“Ellis? Who’s that? Did you get that off the 50 percent off rack?” blasted a clueless, smack-spewing Nuggets fan.

A daft fairweatherer (I’m guessing) shot that comment my way at Saturday’s Nuggets-Warriors game. I was there, donning my Monta Ellis jersey (a Christmas gift from my mom) and rooting on the team I’ve stood behind since I could count my age with two hands.

For the uninitiated, Ellis is one of the better off-guards in the National Basketball Association. He makes up for his slight, 6-foot-3 frame with blazing speed and exceptional ball-handling skills.

Monta, the reigning NBA Comeback Player of the Year, is averaging nearly 20 points a night in his third season and is a big reason the Warriors were in a three-way tie with the Nuggets and Mavs for the Western Conference’s seventh playoff spot through Sunday.

On Saturday, Ellis torched the Nuggets — unfortunately, in defeat — for 22 points and then put up 30 on the Mavs on Sunday.

Yup. Definitely nabbed his jersey on the 50 percent off rack, Mr. Fan Who Probably Can’t Even Name a Third Nugget After Melo and A.I.

So, in spirit of Ellis and all other underappreciated NBA-ers (basically, anyone not named Kobe, LeBron, Dwyane, Kevin Garnett, Dirk or Shaq), here are my favorite undersung pro hoopsters (the playoff-hopeful ones, anyway):

Already argued my case on that one.

OK, so his name comes up all the time in MVP talk, but this kid is amazing. I’ll concede that he’s not all that undersung. Maybe I’m just perturbed his Hornets are always an afterthought in title talk.

Paul’s averaging a ridiculous line — 21.5 points, 11.4 assists, 2.7 steals and 3.9 rebounds (he’s a point guard) — and makes everyone around him better. Heck, he’s elevated teammate Tyson Chandler from a bust to a serviceable big man.
That’s an accomplishment in itself.

Another overlooked Hornet, West is enjoying a career year in New Orleans, averaging 20 points and nine boards a game.

Perhaps West’s best attribute is his personality. The soft-spoken star has quietly gone about his business in lifting the Hornets to top-dog status in the West.

At the beginning of the season, I predicted (though never on the record, until now) that the Utah Jazz would make the NBA Finals. The chief reason: Deron Williams.

Quick and stockily built, I’d take Williams over all but Paul as the point guard I’d most want to build a team around. In leading the Jazz to the Western Conference Finals last year, he hit superstar status.

He’s following that up with a fine 19-point, 10-assist 2007-08 campaign.
Who would have thought he’d emerge as the best pro player from those stocked mid-decade Illinois teams?

Smith is easily the best shot-blocking non-center in the NBA. Actually, he’s probably the best shot blocker in the NBA, period. He also averages 17 points and eight rebounds a night.

To fully appreciate Smith, go type his name in YouTube and enjoy the innumerable highlight montages.

The other A.I., Iguodala is a stat-line filler extraordinaire. I may be a little biased on this one, as he’s also been the cog in my fantasy basketball team’s push for a title.

Check out his line for 2007-08: 19.8 points, 2.1 steals, 5.4 assists, 4.6 assists.

Talk about doing a little of everything.

Contact Jeff Caspersen: 384-9123
jcaspersen@postindependent.com