David Zalubowski / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atlanta's Al Horford is one of five players who could have a huge 2009-10 season, writes Matt Stroup.

Gerald Wallace, Bobcats
You could look at Wallace’s scoring dip this season (16.9 points per game in 2008-09 vs. 19.4 in 2007-08) and surmise that he’s taken a step backward, but that would be overlooking the escalation of efficiency he’s shown under Larry Brown. He's the Bobcats’ leading scorer despite averaging just 11.5 field-goal attempts per game. By comparison, the NBA’s leading scorer, Dwyane Wade, is taking a league-high 21.9 shots per game.

Then again, efficiency hasn’t always been Wallace’s strong suit, and it would be almost tragic if a player known as “Crash” somehow became synonymous with caution. But fear not — Wallace hasn’t reigned in his aggressiveness; he is simply learning how best to summon it.

In his last 16 games, the relentless and occasionally reckless forward — who boldly declared to the Charlotte Observer last month that “I just ignore pain now” — has averaged 19.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, pushing the Bobcats for at least a brief moment into the playoff conversation.

With the Bobcats now close to elimination from the postseason picture — and by extension close to temporarily vanishing from the basketball landscape — Wallace’s performance in 2008-09 isn’t likely to resonate throughout the offseason. However, it can’t be overlooked that at age 26, Wallace’s most fierce and determined season to date could be directly on the horizon.

Monta Ellis, Warriors
By most accounts, if you signed a lucrative contract over the summer, then shortly thereafter violated said contract by getting into a moped accident (leading to a severe ankle injury and subsequent team-mandated 30-game suspension), your season would be considered something of an unmitigated disaster. And considering that Ellis has played just 25 games in 2008-09 and is currently sidelined once again with ankle trouble, his campaign certainly isn’t getting the most encouraging closing chapter.

But finding your way onto the cusp of a competitive eruption isn’t about having the best season imaginable in 2008-09; it’s about providing a startlingly clear glimpse of what’s to come next year.

For a 12-game stretch between March 11 and April 1, Ellis was nothing short of ferocious. During that span, the fourth-year pro averaged 25.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals, capped off by a 42-point, nine-rebound, nine-assist tour de force in an April 1 game against Sacramento, a contest that admittedly featured very little defense, but still showcased an offensive-minded 23-year-old guard on the brink of something formidable in 2009-10.

More news

Jim Rogash / Getty Images

Not in his house

Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

CSN: Rondo's big-game DNA shines  |  Highlights

CSN: You may not see it from start to finish, but when the game — or in this case, postseason life — is on the line, you see just how good Rajon Rondo can be.

Headlines

• Label

CSN: 76ers impressive, but Collins wants more

CSN: Game 7 means 'fighting for your jersey'

CSN: Surgery ends season for Celtics' Bradley

James, Heat start tuning for East finals

SportsTalk: Do Heat actually want Celtics?

PBT: Spoelstra fined $25K for criticizing officials

PBT: Knicks give Woodson multiyear extension

Thunder, Spurs ready to finally settle West's best