He's starting to reach iverson status as far as stats are concerned, and that who I think about when watching him. He's shooting numbers are solid and his team is starting to gell. he's got to be the best kept secret in the NBA
He's not talked about because the Warriors most likely won't make the playoffs again. People feel like he is just a guy that gets his stats on a losing team.
Maybe it's because he's seen as a system player? Maybe it's because he's on the west coast so the majority of media don't even *really* get to watch him play very much? Maybe since most people based their opinion of him off highlights, and his best plays tend to be him scoring, he is not seen as a more complete player? Just some possibilities. Also, it's jell...sorry, pet peeve.
He's no secret to people who really follow the NBA. Casual fans don't know much about him because the Warriors have been irrelevant for so long. Don't agree with your comment on the Warriors team. Their roster still suffers from Nellie's influence. They must have serious improvement at SF and C to be taken seriously and need to make some big moves. I also still question if Curry and Ellis are the best long-term fit for each other. They make it work OK but an elite-scoring SF replacing either guy (esp. Curry) would take the Warriors to another level.
Probably the same reason people don't talk about Kevin Martin despite being possibly the best scorer in the league (2nd in Scoring per minute played while having a much higher true shooting percentage that almost any other volume scorer in the league). They're both on not-so-great teams. Kevin Love gets more attention because his rebounding stats are much more special and rare than Ellis's scoring numbers.
Ellis is one of my favorite players. He can flat out score and has become a better teammate. It will be very tough to win in the East with a small Ellis and Curry backcourt. He's on the same level when he catches fire as the likes of Kobe, D Wade, Ray Allen.
But he's not quite the coach-killing headcase AI was. Plus, Monta Ellis can play very good D when he decides to. He was the only guy I've seen who could truly disrupt Brandon Roy without fouling him when Roy would close out tight games.
Ellis is a really really elite offensive player. But in order to win in the NBA you need a surrounding cast to balance out the roster. -If you want to compare Ellis to Allen Iverson then look at the years Iverson had the most success with the 76ers. That roster had Iverson surrounded with role players that were designed to fit with him to create balance. Ellis is a great player but I would differ that he doesn't have the right cast around him. Alot of good players like Lee, Curry, Williams, but they really need veteran leaders like a Mutumbo, Mckie, and a Eric Snow to help this team win more basketball games. If Ellis can get this team to the playoffs next season or maybe the one after it, then you will hear him mentioned with the other top dogs in the game. The playoffs are where guys like Ellis become stars. -With the above comparison of Ellis to Iverson I kind of wonder if Ellis is the player that might actually be what puts the Rockets over the top. Not really the star I would want but you have to think about what he could do for a team like the Rockets filled with role players and solid Veterans.
I'm from the Bay Area and so I watch the Warriors play all the time and the guy can just flat out score. I was at the home-opener when he single-handedly beat the Rockets with 46 points. And then I attended the next Rockets game also and he scored 44, but luckily we held them off and won that game. He has an unstoppable jump shot from the top of the key and is one of the best finishers in the league. His only problem is he never chooses to play any defense. I remember a comparison before the game of "two of the best offensive backcourts in the NBA." Hindsight... smh. The Warrior's backcourt of Curry & Ellis destroys ours.
Agreed with OP. Ellis should have made more noise by now. And I think he has improved quite a bit this season. If Iverson and Ray Allen were viewed as elite offensive players when they were with crappy teams, then Ellis should be too.
I agree that Love is getting coverage because his rebounding numbers are more unique / special. I also don't think Iverson is a good comparison, vs Martin. Martin scores 23 ppg on TEN less minutes than Ellis. AI had much better numbers. imo, he had a very remarkable PER for a 40+ minutes guy. Ellis has never been over 20, mainly because of his high minutes. Gel and Jell are both correct...as verb forms of jelly and gelatin. The other spellings are wrong.
"gel" and "jell" are both correct - although sports journalists usually use "jell" while most people use "gel" for hair products.
The difference in Ellis Vs. Martin is that he can create a shot if the offense breaks down. Martin is more efficient but he has to have plays run for him to be effective. -Steph Curry is a more similar player to Martin because he is a wonderful secondary scorer who can shoot when left open, is incredibly efficient but he doesn't create for himself. Remember the game winner Martin hit Vs. Utah a week ago... that was that curl play they run for Martin. The problem here is definitely team Defense by the Warriors. Like the Rockets, they have terrible defense on the opposing teams backcourt and point guard. They allow for easy dribble penetration and do not have the best shot blocking centers in the game to make up for their mishaps on the perimeter. -Its amazing how similar the Warriors are to the Rockets actually. Alot of mid level talent, bad defense, and a great scorer. Ellis is just a little bit better than Martin because he can create for himself. -Curry is more similar to Martin in his skillset but he doesn't get to the foul line like Martin does. If the Warriors are in a close game and close on teams defensively, they have a guy in Ellis that can get a bucket. -With some better defensive coaching a few Chuck Hayes like veterans, the Warriors could be a playoff team easily. Just dont tell their owner and GM.
When David Lee hits the glass, like last night (getting close to 20 boards), the Warriors will win. But he needs monster rebounding games for them. Very fun team to watch, and they are playing more defense this year.
dobro1229, i wasn't comparing Ellis and Martin as players. i was merely comparing them based on lack of much press...two guys that are successful enough at what they do to get more press.
