8p9s Roundtable: The Indiana Pacers Sign Monta Ellis
By Ben Gibson
Should Monta Ellis start?
Donahue: I don’t reallyhave an opinion on it. I think it would make sense to give Monta plenty of time with the bench, but I don’t think that necessarily means 6th man. I would need to see the finished roster and probably see them play, before deciding.
He’s suited perfectly to be a gunslinging 6th man. Put him with guys like Solo and Damo and Ian/Myles Turner and he can be the focal point, the creator.
Washburn: Ellis should start because he will probably be, from day one, the Pacers best scorer. Depending on who starts at the 4, spacing could get a little cramped with Monta, but his creating abilities should make both George Hill and Paul George better — allowing Hill to play off the ball more and taking the ball out of George’s hands for the three or four pick-and-rolls each game that he inevitably tries to split to no avail.
Furr: I do not think Monta should start. He’s suited perfectly to be a gunslinging 6th man. Put him with guys like Solo and Damo and Ian/Myles Turner and he can be the focal point, the creator. I believe that he was born for that role. He can use his considerable talents to create on the offensive end without worrying about touches, and when the defense collapses on him, he can get guys open shots. Damo might not shoot anything but corner 3s with Ellis playing.
Barth: I don’t see Monta Ellis in a Stuckey role, but rather the go-to scorer for this starting 5. PG will take that role back eventually, but until he’s back to his old form they need someone besides George Hill to go nuts on offense.
Stewart: Yes, Monta Ellis should start. For the amount the Pacers are paying him along with his scoring ability Vogel should have him in right away. It will take some time for him to get adjusted but it helped that he came almost straight away, and if he can find a way to fit in then Indiana now has a little more flash for the right amount of cash.
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