#TBT- Monta Ellis, SG, Indiana Pacers
@Hoover__26 December 10
I know what you’re thinking. Monta Ellis as a throwback? Well, I honestly didn’t know this until I was researching, but Monta is in fact 30. Really. He may still look the same as he did in his rookie year, but Monta is getting to be an old guy in the NBA (he’s with his fourth team in eleven seasons). While he may not fit the bill as a traditional “throwback” player (last two #TBTs were the Gasol brothers, so you see what I’m getting at), Monta does fit into an entirely different class of throwbacks. He doesn’t remind us of when Kareem was still Lew Alcindor, but of someone we might see on an episode of NB80’s (if you haven’t seen that show, I question your status as a basketball fan). His game is so free-flowing, as it has been for over a decade. He has also shed his label of being a “chucker” (for those who don’t know, a chucker is someone who shoots whether he’s open or not, and isn’t very fond of passing), as his assist numbers are up from last season in his first year with the Pacers. While he may not be a top shooting guard option right now, he can always give you games where his shot is so hot that he can’t help but go off.
Ellis is averaging 12.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game this year with the Pacers. Those may not be Curry-ish numbers, but they are more than respectable. However, he isn’t going out there and dropping twelve points every game. He has topped 18 points in three of his last four games, but has fell short of scoring 10 thrice in his last seven. So, Monta is streaky to say the least. But, on a good day, the guy just can’t miss. And while he has learned over the past seasons that there ARE in fact four other guys on his team that are able to receive passes, you don’t have to worry about him getting shy about shooting after a cold streak. He can still dribble around, past, and back around most NBA defenders, which means he can get to the rim with pretty good regularity.
Monta Ellis is a throwback not because he reminds us of the old time game, but because he has managed to continue to play like an athletic 22 year old at age 30. In some cases, that may be a bad thing, but in the case of Monta, I say it’s a positive. He has style on the court, and just because he’s getting older doesn’t mean he’s going to change. He hasn’t had the traditional “start out a pure scorer, mature into a facilitator, finish as a role player” kind of career, but why should he? If he can still play like he did as a young buck (no pun intended), and have great success, why not do it? I know I can’t see a reason for Monta Ellis, this week’s #TBT, to stop playing like Monta Ellis.
Ellis is averaging 12.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game this year with the Pacers. Those may not be Curry-ish numbers, but they are more than respectable. However, he isn’t going out there and dropping twelve points every game. He has topped 18 points in three of his last four games, but has fell short of scoring 10 thrice in his last seven. So, Monta is streaky to say the least. But, on a good day, the guy just can’t miss. And while he has learned over the past seasons that there ARE in fact four other guys on his team that are able to receive passes, you don’t have to worry about him getting shy about shooting after a cold streak. He can still dribble around, past, and back around most NBA defenders, which means he can get to the rim with pretty good regularity.
Monta Ellis is a throwback not because he reminds us of the old time game, but because he has managed to continue to play like an athletic 22 year old at age 30. In some cases, that may be a bad thing, but in the case of Monta, I say it’s a positive. He has style on the court, and just because he’s getting older doesn’t mean he’s going to change. He hasn’t had the traditional “start out a pure scorer, mature into a facilitator, finish as a role player” kind of career, but why should he? If he can still play like he did as a young buck (no pun intended), and have great success, why not do it? I know I can’t see a reason for Monta Ellis, this week’s #TBT, to stop playing like Monta Ellis.