Under-The-Radar: Standouts from the Western conference that you did not see in the all-star game
A look at the unsung heroes around the league. Players who contribute significantly to their team’s success, but remain under the radar. These players could have been all-stars, should have been all-stars, or will be all-stars in the near future. Here, they are recognized and honored for their overlooked, but excellent performances.
Ever since the days of post-illegal defense, balance has grown to become an important commodity for teams in today’s game. The game has grown to be more complex. Tactics are more advanced as well as scouting reports. Play has become more essential on both ends and is easier to quantify. No longer are elite scorers who dominate in isolation situations the only valuable commodity to a team’s success. The decoys are just as important.
Tactical advancements and the game’s evolution have made it easier to place a value on players. Analytics have become the new wave (Sorry, Charles Barkley). They help give a new look at what players do for their teams on the floor. Nowadays, role players are just as critical to a team’s integral success as the star players.
Now, while these standouts are not all-stars,that does not mean they are any less important. They deserve to be recognized because they are situational all-stars. They have served a deeply beneficial role to their respective teams this year and should be honored for it. Reason being, without them, their team would not be in as good of a position as they are now.
Notes:
*No All-Stars or All-Star replacements are listed
*Some players may be left out
*These players are listed due to their value to their respective team, not by overall skill or by their numbers
*Noted players are replacements
Western Conference Team:
- Monta Ellis:
Yet to be named to an all-star team in his career, Monta Ellis has had a pretty nice season. Pre-Rondo acquisition, Dallas asked a lot out of Monta. He was their primary ball-handler and had to become more indulged into a facilitating role. That to go along with the fact that he has taken over scoring responsibilities in Dallas. Ellis has posted a career second-best PER this season as well as a career high in STL%, according to basketball-reference.com. Ellis ranks 8th in league with a 20.7 PIE in clutch moments, according to NBA Synergy Stats. Ellis also leads his team in assists (In context of Rajon Rondo only playing 21 games this season). Ellis has become more effective passing out of dribble-penetration which has boosted his play in the pick-and-roll. Ellis has been more effective on the defensive end too; getting into passing lanes and intercepting intended targets. Ellis has displayed effective play on both sides of the floor this season. His play will be important in hopes of the Mavericks maintaining a sacred playoff spot in the vaunted Western Conference. It has been a pretty nifty year for the former chuckling bust. One that was only looked upon to be a volume-scorer at his peak. If there was a year to vote Monta Ellis in as an all-star, reserve or not, this would have been the year.
Mike Conley:
Possibly the most overlooked point-guard in the Western Conference, if not named an all-star last season, Mike Conley surely deserved to be named an all-star this season. I guess it is easy for a majority to overlook a point-guard that plays within the same conference as Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, and Damian Lillard. Conley has been labeled with the Undisputed Underrated Championship amongst point-guards his whole career. Known to be a quality facilitator, Conley has improved to become a more effective defender year-by-year. Conley is effective at fighting over screens and chasing down ball-handlers. Conley also displays great ability at stunting and recovering. Conley is a key part of the Memphis Grizzlies’ defense. Conley has currently posted a career-high FG% and is averaging a career-high (tied with last season) four 3PA a game at a 40.6% clip, according to basketball-reference.com. To display Conley’s efficiency, out of all players with at least 100 or more possessions, Mike Conley ranks seventh in points-per-possession (PPP) at 1.22PPP, according to NBA Synergy Stats. Mike Conley has had a superb year, one that will only add on to his resume of being one of the biggest unsung heroes around the league. Mike Conley may note have played on Sunday, but he surely deserved to have played.
Gordon Hayward:
The face of a franchise? Is he worth $15-million a year? Many question the latter, however, Gordon Hayward has displayed tremendous versatility in his game. His shooting numbers are back up with growth spurts in the rest of his game. Hayward can do it all; score in isolation, shoot from deep, make key passes on the move, maintain his ground on defense, and run the break. Hayward is a key piece in Quin Snyder’s Motion Continuity system which emphasizes player and ball movement while promoting spacing. Snyder’s system requires high IQ players with essential skills. Hayward fulfills those requirements. Hayward has a nice repertoire of isolation moves, as he ranks sixth in the league in PPP on isolation plays and leads the league in points off of hand-offs, according to NBA Synergy Stats. Hayward has a nice crossover when using and denying ball-screens. Especially his nifty behind-the-back crossover. Hayward has also added a convenient floater to his repertoire. Not to mention how impressive his footwork is, Hayward has great speed and in both the half court and transition. With his ability to create space and pass on the move, expect Haywards (already impressive) pick-and-roll game to become even more polished. There is no telling how high Hayward’s ceiling may be, all we know is that he is a potential franchise player for the young Utah Jazz. Not an all-star this year, but he will certainly find his way there in the upcoming years.
Courtney Lee:
A man deserving of more recognition, Courtney Lee is an essential part of Memphis’s core. While many know for being an exceptional shooter, Lee is also a menace on the other end of the floor. Lee also has great instincts on the floor; knowing where to be and how to end up in key passing lane on both sides of the floor. Courtney Lee does not get enough credit for how effective he is when being ran of the three-point line as he has a patented floater in his arsenal. Lee has become better year-by-year at attacking closeouts. His favorable pull-up jumper benefits his efforts too. In clutch moments, Lee leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio and 8.1 NET rating, according to NBA Synergy Stats. Courtney Lee has come a long way from just being your next relegated spot-up shooter, or three-and-D wing player. He has more range in his game. His versatility has opened up many more opportunities for head coach Dave Joerger. A key player of the Memphis Grizzlies’ core that deserves recognition.
Danny Green:
The script has not gone as planned this year for the favorite’s of many fans to defend their title and repeat as champions. A better start was foreshadowed for this team. However, there has been a player on the defending champion’s roster who has made significant contributions this year that have helped keep them afloat in the Western Conference. That player would be no other than Danny Green. Once a fringe NBA rotation player, fighting to make his way on to a professional roster, Green has made his name nearly household around the league. Danny Green is still all of the great things this season as he has always done; spot-up shooting, superb defense; and transition defense with on-the-move ball strips and chase down blocks. Difference is, Green is making more reads on the move as he is penetrating more often and his passing has improved. Green is giving teams even more to worry about. Even when they run him off of the three-point line. Green has posted career-highs in per game averages such as points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks this season. That goes along with his current career-highs he has posted in PER and DRtg, according to basketball-reference.com. Danny Green is second in the league in spot-up points, according to NBA Synergy Stats. It has been a great career year for Green. While things have not gone as planned for the Spurs, Danny Green is more than deserving acknowledgements for his superb performances this year.
Markieff Morris:
When the Phoenix Suns come to mind, many things come to mind. Things such as two point guard uptempo system, Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and occasionally, Isaiah Thomas. However, their unsung hero, Markieff Morris, is an afterthought. Without Morris, the Suns lack balance. Morris is, more often than not, the Sun’s bailout go-to guy. Morris’s versatility serves great purposes to Phoenix. He can set nifty screens, and then pop out for a 15 foot jumper. Morris displays great touch on his shots and can get to the basket. Morris is the second most efficient big man in isolation situations, according to NBA Synergy Stats. Morris can post up defenders, face up against them, or shoot off the bounce. Morris is also an excellent defender that can contain smaller players when switching on to them. Morris is also really good at reading and defending off-ball and weak-side screens. Morris only allows 0.73PPP to opponents coming off screens, according to NBA Synergy Stats. While he may never receive the press playing in Phoenix, Markieff Morris has established himself as one of the most underrated players around the league. One deserving of a hefty pay raise when he hits the market as a restricted free-agent in 2015. The Suns better expect to match a sizable price tag if they want to retain their unsung hero.
Jrue Holiday:
A former all-star in the 2012-2013 season, Jrue Holiday has become a more complete and eyebrow raising player. With potential to be the best defender at the point guard position in the league, Holiday can make a case on why he is already there. While not always attentive on the defensive end, Holiday has superb and essential skills on that side of the floor. Holiday fights over screens at an exquisite level. He possesses tremendous lateral quickness that even allows him to stay in front of such players as Russell Westbrook. With his long frame, he is very good at recovering and slipping his hands into passing lanes, on and off the ball. His defensive potential is mind-boggling. On the other end, Holiday expresses great potential too. Holiday is pretty crafty playing off the pick-and-roll giving his ability to attack alongside his great instinct at timing. Holiday is a good reason why the New Orleans Pelican rank first in the league in pick-and-roll man efficiency as he displays a good ability at maintaining a hostage dribble and pocket pass ability in order to beat the opposing defenses pick-and-roll coverage. If Holiday can become more attentive and tap into his scary, unimaginable potential, then he will prove worthy of the loaded price tag the Pelicans paid for him.
Draymond Green:
A rotation player to a potential max player this offseason, that is the journey that Mr.Green has endured. Whether it was losing twenty pounds entering into the Warrior’s training camp or becoming a key player in the Warrior’s strategic switching scheme, Draymond Green has come a long way. Draymond’s versatility allows him to do just about everything. He can switch onto bigger players or smaller ones and still defend his ground. He spaces the floor, sets screens, rebounds well, pushes the ball, and even tips in missed shots. Draymond Green is the epitome of an unsung hero. This season, Draymond Green has posted career-high numbers in every per game average except for 3PT% (attempting over four a game) and turnovers. It has been an awesome campaign for Mr. Green who plans on cashing in this offseason. He will certainly receive nice wealthy offer during free agency.
Andrew Bogut:
Once an afterthought, according to most, in the Monta Ellis trade. Andrew Bogut has become the difference make in the Golden State Warriors being a playoff team, to being a contender. Bogut is the Warrior’s defensive anchor. He knows what he is supposed to do. He protects the paint, cleans the glass, and spurs the break at times. Bogut does a very well job at containing the ball-handler when defending the pick-and-roll too. e is an elite screen setter that helps open up opportunities for Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. This helps with Golden State’s conservative style when defending ball screens. He is an elite screen setter that helps open up opportunities for Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Andrew Bogut has mastered the skill of the paint screen. This season, Andrew Bogut leads the league in both DRtg and NET rating, according to NBA Synergy Stats. Out of all players who have played at least twenty games and average five opponent FGA at the rim a game, Andrew Bogut ranks second in the league in FG% at the rim (41%), according to NBA Synergy Stats. Without him, the Warriors are no mere contenders. Andrew Bogut sparks this team to a top-level. His health will be key if the Warriors plan on winning it all this year. However, Bogut is most certainly an all-star to the Warriors.
Rudy Gobert:
In some alternate universe, the Utah Jazz were able to draft a 7’1 center with a monstrous 7’9 wingspan and NBA-record breaking 9’7 standing reach. There is no way you can get a freak of nature like that with the 27th pick! But, that is actually what the Utah Jazz did. It is paying off fairly well too. While only at the age of twenty-two, Rudy Gobert is averaging 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per 36 minutes. Gobert is a monstrous defensive anchor that finds ways to swat nearly every single attempt thrown at the basket. Out of all players who have played at least twenty games and average allow five FGA at the rim per game, Gobert leads the league in FG% at the rim (37.8%), according to NBA Synergy Stats. Gobert is also adding more range to his game. He is learning to become a better screener as well as roller. This season, Gobert ranks in the 76th percentile in pick-and-roll roll man efficiency, averaging 1.11PPP. Out of all players with a frequency over 15% as the roll man, Gobert also ranks 16th in the league in FG% when rolling to the basket. Gobert ranks in the 85th percentile for put-backs too. If Gobert can continue his dominance at protecting the rim, and master the art of the short roll, then he will see find himself being voted into an all-star game in the near future.
Tyson Chandler:
After a forgettable season with the New York Knicks, Tyson Chandler returned to Dallas, returning back to his defensive anchor status, and propelling the Mavericks in the same way he did in 2011. Chandler’s importance to the team is higher this year than it was in 2011 because he does not have a real backup. Chandler is on pace to have eight seasons where he has played over 2,000 minutes. Plus, Dallas’s offense is extremely pick-and-roll heavy, which emphasizes how important Chandler’s screen setting and rim diving have been this year. While always known for being a magnificent screen-setter, Tyson Chandler has also mastered the art of the pivot screen. This comes in handy against teams that love to “ICE” side or wing pick-and-rolls. Not to mention, Tyson Chandler’s rebounding is up as well too. Chandler is averaging a career-high 13.9 rebounds per 36 minutes this season, according to Basketball-Reference.com. While Chandler may not be Dallas’ best player, he is certainly one of their most important.
Donatas Motiejunas:
Not sure there is another player in the league who is having a season like Motiejunas is this season and remains as below as he is under the radar. With the Houston franchise being driven by their concept known as Moreyball, it came to question whether Motiejunas could adjust to fit the system. The Rockets strive in a Spread Read-and-React system that promotes spacing, emphasizes threes-layups-trips to the line, and forbids inefficient shots such as the mid-range jump shot. Coming into this season, Motiejunas only made, on average, 22.5 threes a season on an average 27% clip. Motiejunas was never known as a skilled passer, either. Motiejunas struggled heavily against doubles when receiving the ball down low. As for this season, Motiejunas has already made a career-high in three pointers made (27) at a career-high percentage (31.8%). Motiejunas has also flashed skills of becoming a much more aware and better playmaker. He is doing much better passing out of doubles, hitting cutters out of the low post, and passing on the move. Motiejunas has more assists this season (87), then he did in his first two seasons combined (65). Motiejunas has become more skilled in the post too. After flashing great back to the basket footwork in his first two seasons, Motiejunas has displayed a nice, consistent turnaround shot, right-handed hook, and up-and-under move. And what makes it even better is Motiejunas progressions on the defensive end too. While becoming much better at sagging off of ball-screens and containing the ball-handler, Motiejunas is also protecting the rim fairly well. This season, opponents are shooting 46.4% at the rim on over 5.6 attempts a game on Motiejunas. While not perfect, that is a pretty good number for Motiejunas. The once coined “Ryan Anderson”, but much softer prototype is building a new name for himself. Building that name while remaining under every radar.
Wesley Matthews:
Coming into the league undrafted. A spot-up shooter who betted on himself with a one-year contract with the Utah Jazz, Wesley Matthews has made a home for himself in the league. Matthews, a potential max-contract candidate this offseason, has evolved into one of the most valuable players to Portland’s franchise. Matthews, while known for his shooting, has become one of the best post-up guards in the league. This is a direct result of Matthews working hard on all areas of his game, to add more versatility. He is improving as a passer as well, especially with help coming as he post-ups.His progressions on the defensive end continue to expand. Matthews is great at closing out on shooters, performing excellent footwork making sure not to overextend by taking choppy steps instead of running straight forward at the shooter. This season, Matthews has replaced Nic Batum as Portland’s best man-to-man defender. He has siphon the right to guard the opposing team’s best perimeter threat every game from Nic Batum. Wesley Matthews continues his spot-up shooting expertise. Currently third in the league in spot-up points at 287, he is posting a very impressive 1.17PPP. A solid number given his frequency of spotting up. Matthews is also fifth in the league in points scored coming off screens at 123. Matthews bloats a jaw-dropping 1.27PPP in that category. There is much to look forward to for the future of Wesley Matthews. While making a great case for being offered a max-contract this offseason, how long until Mr. Matthews gets the recognition he most certainly deserves? It should not be that much longer after a great tenure like he has here in Portland.
Notables: Brandan Wright, JJ Redick, Marreese Speights, Kosta Koufos, Zach Randolph, DeAndre Jordan
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