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NBA Power Rankings: All 30 Starting Shooting Guards

By Shane Young

January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) guards Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) guards Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Power Rankings
Apr 26, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis (11) reacts to a call during the game against the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Dallas won 109-108. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

10.  Monta Ellis — Dallas Mavericks

It’s okay to flash back to Ellis’ Golden State days every once in a while, where he scored 25.5 points per game and looked to be on his way to the top of the ladder.  The honeymoon experienced a standstill in Milwaukee, where he had to share the wealth with Brandon Jennings.

Nobody ever does well when they’re faced with the Jennings challenge.

Last season with Dallas, Ellis didn’t imagine he would be their catapult into the playoffs, shooting the best he has since 2010 (45.1 percent).

There’s not a more active, rim-attacking two-guard in the league, and it became clear cut last season for those that didn’t believe it.  Ellis had 827 “drives” during his first year with Dirk, meaning he was pushing the ball into the middle more than any other player.

Most points per game on drives to the cup?  That would be Ellis at 7.3, more than LeBron, Durant, Tony Parker, and Eric Bledsoe.

I’ve never been a huge proponent of Ellis’ attitude, nonetheless, as he always comes across as a player that wants a ridiculous amount of praise.  In this game, don’t you earn that by reaching the NBA Finals, or even just the conference finals?

Despite being a primary reason why Dallas inched out a ton of close games down the stretch, Ellis wasn’t the only factor that contributed to the Mavericks’ success in grabbing 49 wins and a No. 8 seed.  Dallas ended the year by being seven points per 100 possessions better  when Ellis was off the floor, rather than when he was playing.

If there’s any coach that can get the most out of Ellis and try to teach him how to work with a balanced system, it’s either Popovich or Rick Carlisle.  For that, he should be thankful.

But, more than anything, Ellis should be ecstatic that he’ll be able to score without as much defensive attention as last year, due to Chandler Parsons landing in Mark Cuban’s arms during free agency.  Cuban should give Ellis and everyone a cigar for that move.