considering he’s talking about G-States star player.

  • tealish Posted: Sep.4 at 8:30 pm
    Colin: Easy. Monta looks the part, Kevin Martin doesn’t.

  • BETCATS Posted: Sep.4 at 8:33 pm
    its called being a TRUE fan B. Long, try it

  • DP Posted: Sep.4 at 8:37 pm
    Monta is f*cking athletic as hell. I know Allen was a top football prospect and he could dunk like a motha back in the day too but I’ve seen Monta do this on a regular base in high school and let me tell you, tv don’t do the man any justice. That dude can freakin fly and I agree with B. I might just be being a homer but that’s just the way I feel. Oh yeah and Monta, stop playin 5 on 5 down here in Jackson. GS knows you are lying dog.

  • DP Posted: Sep.4 at 8:40 pm
    Kevin Martin better than Monta? Are you feeling okay Colin?

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.4 at 9:40 pm
    Kevin Martin does not have anywhere near the skillset Monta does. Kevin is one dimensional, but he can’t break down and draw the defense. Monta might not be the world’s greatest passer, but he makes it up by being able to draw in defenders and kick out, as long as he sees his man.

  • davidR Posted: Sep.4 at 11:49 pm
    colin you’re trippn if you think those points make kevin better than monta. kevin isn’t known for his defense either, and although he has an outside shot, he’s not as efficient or as consistent as monta. and having a higher PER is bullish — i’d rather have monta’s 20 points on 53% shooting over kevin’s higher PER.

  • davidR Posted: Sep.4 at 11:52 pm
    although i believe monta and josh smith still have flaws in their games they need to hammer out (FT shooting, turnovers, etc), i think at their current level they deserve to break 30s or be placed in the low 40s. maybe their insane potentials are causing you guys to underrate their present levels?

  • Jukai Posted: Sep.5 at 1:46 am
    How does Kevin have a higher PER than Monta? Monta has better stats in rebounds, assists, field goal percentage, steals, blocks, less turnovers, less fouls. Monta is actually better than Kevin Martin in almost every statistical way.

  • Sesa Posted: Sep.5 at 3:18 am
    That Haircut is awful, still waiting for Kobe…

  • davidR Posted: Sep.5 at 7:37 am
    yea, monta’s stats are better than kevin’s in almost every category jukai, but colin somehow thinks kevin has a higher per regardless

  • Colin Posted: Sep.5 at 12:36 pm
    Well if you look at his per on ESPN it is better 21 vs 19. And the fact that Martin is 6′7″ and can shoot from beyond the free throw line. I really do not value a 6′3″ shooting guard that cannot shoot. And Martin averaged 3.5 more points per game than Ellis in the same conference. Your judgements are based on appearance and mine are based on numbers. I do not think Lebron or Kobe or even Josh Smith really freak out when either of these guys come to town, but at least Martin makes it tough for them to see the basket.

  • ciolkstar Posted: Sep.5 at 3:06 pm
    I like Kev Money’s game but he ain’t on Monta’s level in terms of impacting a game. Martin shoots way too many 3s and is a weak defender. The fact that Monta avoids shooting 3s is actually one of the strengths of his game. He gets to the rim more effectively than Martin and is just as good of a rebounder, even at a significantly smaller size. Kev is nice but Monta is on some next isht.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.5 at 4:41 pm
    Monta’s potential as a ball player is endless. If and when he reaches his peak, he’ll be an unstoppable force, a top 10, if not top 5 player hands down. I just hope the guy can heal to 100% after his injury. Best of luck to Monta Ellis.

  • davidR Posted: Sep.5 at 5:09 pm
    colin, you say monta can’t shoot, yet he shoots at a much higher percentage than kevin does.. and no, kevin does not make it tough for anyone to see the basket. i think you’re judgement of his defense is also based on appearance

  • davidR Posted: Sep.5 at 5:12 pm
    you wanna go by the numbers? then check their averages in each category. monta has better numbers in every category except 3’s and freethrows.

  • Colin Posted: Sep.5 at 5:59 pm
    And points per game.

  • davidR Posted: Sep.5 at 6:13 pm
    with all that said, monta vs kevin will be the most exciting underrated rivalry in the next years

  • Colin Posted: Sep.5 at 7:18 pm
    I agree with that last statement davidR. Close proximity, basically the best player on their teams, and playing the 2 will keep them at it for Norcal fans.

Comments