POLL RESULTS: FUTURE AT POWER FORWARD

Who will be the starting PF by the end of the 2008-09 season?

Al Harrington: 19 (26%)
Anthony Randolph: 14 (19%)
Brandan Wright: 33 (45%)
Other: 6 (8%)

GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE

Do the Warriors have future superstars among their ranks? Is a core of Ellis, Biedrins, Randolph, Wright good enough to eventually win a title? Read the following 3 part series on NBADraft.net by Robert W. McChesney and see how vital the superstar is to a team with their sights focused on winning a Championship. History has shown that you're just spinning your wheels if you don't have a superstar or two to carry you to the promised land.


The Superstar Theory: Revisited and Supercharged, Part 1
The Superstar Theory: Revisited and Supercharged, Part 2
The Superstar Theory: Revisited and Supercharged, Part 3


Basic scoring and determination of Superstar status

1. MVP voting

MVP: 15 points
MVP 2nd: 13 points
MVP 3rd: 11 points
MVP 4th: 9 points
MVP 5th: 7 points
MVP 6th-10th: 5 points
MVP 11th-15th: 3 points

2. All-NBA teams

First team all-NBA: 10 points
Second team all-NBA: 5 points
Third team all-NBA: 3 points

3. All-Defense teams

First team all-Defense: 3 points
Second-team all-Defense: 2 points

4. Defensive Player of the Year

DPOY: 2 points


Partial List of Superstars
average points over career

GOLD MEDAL
1. M. Jordan = 23.8
2. K. Abdul-Jabbar = 21.8
3. T. Duncan = 21.7
4. B. Russell = 21.2
5. L. Bird = 20.7
6. W. Chamberlain = 18.5
7. S. O'Neal = 18.4
11. M. Johnson = 17.5
12. K. Bryant = 16.4
18. L. James = 13.8
19. K. Garnett = 13.6

SILVER MEDAL
22. J. Erving = 12.3 (counting ABA years = 15.3)
23. D. Nowitzki = 12.1
24. S. Nash = 11.9
27. C. Barkley = 11.1
30. T. McGrady = 9.9
31. J. Kidd = 9.3
34. R. Barry = 9.0
38. A. Iverson = 8.3
39. C. Paul = 8.3
42. B. Wallace = 7.6
44. D. Wayde = 7.0

BRONZE MEDAL
50. A. Mourning = 6.9
51. G. Hill = 6.8
52. A. Stoudemire = 6.6
58. I. Thomas = 5.9
59. D. Howard = 5.5
62. C. Webber = 5.2
67. T. Hardaway = 4.7
69. J. O'Neal = 4.4
70. N. Thurmond = 4.3
73. G. Arenas = 3.8
76. K. McHale = 3.7
76. C. Billups = 3.7

MONTA ELLIS ARTICLE

Warriors feel Ellis is up to challenge of taking over as point guard
by Marcus Thompson II / Contra Costa Times

... There are plenty of athletes who overcame a lack of talent by working harder than everyone else. There are plenty of athletes who are good enough to thrive with putting in the practice time. But not many combine special talent with a persistent grind to get better, as does Ellis.

... he has unique quickness in lateral movement and reaction. He gets off the ground like a flea — fast and high — and has superb body control while in the air. He has a natural feel for the game you can't teach — he knows how and when to change gears and how to anticipate the help defense.

... it's his work ethic that has set Ellis apart.

... "Anytime he's faced with any type of adversity or someone questioning his ability, he uses that as a motivating factor and turns it into a positive," Mullin said. "From where he was drafted to not playing much his rookie year, he's been faced with things already and has taken them head on. He's one of those motivated, mentally tough kind of guys. I have a lot of confidence in him."

You think he's good now at 22 years old, just wait until you see him in his prime. I envision him doing a good job at PG and improving his defense to a satisfactory level next year. Once he develops a more consistent long range shot, improves his point guard skills, and adds the 3-pointer to his repertoire in the next couple of years, he could focus on becoming a much better defender. Ellis has the god-given quickness and athletic ability and we've seen him play harassing defense at times. With his outstanding work ethic, there's no reason he couldn't vastly improve this part of his game in time. Warriors have him until 2014 when he will be 28 years old and at the peak of his abilities mentally and physically.


Monta Ellis Mix
From: Necroking24