For how many NBA teams would Monte Morris start?
By Chris Bolin
The Probably Nots
— Milwaukee (Eric Bledsoe) — Minnesota (Jeff Teague)
— Detroit (Reggie Jackson) — Los Angeles Lakers (Rajon Rondo)
— Atlanta (Trae Young) — Miami (Goran Dragic)
This group certainly isn’t as daunting as the first, but should not be overlooked nonetheless.
They have combined to make six All-Star game appearances — four of which by Rondo in his Celtics days. Bledsoe nearly made it seven this year, putting together a great campaign so far.
Still, they are only Probably Nots for a reason
None have had their best seasons and none — besides Bledsoe — have come close to the team success Morris has had with the Nuggets.
But they have all proved they belong — some time and time again.
Let’s see how they stack up.
Eric Bledsoe
Bledsoe was the closest to being a Definitely Not.
He’s put up All-Star caliber numbers — 16 points, 5.5 assisists and 4.6 rebounds per game — on a 43-14 Bucks team that leads the East at the All-Star Break.
And as good as he is on offense, he’s just as good on defense. He’s 14th in the league in defensive rating and 15th in defensive win shares. He’s also 13th in steals.
He’s been a bona fide starter in the NBA since 2014 with Phoenix. And though he’s had better individual seasons, this is by far the best team he’s been on.
And though Giannis is obviously what drives the Bucks, Bledsoe will most likely be the second option down the stretch.
Jeff Teague
Though Teague’s best seasons are behind him, he’s still a solid NBA starter.
He’s averaging 14.1 points and 9.6 assists per 36 minutes this season. But he’s missed 23 games this season and the Timberwolves have suffered because of it.
Minnesota is 18-15 in games with Teague in the lineup and just 8-15 in games without him.
Teague returned from a foot injury for the Timberwolves last two games before the All-Star Break, and if he — and Robert Covington — can stay healthy, Minnesota can make a run at the 8-seed.
Reggie Jackson
Jackson struggled early in the season. Returning from an ankle injury that cut his season short last season, Jackson seemed slow at times and struggled to find his pre-injury form.
But then came the incident.
After a close win, his Pistons teammate Blake Griffin was in the middle of a fairly critical postgame interview, when Jackson — with a level of poor timing matched by only Dwight Howard in Orlando — cut in front of the camera, posing and enjoying the win.
Since that incident, Jackson’s averages have jumped to over 19 points and six assists in nine games since.
The Pistons are 5-4 and Jackson is averaging a plus-minus of +11.1 over that stretch.
If the Pistons are to contend for a playoff spot, Jackson must continue to play well.
Rajon Rondo
Rondo is nowhere near the player he was in his Boston days. He’s not even really the player he was down the stretch for the Pelicans last season.
But the four-time All-Star can’t be slept on. He’s still a solid starter in the NBA — averaging 11.5 points, 9.7 assists and 6.5 rebounds per 36 minutes this season.
He also hit his first career game winner last week in a game against the Celtics.
And he may not even be the best point guard on the Lakers. Lonzo Ball, in his second year out of UCLA, is averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 assists and 6.3 rebounds per 36 minutes.
But Rondo will most likely be the guy down the stretch — especially as LeBron inevitably wills L.A. to a playoff spot.
Trae Young
The third overall pick out of Oklahoma has been compared to everybody from Steph Curry to Jimmer Fredette.
But even his doubters have to admit he’s played well this season. His 7.6 assists per game is good for seventh in the NBA and he is second on the Hawks with 16.9 points per game.
His big drawback this season — as it has always been — is turnovers. He’s turned the ball over 226 times this season — second most in the NBA. But he has a 23.7 percent usage rate — second among all rookies — and has been a focal point of the Hawks offense.
Goran Dragic
Dragic hasn’t had a great season. He’s missed all but 14 games this season with a knee injury — finally having surgery in mid-December.
But he’s expected to return after the All-Star Break to help the Heat make a playoff push.
Before his knee troubles this season he was averaging 18.9 points and 6 assists per 36 minutes — worse than his All-Star Campaign last year but above his career average.
It’s unknown how long it will take Dragic to regain his form when he comes back, but how he plays will have a big impact on the Heat’s playoff chances.