The shot was pretty -- the All-Star Game voting is not. Ellis is third in the NBA in scoring at 26 points per game. He's had nine games of 35 points or more -- tops in the league. Three 40-point games -- tops in the league. Yet Monta's not even in the top 10 in fan balloting among Western Conference guards. The starting five players are picked by the fans and seven reserves will be chosen by Western Conference coaches.
"It would be great for our organization, for him to have a chance to be an all-star. You know, we haven't had one in a long time," says Warriors head coach Keith Smart.
Not since 1997 to be exact. Latrell Sprewell is the last Golden State player named an all-star. Where was Monta 14 years ago?
"I was 12. What I was doing was playing in mud and eating mud pies at that time," says Ellis.
The numbers are stacked against Monta; Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul will probably be voted in as starters. Manu Ginobili is having a great year, Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook play on winning teams. Steve Nash leads the West on assists, so the problem is too many guards, not enough spots.
"Someone's always going to be left off. Someone that's going to be playing well is going to be left off. It's impossible to do it when you have, this year, you have a collection of so many guys playing well," said Smart.
And the Warriors' lack of success, historically, has not helped.
