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Tag: Keon
Keon Ellis helped revitalize the Kings defense, but is he a starter?
Doug Christie needed someone he could count on to handle whatever came his way. He wanted to revive the Sacramento Kings’ defense and needed someone he could push, prod and critique and be met with a nod.
Now the interim head coach of the Kings after Mike Brown was fired in late December, Christie wanted someone to guard the stars. The Kings had a few injuries and needed a defender who could make life hard enough for the opposing ballhandler to let the Kings offense do its thing.
Over the past few weeks, Keon Ellis has established he is that guy.
Christie knows this role well. It’s what defined his NBA career as a player.
He was a Kobe Bryant stopper once upon a time, the defensive stalwart on the early 2000s Kings teams that battled Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers during their three-peat run. He filled a similar role to Ellis, hitting his 3s and driving the energy on defense.
It was hard to understand why, after Ellis showed he could be an effective starter late last season, Brown wasn’t committing to Ellis this time around. He decided to take Kevin Huerter out of the starting lineup in early December, giving Ellis a brief trial run before settling on Malik Monk as the replacement.
Christie knows Ellis’ features and faults well. He was in the staff meetings where Brown would map out rotations and understood the rationale for Ellis’ erratic role. His defense was swarming in some ways but needed refinement in others.
He would overrun closeouts and rotations, commit predictable fouls and have a few tells to cue scorers on how to get by him. But there was so much upside if he could get room to fail.
Christie gave him that, recognizing that the team needed to embrace mistakes if things were going to improve.
“I think anybody, if you can go out there and not mistake worry, it just opens up another level of confidence for you,” Ellis told The Athletic. “(Christie) told us from day one that mistakes are going to happen and don’t look at (your teammate), he just watched it too. Just go out and don’t let it happen again and try to learn from it.”
With Keegan Murray sitting out with left ankle soreness, Christie called up Ellis to the starting lineup and the second-year guard responded with four steals in a win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 1. When De’Aaron Fox went down, Ellis remained in the starting lineup and the Kings went on a six-game winning streak, moving from 12th to ninth in the Western Conference and back in playoff contention. The highlight was Ellis’ 15 deflections in a double overtime win against the Miami Heat on Jan. 6, pushing him up to second in the NBA in deflections per 36 minutes.
“He’s one of those players that has those things you really can’t teach. It’s just an instinct,” Christie said. “He has the slipperiness to get through screens and then he has the heart to just play until his tank is empty and I truly appreciate that.”
In the one game since Christie’s promotion in which the Kings were healthy, Ellis returned to the bench. In the next game against Milwaukee, he was back as a starter and put up 18 points in a loss to Milwaukee. Things are likely never going to be stable for Ellis, but he continues to work through it as his teammates praise his willingness to take what he’s given.
“He’s been a professional,” Domantas Sabonis said. “For the past couple of years, the ups and downs, he’s stayed working, staying ready and he’s taking advantage of the opportunity.”
In the game against the Celtics, Ellis was supposed to sub back in for teammate Devin Carter but told his coach to let Carter stay in the game because he was playing so well. Whatever the role, starting or on the bench, Ellis embraces it.
“It doesn’t play with his ego that way,” Christie said. “He plays for his teammates and he’s a joy to coach and a joy to be around.”
Most players who just earned a temporary promotion wouldn’t be so willing to let go of their minutes. Particularly with how Ellis’ minutes have been 10 minutes one night and 30 the next this season.
“I think you just gotta understand it’s a team game. So whatever the coaches are seeing, I don’t get mad at that,” Ellis said. “I just roll with it and know my time will roll back around. It’s a team sport, so just go out there to encourage the guys that are on the floor because they’re the ones that are gonna win it for us.”
Ellis has a lot of work to do to become a true defensive ace, but this stretch has been a reminder of how he transforms the Kings on that end. Sabonis has shown signs of improvement guarding the pick-and-roll this season, but Ellis’ ball swarming has made his life easier.
Ellis is good at swiping for deflections at the point of attack, often deterring ballhandlers from attacking their first option as intended. While he gives up some dribble penetration as one of the league’s lightest players at 175 pounds, he can defend from behind and get a hand on the ball to disrupt the play and clean up his miscues.
“Domas and everybody is like don’t worry about things going wrong. Just play hard,” Ellis said. “It just gives you more confidence to go out there and play your game and don’t worry about mistakes.”
Ellis faced a true test of his veracity as a starter when the Kings visited Boston last week. The Celtics put Ellis to the test right away, having Jaylen Brown hammer him in the post on their first possession of the game. The Kings guard kept getting buried in the paint, so Christie went over to talk to Ellis at the next timeout to share some perspective.
“I’ve stopped the best players in the world, in the history of this game, and that happens,” Christie said. “Guys are going to get the best in you. I believe in you. Don’t foul. There are different ways that we want to cover him, so go to a second way. Use your toolbox too and communicate with your teammates. That’s what he started to do.”
Christie told Ellis not to worry about Brown scoring because it was keeping the Celtics from getting up 3s anyway. Sure enough, the Kings ended up outshooting Boston from beyond the 3-point arc and won convincingly.
Ellis didn’t care that he struggled to defend early on or even ceded his minutes to his teammate. He was just happy to be making a difference for a team rolling for the first time all season.
“Winning feels good,” Ellis said. “We’re connected right now. But we have to continue to fight.”
(Photo of Steph Curry and Keon Ellis: Eakin Howard / Getty Images)
Keon Ellis helped revitalize the Kings defense, but is he a starter?Keon Ellis has been a key contributor to the Sacramento Kings’ recent defensive resurgence. Since joining the team, Ellis has brought a tenacious energy and relentless effort on the defensive end, helping to solidify the Kings’ perimeter defense.
Ellis’ impact on the team cannot be understated. His ability to disrupt passing lanes, contest shots, and stay in front of his man has made him a valuable asset for the Kings. His defensive prowess has translated into tangible results for the team, as they have seen significant improvement in their defensive efficiency and overall performance.
However, the question remains: is Keon Ellis ready to take on a starting role for the Kings? While his defensive skills are undeniable, there are still some areas of his game that he needs to improve upon in order to be a consistent starter in the NBA.
One area of concern for Ellis is his offensive game. While he has shown flashes of scoring ability, he still lacks consistency and efficiency on that end of the floor. Additionally, Ellis will need to continue to work on his decision-making and playmaking skills in order to become a more well-rounded player.
Overall, Keon Ellis has undoubtedly been a key contributor to the Kings’ defensive improvement. Whether or not he is ready to take on a starting role remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain – Ellis’ defensive impact cannot be ignored. With continued development and improvement, Ellis has the potential to become a starter for the Kings in the near future.
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- Keon Ellis
- Kings defense
- NBA starter
- Basketball player
- Defensive player
- Keon Ellis impact
- Sacramento Kings
- Starting lineup
- NBA defense
- Keon Ellis performance
#Keon #Ellis #helped #revitalize #Kings #defense #starter
Andrew Nembhard, Ausar Thompson, Grayson Allen, Bennedict Mathurin and Keon Johnson
Jan 14, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Let’s go over the top-dropped fantasy basketball players at the start of the 14th week of action.
These players were all taken from the most dropped waiver trends section, which can be found on any FantasySP fantasy basketball page.
Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including waiver pickups, projections, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant. Use our fantasy basketball trade analyzer and the Trade Value Chart to break down trade scenarios.
Fantasy Outlook
Nembhard has been dropped in 6.6% of leagues, bringing his total mark down to 47%.
Nembhard’s scoring has dropped from 19 to just seven over the past four games, and that dropoff is probably the biggest reason behind his dropoff in fantasy leagues.
On the season, Nembhard is averaging 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 0.1 blocks across 28.3 minutes in 28 games this season (all starts). He’s shooting 46.1% overall, 32.8% from 3-point land and 74.3% from the free throw line.
Since the start of the new year, Nembhard is averaging 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.7 steals and no blocks across 31.3 minutes and nine games. His scoring is down a bit, but his other averages are mostly up.
I can understand why his own percentage is falling, and think dropping him is justified. Seeing his season averages, I thought his own percentage was a little too high before. With a dropoff in scoring of late, fantasy owners are moving off him in standard leagues and only rostering him in deeper leagues.
I’d keep rostering him in deeper leagues, but also be sure to put him on my watch list in standard leagues. Nembhard could get hot at any point, and then he might be worth streaming for a bit.
Only roster Nembhard in deeper leagues, but also don’t completely write him off for the season in standard setups.
Fantasy Outlook
Thompson is rostered in 48% of leagues after a recent 5% drop.
Thompson is averaging 7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.3 blocks across 18.8 minutes in 20 games (nine starts) this season. He’s shooting 49.6% overall, just 25% from deep and 52.9% from the line. Over the past five games (all starts), Thompson is averaging 8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.4 blocks across 20.5 minutes.
Again, his numbers are pretty similar to his season averages, or even a bit better, so his dropoff is a bit confusing. Really, he’s being dropped because he was rostered in too many leagues beforehand.
He fills up the stat sheet fairly well, especially in the amount of minutes he plays, but he’s no more than a deep-league option right now. Of course, Thompson should be rostered in a bunch of dynasty leagues as a 21-year old in his second NBA season.
Thompson is another player you can put on your watch list in standard leagues in case he heats up, but he’s really only likely to be a decent temporary fill-in at best, not someone who is usable for months, or even weeks, at a time.
Now might not be a bad time to check in on his asking price in a trade. If you think his future is even brighter, his fantasy value in any league type is probably a bit lower.
Fantasy Outlook
Allen is down 4.8% and sitting at 47% overall.
After a recent surge in own percentage, Allen is on the way back down. A couple of single-digit scoring outputs over the past three games are probably the biggest reason behind that.
In 32 games and one start this season, Allen is averaging 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks across 24.3 minutes. He’s shooting 45% overall, 42.9% from 3-point land and 85.5% from the free throw line.
Even with four single-digit scoring outputs over the past nine games, Allen is still averaging 12.8 points, 3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.2 blocks across 25 minutes a game. Allen is simply a streaky scorer, and his own percentage is going to fluctuate based on how he’s performing of late.
Lately, Allen is struggling to score a bunch, so his own percentage has dropped under 50% again. One big game in his next appearance could push him right back over 50%.
Instead of waiting for results to determine how to approach Allen, I’d suggest using FantasySP’s Team Defensive Rankings page. If Allen has favorable matchups more often than not for a stretch, then maybe it’d be worth adding him for a bit. If Allen’s matchups are average or worse, then maybe swapping him for a player who is in a hot streak is more beneficial to your fantasy team.
This is probably a trend that will continue with Allen all season, unless he’s traded, or the Suns’ roster undergoes some big changes. I’d keep rostering Allen in most deeper leagues, while streaming him during favorable timeframes in standard leagues.
Fantasy Outlook
Mathurin is rostered in 75% of leagues after being dropped in 3.8% of leagues.
In 42 games and 37 starts this season, Mathurin is averaging 16.3 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks across 32.6 minutes. He’s shooting 46.3% overall, 35.8% from 3-point land and 81.9% from the line. He was suspended for a game and then returned and totaled just eight points, seven rebounds, two steals and one assist across nearly 25 minutes in a game on Saturday.
Mathurin is averaging 14.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks across 30.5 minutes in January. It’s pretty easy to see why some fantasy owners are dropping Mathurin.
There’s still enough production in Mathurin’s averages to roster in some standard leagues, but I think it’s justified to look elsewhere in other standard leagues. He’s in a bit of a tough stretch right now, but could also snap out of it in a hurry too.
If Mathurin gets dropped in your league, take a look at the players near the end of your bench to see if Mathurin might be a better option moving forward. I think Mathurin will get back on track soon, and then his own percentage will start rising again. At the very least, get him on your watch list.
Jan 18, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots the ball while Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Fantasy Outlook
Johnson is down 3.6% and is now owned in 19% of leagues.
Johnson’s minutes per game have fallen off of late, and despite some decent results on the court, fantasy owners are deciding to move on from him.
For the season, Johnson is averaging 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks across 21.6 minutes in 40 games and 21 starts. He’s shooting 36.8% overall, 30.7% from deep and 75% from the free throw line.
After averaging 31.5 minutes between December 21-January 10, Johnson is averaging just 22.8 minutes over the past five contests. He didn’t start the last game in that stretch but is averaging 10.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1 steal.
I understand wanting to move off Johnson as he loses playing time, but he still played 23 minutes off the bench. It’s not a ton of playing time, but it’s enough for those of you in deeper leagues. He’s still putting up solid averages, even though the results are pretty inconsistent.
I’d keep rostering Johnson for at least the next week and then reassess his playing time and role at that point. If his minutes dip below 20 a game, and his averages fall, then it’d be time to move on from him. Right now though, I’d just bench him for a bit, or look for the most favorable matchups to start him in.
Andrew Nembhard, Ausar Thompson, Grayson Allen, Bennedict Mathurin, and Keon Johnson are all talented basketball players who have been making waves in the sports world. From Nembhard’s impressive playmaking skills to Thompson’s lockdown defense, Allen’s sharpshooting, Mathurin’s athleticism, and Johnson’s explosive dunks, these players have proven themselves to be forces to be reckoned with on the court.Whether they are competing in college basketball or preparing for the NBA draft, these players have shown that they have what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of the game. Fans and scouts alike are taking notice of their skills and potential, and it’s only a matter of time before they make a big impact in the world of professional basketball.
Keep an eye on Andrew Nembhard, Ausar Thompson, Grayson Allen, Bennedict Mathurin, and Keon Johnson as they continue to showcase their talents and rise through the ranks of the basketball world. With their dedication, hard work, and natural abilities, the sky is truly the limit for these promising young athletes.
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- Andrew Nembhard NBA draft prospect
- Ausar Thompson college basketball standout
- Grayson Allen professional basketball player
- Bennedict Mathurin top basketball recruits
- Keon Johnson NBA draft predictions
#Andrew #Nembhard #Ausar #Thompson #Grayson #Allen #Bennedict #Mathurin #Keon #Johnson
Keon Coleman Week 17 Outlook for Fantasy Football (2024)
Keon Coleman Can’t Be Trusted In Fantasy Championships
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1 day agoJust as he was beginning to emerge as Buffalo’s top wide receiver, a wrist injury sidelined Keon Coleman for four weeks. The rookie has been quiet since his return. Coleman has a pair of targets and one reception in each of his last two games. While one went for 64 yards against Detroit, Coleman mustered 17 yards in the win over New England. There are too many mouths to feed in Buffalo as the coaching staff rotates receivers and running backs into the game. Because of the uncertain volume and difficult matchup against the Jets (third-fewest fantasy points to receivers), it’s difficult to insert the second-round pick into starting lineups in Week 17.
Source: RotoBaller
Keon Coleman Week 17 Outlook for Fantasy Football (2024)As we head into Week 17 of the fantasy football season, Keon Coleman is a player to keep an eye on. The talented wide receiver has been making waves in the league with his impressive performances and has been a consistent fantasy producer.
In Week 17, Coleman is facing off against a tough defense, but his skill and athleticism make him a solid option for fantasy owners. With his ability to make big plays and find the end zone, Coleman has the potential to put up big numbers in this crucial week of the season.
If you have Coleman on your fantasy team, make sure to start him with confidence in Week 17. He has the potential to be a difference-maker for your team and could help lead you to victory in your fantasy playoffs.
Keep an eye on Keon Coleman this week and be ready to watch him shine on the field. With his talent and skill, he could be the key to your fantasy success in Week 17.
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Keon Coleman, Fantasy Football, Week 17, 2024, Outlook, Player Analysis, Fantasy Sports, NFL, Football Analysis, Start/Sit Advice, Fantasy Football Rankings, Keon Coleman Stats, Fantasy Football Projections
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