Players to Watch

Weeks after the fact, ESPN analysts still insist on breaking down the deadline deals in the NBA. Seriously though, how many times must the good people of America be subjected to Tim Legler's less than insightful views on the Shaq trade or Greg Anthony telling us that Jason Kidd will help Dallas because "he is one of the best point guards in the league." Really Greg? Please go on, you're supreme knowledge of the NBA is truly awe-inspiring. On a side note, I hope for my own safety that the next time someone on tv tells me that the Pau Gasol deal was good for the Lakers there are no sharp objects within my reach because I will be looking for something to stab into my eardrums. Seriously.
Instead of the same old analysis that is regurgitated over and over I thought it would be refreshing to discuss some players that have thus far gone under the radar, but will ultimately be making huge impacts for their teams. Regardless of whether or not they were involved in blockbuster trades recently. Here are some players to watch that haven't been talked about much but will be soon.

Monta Ellis- Over the past few weeks Monta has been on an unbelievable tear. So much so that teams are beginning to take notice and try to plan their defense accordingly. However, it has not seemed to matter much. In the month of February all he has done is average 26.6 per game along with 4.8 boards and 4.7 assists per. Oh and by the way, in that time he's shooting 61% from the field! Pretty amazing any way you look at it for a 22 year old guard who stands only 6'3 and weighs less than 200 pounds. Early in the season he started passing on open threes instead favoring more of the 10-15 foot shot range where he thrives. Recently he has turned himself into a force on the offensive end. He's now nearly automatic from mid range and opponents must respect the shot which has opened up Monta for many a crafty finish near the rim. Last year the Warriors upset the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs but what becomes scary is the fact that Monta did not factor in that series. This year he's playing with confidence and will certainly figure in Don Nelson's postseason plans. As long as they qualify for the post season that is, which looks only slightly less up in the air with the season ending injury to Yao.

Joe Smith- Oh, by the way the Cavs made a trade as well, not sure if you had heard. Joe Smith was easily the least ballyhooed member of the Sczerbiak/Wallace/West/Smith quartet that Danny Ferry scored at the trade deadline. While those other three players will certainly make large contributions, and in my own estimation provide more than enough help to Lebron in winning the East, Joe Smith's value as a post scorer off the bench has been underrated. In the five games he's played since his arrival in Cleveland, he's scored at least 8 points along with 6 rebounds in all but one contest, which was in a game against the lowly Timberwolves in which the Cavaliers handily won. All of this has been in appearances coming off the bench. There was talk of the Cavs missing Drew Gooden, but as far as im concerned Joe Smith is the same player if not more. If nothing else, they lost that hideous beard Gooden wears, which has to be considered a positive.

Tyson Chandler- We know about Chris Paul, we've heard a few whispers about David West, but Tyson Chandler has been a big contributor on a playoff team in the West who has been mostly unmentioned. His numbers (11.7 PPG, 12.2 Reb. 0.8 Blk) are certainly respectable but they don't tell the whole story. It is clear that to be successful in the Western playoffs, the ability to defend the post is crucial. The West contains a laundry list of more than capable point guards except for perhaps the Lakers, but you can guarantee that Kobe will be doing most of the ballhandling in crunch time so that becomes a non-issue. My point is this, Chris Paul is as good as any point guard in the league. So then, the quality of minutes the Hornets can get out of Chandler and West will ultimately determine how far the Hornets will go in the playoffs. I feel that Chris Paul is so good, and his intensity will be so high throughout the course of a 7 game series that the Hornets become pretty damn imposing once you factor in an effective Tyson Chandler. He's shown that he is capable of playing very good defense, as well a being a very good defensive rebounder. If he holds his own on that end of the floor, everything he gives on offense is basically a bonus.

Hedo Turkoglu- Lost in the Dwight Howard dunk contest hype and huge contract given to Rashard Lewis has been the sensational play of Turkoglu this season for Orlando. All he's done this year is average nearly 20 points a game while adding 6 rebounds and almost 5 assists per. Those numbers are up from 13.3, 4 and 3.2 respectively. Can you NBA's most improved player? Everyone wants to talk about Boston, Detroit, Cleveland when discussing the Eastern conference playoffs, but if I'm any of those teams I'm not exactly jumping out of my seat to face the Orlando Magic. Dwight Howard is a beast, this is well chronicled. With Turkoglu and the aforementioned Lewis spreading the floor, this team has some very good options on offense as well as one of best rim-defenders in the league in Howard. If Turkoglu plays as well or better than he has all season and they get some decent point guard play, don't be too surprised if you see the Magic making a run in the East. Crazier things have happened.

Manu Ginobli- It has almost become a rite of late winter, the Spurs appear to be struggling and everyone tells us that they're too old and too slow and that this is the year that their age catches up to them in the playoffs. Next thing you know the playoffs come around and all of a sudden we can't stop hearing about how savvy and experienced they are, and how effective their grind it out, uber tough defense, half court style of play is. Here's the thing, the Spurs are really good, and this year, just like every other year it seems, nobody is really talking about them. Quietly they added veterans Damon Staudamire and Kurt Thomas who you just know will fit in perfectly. Also, even more quietly, Manu Ginobli is having a career year. This year he's averaging over 20 points a game, which is about 4 points more than his previous career high. Add to that the fact that he is an absolute crunch time killer and suddenly the Spurs aren't as done as you thought. Think about this, the Spurs are the defending champs and they still have the reigning finals MVP in Tony Parker who now has another year of finals experience under his belt, arguably the best coach in the league and easily the most underrated, in Greg Popovich, and oh yea, possibly the greatest power forward of all time in Tim Duncan, and now they're adding a career year from Ginobli! The Spurs certainly aren't getting any younger, but you can bet your life they won't go down easily this postseason if at all.