Rookie Watch: Week Two
To the Krispy Kreme lover, our second installment of the Rookie Report could be mistaken for the Donut Report – delicious on the outside with a giant hole in the middle. Save for San Antonio’s DaJuan Blair, every player in the top ten is a perimeter player. That will certainly change once Blake Griffin gets back on the floor in a month or so, but this rookie class is undeniably one dominated by promising backcourt players, including a certain Milwaukee Buck who is dominating the record books.
1. (Last week: 1) PG Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee
8 games (8 starts) 48% FG, 54% 3s, 78% FT, 25.5 pts, 5.5 as (3.2 to), 4.8 rb, 1.1 st
Last week, “Young Money” became the fastest player ever to notch 55 in a single game, achieving the feat one game earlier than Wilt Chamberlain. When you do that, break Lew Alcindor’s franchise mark for a rookie, and join a list that includes Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor and Earl Monroe as the only players to reach double-nickel as a rookie in the process, you’re a lock for the top spot on Rookie Report.
The tattoos make him comparable to another super-quick guard, Allen Iverson, but Jennings’ understanding and control of the game in the half-court clearly separates himself from the ball-hungry A.I. Jennings plays within the offense and rarely forces bad shots, and his great decision making off the pick and roll has re-ignited Andrew Bogut’s career. With the surprising Bucks checking in at 6-3, Jennings has ended early rookie of the year debates and has started a legit case for MVP.
2. (LW: 2) G Tyreke Evans, Sacramento
10 games (10 starts) 41% FG, 76% FT, 17.1 pts, 4.3 as (2.6 to), 4.4 rb, 1.5 st
Quietly in the shadows of Sacramento, Evans has been coming into his own. Since Kevin Martin has been sidelined, Evans has taken over this team, leading them to a 4-1 record. Tyreke has made a living attacking the rim, leading all rookies with 6.2 free throws a game, and he’s averaging 23 pts, 5.8 boards, and 5 assists to go along with 7 steals and 4 blocks over the stretch of five straight 20+ point games. Don’t look now, but Sacramento seems to have found their franchise player and has a few good young players to work around him too.
3. (LW: 3) PG Jonny Flynn, Minnesota
11 games (11 starts) 47% FG, 82% FT, 14.2 pts, 3.3 as (3.6 to), 3.3 rb, 1.4 st
His turnovers are ugly, and you’d like more assists, but someone has to make a shot at the end of the pass and someone has to relieve some pressure on him to create. Ramon Sessions has started to find his flow, but Al Jefferson has struggled badly and the other perimeter weapons have been abysmal for the T’Wolves—Wayne Ellington, Corey Brewer, Alexander Pavlovic, and Damien Wilkins are shooting a combined 35 percent from the field and 25 from 3. He needs some help, badly, and has been arguably the lone bright spot for a team that will battle New Jersey and New York for worst record in the league.
4. (LW: 8) Ty Lawson, Denver
11 games (0 starts) 21.9 mpg, 52% FG, 86% FT, 9.7 pts, 3.4 as (1.3 to), 1.8 1.1 st
Shame on you if you flipped the channel on the Lakers – Nuggets garbage time all-star game in the fourth quarter last Friday. The 5'11 Lawson added the exclimation point on Denver's dominating win over the defending champs by serving up an insane facial on the 7-foot D.J. Mbenga in what will go down as one of the dunks of the year.
Yet, besides the occasional SportsCenter highlight, Lawson has been providing steady play at the backup point spot. Despite Lawson’s blazing quickness, he continues to play under control and take care of the ball. He’s dished out 17 assists over only four turnovers in his last three games. Some scouts were wary of Lawson’s NBA game because of his 5’11 frame and straight ahead style, but his outstanding speed and newfound ability to hit open threes have turned him into a matchup nightmare off the bench. Lawson will continue to get minutes off the bench spelling Chauncey Billups, adding a much needed change of pace to Denver’s second unit.
5. (LW: 7) PG Stephen Curry, Golden State
10 games (7 starts), 50% FG, 43% 3s, 6-11 FT 8.9 pts, 4.7 as (2.0 to), 2.5 rb, 1.1 st
Not bad, not great, but his team is awful so it’s a mixed bag. He’s not much of a penetrator, but he’s a threat as a shooter and has shown an impressive assist numbers. He hasn’t been Brandon Jennings, but he hasn’t had the chance to considering the team he’s on and appears to be headed a solid, long NBA career.
6. (LW: Unranked) PG Rodrigue Beaubois, Dallas
7 games (4 starts), 61% FG, 5-9 3s, 6-8 FTs, 7.6 pts
Dallas is stacked at guard, and there were whispers that Rick Carlisle’s backcourt rotation was so clogged, the promising Beaubois would be sent to the D-League in order to avoid bench splinters. But, with Josh Howard back in street clothes, the Mavs had have had to juggle their starting lineups in search of a spark. Enter Beaubois, whose freaky athleticism and accurate perimeter shooting has put the first place Mavericks on a four game win streak. Starting alongside Jason Kidd, he’s netting 11 points a game and contributing on the defensive end, helping to contain Brandon Jennings in their win over Milwaukee on Monday.
7. (LW: 4) DaJuan Blair, San Antonio
9 games (2 starts) 6.1 pts, 5.9 rbs, 60% FG, .4 blk
Like many rookies, Blair is struggling to stay consistent. He hasn’t scored in double figures in almost two weeks, and only saw five minutes of game action last night against Dallas. For all rookies, especially those who play in Gregg Popovich’s highly organized system in San Antonio, inconsistency is to be expected. Blair is an elite rebounder, and if he stays focused on terrorizing the glass on both ends, he will be a big part of the Spurs’ title aspirations this season.
8. (LW: 10) PG Toney Douglas, New York
9 games (1 start), 50% FG, 37% 3s, 3-4 FTs, 9.3 pts, 1.6 rb
Another player who has seen his production spike along as his minutes increased. He’s played over 15 minutes in each of his past four games and averaged over 18 points in them with nine three pointers, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals. With the way the Knicks are looking, there is no reason not to keep playing him, and he’ll probably rise up this list as he plays more and he’d probably be higher if his team played more than one game over the past six days.
9. (LW: NR) G/F Wes Matthews, Utah
10 games (2 starts) 51% FG, 47% 3s, 76% FT , 7.6 pts, 1.3 rebounds.
His numbers haven’t been as impressive as others, especially the top 2 on this list, but he’s been logging significant minutes for Jerry Sloan and gone for double figures in both games as a starter. He won’t put up big numbers, but he’s worked his way into Sloan’s rotation as an undrafted free agent, and for that, plus his play this past week as injuries mounted on the Jazz, he gets the spot.
10. (LW: NR) PG Eric Maynor, Utah
8 games (2 starts), 47% FG, 10-11 FT, 6.4 pts, 2.5 as.
His season numbers stink, because Deron Williams is on his team (16 minutes in their first 5 games). But the second Utah player makes the list thanks to Williams’ family problems opening up minutes. He probably won’t make the list again if Williams stays in the lineup, but in his pair of starts last week he put up 13 and 11 in a win over Phily and then 24 in a close loss vs. Cleveland on Saturday.
Honorable Mention— F/C David Anderson Houston (37th in 2002, from Australia)—per game avg of 5.7 pts, 2.5 rb, Darren Collison, New Orleans, Marcus Thornton, New Orleans, F Chase Budinger Houston (44th overall from Arizona)—9.3 pts, 3.5 rb, SF Omri Casspi Sacramento (23rd from Israel)—8.0 pts, 3.2 rb, SF Demar Derozan Toronto (9th overall from Southern Cal)—6.1 pts, 3.1 rb, PF Taj Gibson Chicago (26th from Southern Cal)—7.2 pts, 4.6 rb , PF Tyler Hansbrough Indiana (13th from North Carolina)—7.8 pts, 4.5 rb, SG James Harden Oklahoma City (3rd from Arizona St)—5.8 pts, 2.8 as, 2.6 rb, F Jonas Jerebko Detroit (39th from Sweden)—4.9 pts, 3.6 rb, SG Jodie Meeks Milwaukee (41st from Kentucky)—6.5 pts, 2.7 rb, G/F Terrance Williams New Jersey (11th from Louisville)—9 pts, 6 rb, 6 as
