With Keegan Murray injured, many expected Nique Clifford to take his spot on an adjusted starting lineup. Instead, Doug Chrisite threw everyone a curveball and started Keon Ellis. It's safe to say the strategy worked as Ellis had a great game and the Sacramento Kings picked up a win.
Seeing Ellis start for the Kings was definitely a surprise, but it shouldn't have been. When he gets regular minutes in the rotation, he's a respectable 3&D player who can elevate his team. Frankly, Keon is one of the better defenders on the team, which would should lead to him getting on the court more.
That hasn't been the case this season. Ellis is a shooting guard on a team overflowing with guards, all struggling to get regular minutes. Well, outside of veterans and starters, of course. That still leaves a lot of players in the lurch trying to find their place in the rotation and on the court.
The bigger issue for Ellis has been head coach Doug Christie. He doesn't seem to like playing Ellis unless he absolutely has to, which is quite confusing. Christie has a strong focus on defense, which is one of Keon's defining skills. Hopefully, the Mavericks game is a turning point.
Keon Ellis showed up and showed out
With the roster depleted by injuries, Ellis ended up filling the started in the shooting guard position. He ended up playing 32+ minutes, and finished the game with 21 points, one rebound, three steals, and two blocks. Even more important, he kept it clean with only one turnover and one foul.
On top of that, Ellis finally stepped into his role as a three-point shooter. Of his 21 points, 15 of them came from the three-point line as he went five for 10, shooting at 50%. Plus, Keon's defense was on point. The stat sheet doesn't show that effort but it was there and it made a difference.
What the Kings got from Keon Ellis last night was the exact kind of performance that he is capable of delivering every night. With a regular rotation spot, he would become a reliable defender and a solid three-point option for the team. Nights like this make it hard to understand why they're trading him.
The Kings are reportedly looking at moving Ellis, likely because Christie doesn't want to play him for some reason. Hopefully, seeing Ellis play well and help bring home victories will show Christie what Ellis brings to the Kings, and end those irresponsible trade conversations.