Post by itnas123 on Sept 1, 2014 23:58:37 GMT
We are already halfway to the season and have reached all-star weekend. Let's take a look at the top 10 rookies of the lotto of this draft. The bottom 4 players taken within the first 20 selections and the steals of the draft outside of the Lotto.
*Note* If the player is in the D-League will not be evaluated.
1.Nuggets: Larry Bird
Larry Bird has looked phenomenal this far into the season. A big turn around for the Nuggets this season going from the bottom of the league in every category to becoming the 6th seed out West andLarry Bird has been a big part to the success of the Nuggets. Lets take a look at how great he has been. Larry Bird is the #1 option on this squad and has delivered and then some. Larry Bird is scoring 23 PPG on 45% from the field, 75% from the line and 39% from three. He is also and exceptional rebounder nabbing nearly 8 a game and has great vision for a SF getting 3.2 assists a game. He does need to turn down the T/O but he this should go down as he gains more experience.
Grade: A+
3. Thunder: Mychal Thompson
Thompson has also had a great season thus far. He has been a big piece to the Thunder's success lately. The team was one of the worst team in the West but are now in the 7th seed below the Denver Nuggets. Thompson is the Thunders #2 option and has complemented the finesse game of Anthony Davis. Thompson is a hard hat type of player. Thompson is a double double machine as he sits at 21 double-doubles in 35 games. Statistically 19.5 PPG and 11 RPG. He is also blocking 2.8 shots a game, a great defensive enforcer. Needs to improve his T/O and FT shots but should improve as his career progresses.
Grade: A+
2. Hornets: Bernard King
Bernard King looks in tip top form in his rookie season. His scoring has been crucial this season for the Hornets. The Hornets have jumped from the 2nd worst team in the league to a competent one. The Hornets are 4 games away into the 8th seed. Of course like many teams out of the playoffs if the Hornets located out west they would be 1 game away from the Playoffs.
too bad they play in the East. Still though Bernard King is an amazing talent. King is the leading scorer on the Hornets with nearly 21 PPG and shooting exceptionally 47% from the Field 73% from the line and 41% from three. These are exceptional shoot %s. King is also one of the top Rebounders at the SG spot in the league nabbing 6.7 a game. Still Kin has not seen one rookie of the month award which may be due to his atrocious 3.8 T/O a game.
Grade: A
4. Pistons: Walter Davis
The Pistons have fallen to become the worst team out East and the 2nd worst in the league. We can't blame Davis for this entirely. He could score more but he has been scoring efficiently as a 3rd option for the Pistons. Davis has been scoring nearly 15 PPG at decent percentages. 42% from the field, 70% from the line, and 32% from three. The %'s are not eye popping statistics but are fair for a Rookie. The biggest knock on Davis is he turns the ball over a staggering 4.2 a game. As a selection at #4 after Bird,King and Thompson this is not bad at all out of the remaining selections.
Grade: A-
10.Kings: Reggie Theus
Reggie Theus dropped was it his hair or was it the defense not really sure but he sure did show that passed on him he is a great talent at the SG spot. Reggie Theus is on the worst team in the league but as the #2/#3 option on the team he needs to shoot more efficiently and score more. I think it is more than that though. The Kings are third worst in shot attempts and the worst at converting them. So we can blame the offensive setting the Kings have. Theus is shooting bad attempts because the offense is that bad. Theus is the 3rd best starter percentage wise in scoring while shooting 41% from the field. His FT% is at 68% really bad as a SG and shoots the 3 ball O.K at 29%. He scores 12 points a game for the kings who need all they can get offensively. Theus also grabs 4 boards a game while nearly getting 3 assists a game which looks good until you see he turns it over 2.6 a game. He does have his instances and at #10 to #4 he was a good selection for the Kings.
Grade: B+
16. Blazers: James Edwards
The Blazers are currently 3 games out from the playoff picture due t being in the west and the small contributions James Edwards has provided this team. James Edwards was selected out of the Lotto and has now become the 6th best rookie statistically. In the draft notes it described him as slow ,a reason he might of dropped, but it did also mention his big strength. The Blazers felt he might be a great big man for their team and Edwards has fit the role rather well. Edwards definitely knows how to use his strength very well on the court. He uses good positioning and strength to get nearly 9 boards a game. A great offensive rebounder and put back player he is scoring 8 PPG. His FT% is better than most bigs in the league shooting 70% from the FT line. He is also recording 1.1 blocks a game. as well for the Blazers.
Grade: B+
6. Rockets: Cedric Maxwell
The Rockets are currently 1.5 games away from the 8th seed out west. maxwell has been put at SF and SG respectively and has done fairly well. Maxwell has filled his role as an outside threat. He is scoring 8 points a game while shooting 35% from three this season which is an O.K % for a Rookie. What pops out to me is his FT % which is at 93% he has made 31/33 FT attempts. Nearly a FT a game. Decent rebounder in limited minutes.
Grade: B
8.76ers: Pat Cummings
The 76ers are the 5th best team in the dog fight dog wold called the East. Cummings role has been the stretch 4 who can play some SF. From a pick and pop to spot up 3 pt shooter Cummings has done well in his role out East. Cummings has shot 25 of 52 threes this season shooting an incredible 48% #1 among rookies. A good FT shooter for a PF shooting at 78%. He is scoring 7 PPG and getting 7 RPG as well. He also plays the passing lanes and steal entry passes into the post getting 1.3 steals a game
Grade: B-
5. Jazz: Marques Johnson
The Jazz are one of the worst teams in the league this season and the lack of production from the #5 pick might be a tad correlated. The Jazz do not have a definite PG and it shows and effects the production of Johnson. Kasey Hill and Marcus Smart have both been fighting to get the PG spot which seems to hurt Johnson's production. Johnson does shoot efficiently at 46% from the Field and shoots the three ball 33% Johnson only scores 8.6 PPG so what is happening. Well he is not getting a lot of shots. He does need to improve his FT shooting which can easily jump him to 10PPG. Really though he has done well when given a chance.
Grade: B-
9. Heat: Michael Ray Richardson
Finally at #10 is Heat shooting guard Michael Ray Richardson. The Heat are a .500 team right now and currently at 2 games out of the playoffs. Richardson does play a big part in the contributions of the team He does score nearly 10 PPG but he is taking ill advised shots from three and can't seem to buy a Free throw. Solid rebounder at 5 a game which shows great promise. He has big potential in scoring the basket but need to be a lot more efficient he should be close to 13 PPG and if he can he should Jump up these standing by the end of the season.
Grade B-
HM:
15. Lakers: Tree Rollins 41 21.3 MPG/ 6.9 PPG/ 6.0 RPG/ 1.7 APG/ 2.1 BPG (Barley Edged out)
7.Pistons: Jack Sikma 35 23.4 MPG/ 6.0 PPG/ 6.9 RPG/ 1.2 BPG
18. Rockets: Kent Benson 37 22.7 MPG/ 5.4 PPG/ 6.6 RPG/
22. Raptors: Robert Reid 38 17.2 MPG/ 5.8 PPG/ 2.9 RPG/ 1.9 APG
19. Suns: Tom Lagarde 39 19.8 MPG/ 5.4 PPG/ 5.3 RPG/
16. Blazers: James Edwards
James Edwards was selected #16 and is playing like a player selected 6 per my rankings an Exceptional Player who dropped heavily. He was taken after Sikma, Cummings and Tree Rollins. Though Rollins is up there too. Edwards can do a little of everything and rebounds very well, something very important in this league.
15. Lakers: Tree Rollins
Went 15th behind Sikma but has produced well off the bench on a championship caliber team. He was taken after Sikma and Cummings and gets his in limited 21 minutes. His blocks a great getting 2.1 in 21 minutes and he is an O.K Rebounder at 6 a game even though the notes said other wise which is why many passed him up. From what I have seen this season the Tree should have been selected within the top 10 but Slide down rather quickly.
18. Rockets: Kent Benson
Benson has produced in just 22 minutes a game under the Rockets scoring 5.4 and 6.6 Boards a game. He is still raw but he is a good hustle player who at the 18th pick is a great selection and good value for the Rockets
22. Raptors: Robert Reid 38 17.2 5.8 2.9 1.9 0.7 0.5 0.9 .427 .789 .371
Reid was selected #22 but production wise he looks like a he should have been between the 12-16 pick. Reid is playing just 17 minutes a game but is scoring nearly 6 PPG and shooting well for the time he is given. He has shot 43% from the Field, 79% from the Line, and 37% from three. Once he is given more minutes and gains a bigger role he will produce much more
19. Suns: Tom Lagarde 39 19.8 5.4 5.3 0.7 0.6 0.7 1.2 .409 .699 .000
Lagarde Is also a player who has produced rather well and could have been selected a tad higher than he is now. He is doing a bit of everything in 20 MPG. HE is scoring 5 points a game and 5 boards as well. He needs to do better around the rim but he does shoot his free throws decently at 70%.
Bottom 4 (in order from Best to Worst)
11.Spurs: Tony Robertson Traded to the Grizzlies
Lack of minutes might be the biggest knock on Robertson and looks to become even harder now that he was shipped the Grizzlies. Playing in only 22 games and 16 MPG in those games Robertson scored 4.5 a game and shot the ball rather well. He shot 44% tom the field and 75% the FT and 46% from three. I have a feeling once he get a bigger role and becomes a more reliable defender he can be fairly good.
13.Grizzlies: Mo Cheeks
Mo Cheeks has shown promise but being selected in the lotto and has played 26 games to show his worth he has not produced. In 14 MPG he scored only 5 PPG and only 2.5 assists while tuning the ball over 1.2 a game. He shot terribly at 38% from the Field and only 60% from the Charity stipe while shooting the 3 ball 25%. Very bad for a PG. With other selections available they could have gotten someone who could produce now.
17. Nets: Michael Cooper
Cooper was selected # 17 and has not produced at all in 14 games he did play. He was given 22 MPG but scored only 3 PPG shooting 10% from 3 and 63% from the Free throw. He does do well getting inside and shooting the Jumper at55% from the Field but he hardly does it he has been a big let down since being selected 17th.
14. Nets: George Johnson SF 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 .000 .000 .000
Simply a 14th pick not in the D-League and has played not a single game in his rookie season. What else can be said?
*Note* If the player is in the D-League will not be evaluated.
Top 10 best Rookies(Best to Worst):
1.Nuggets: Larry Bird
Larry Bird has looked phenomenal this far into the season. A big turn around for the Nuggets this season going from the bottom of the league in every category to becoming the 6th seed out West andLarry Bird has been a big part to the success of the Nuggets. Lets take a look at how great he has been. Larry Bird is the #1 option on this squad and has delivered and then some. Larry Bird is scoring 23 PPG on 45% from the field, 75% from the line and 39% from three. He is also and exceptional rebounder nabbing nearly 8 a game and has great vision for a SF getting 3.2 assists a game. He does need to turn down the T/O but he this should go down as he gains more experience.
Grade: A+
Thompson has also had a great season thus far. He has been a big piece to the Thunder's success lately. The team was one of the worst team in the West but are now in the 7th seed below the Denver Nuggets. Thompson is the Thunders #2 option and has complemented the finesse game of Anthony Davis. Thompson is a hard hat type of player. Thompson is a double double machine as he sits at 21 double-doubles in 35 games. Statistically 19.5 PPG and 11 RPG. He is also blocking 2.8 shots a game, a great defensive enforcer. Needs to improve his T/O and FT shots but should improve as his career progresses.
Grade: A+
2. Hornets: Bernard King
Bernard King looks in tip top form in his rookie season. His scoring has been crucial this season for the Hornets. The Hornets have jumped from the 2nd worst team in the league to a competent one. The Hornets are 4 games away into the 8th seed. Of course like many teams out of the playoffs if the Hornets located out west they would be 1 game away from the Playoffs.
too bad they play in the East. Still though Bernard King is an amazing talent. King is the leading scorer on the Hornets with nearly 21 PPG and shooting exceptionally 47% from the Field 73% from the line and 41% from three. These are exceptional shoot %s. King is also one of the top Rebounders at the SG spot in the league nabbing 6.7 a game. Still Kin has not seen one rookie of the month award which may be due to his atrocious 3.8 T/O a game. Grade: A
4. Pistons: Walter Davis
The Pistons have fallen to become the worst team out East and the 2nd worst in the league. We can't blame Davis for this entirely. He could score more but he has been scoring efficiently as a 3rd option for the Pistons. Davis has been scoring nearly 15 PPG at decent percentages. 42% from the field, 70% from the line, and 32% from three. The %'s are not eye popping statistics but are fair for a Rookie. The biggest knock on Davis is he turns the ball over a staggering 4.2 a game. As a selection at #4 after Bird,King and Thompson this is not bad at all out of the remaining selections.
Grade: A-
10.Kings: Reggie Theus
Reggie Theus dropped was it his hair or was it the defense not really sure but he sure did show that passed on him he is a great talent at the SG spot. Reggie Theus is on the worst team in the league but as the #2/#3 option on the team he needs to shoot more efficiently and score more. I think it is more than that though. The Kings are third worst in shot attempts and the worst at converting them. So we can blame the offensive setting the Kings have. Theus is shooting bad attempts because the offense is that bad. Theus is the 3rd best starter percentage wise in scoring while shooting 41% from the field. His FT% is at 68% really bad as a SG and shoots the 3 ball O.K at 29%. He scores 12 points a game for the kings who need all they can get offensively. Theus also grabs 4 boards a game while nearly getting 3 assists a game which looks good until you see he turns it over 2.6 a game. He does have his instances and at #10 to #4 he was a good selection for the Kings.
Grade: B+
16. Blazers: James Edwards
The Blazers are currently 3 games out from the playoff picture due t being in the west and the small contributions James Edwards has provided this team. James Edwards was selected out of the Lotto and has now become the 6th best rookie statistically. In the draft notes it described him as slow ,a reason he might of dropped, but it did also mention his big strength. The Blazers felt he might be a great big man for their team and Edwards has fit the role rather well. Edwards definitely knows how to use his strength very well on the court. He uses good positioning and strength to get nearly 9 boards a game. A great offensive rebounder and put back player he is scoring 8 PPG. His FT% is better than most bigs in the league shooting 70% from the FT line. He is also recording 1.1 blocks a game. as well for the Blazers.
Grade: B+
6. Rockets: Cedric Maxwell
The Rockets are currently 1.5 games away from the 8th seed out west. maxwell has been put at SF and SG respectively and has done fairly well. Maxwell has filled his role as an outside threat. He is scoring 8 points a game while shooting 35% from three this season which is an O.K % for a Rookie. What pops out to me is his FT % which is at 93% he has made 31/33 FT attempts. Nearly a FT a game. Decent rebounder in limited minutes.
Grade: B
8.76ers: Pat Cummings
The 76ers are the 5th best team in the dog fight dog wold called the East. Cummings role has been the stretch 4 who can play some SF. From a pick and pop to spot up 3 pt shooter Cummings has done well in his role out East. Cummings has shot 25 of 52 threes this season shooting an incredible 48% #1 among rookies. A good FT shooter for a PF shooting at 78%. He is scoring 7 PPG and getting 7 RPG as well. He also plays the passing lanes and steal entry passes into the post getting 1.3 steals a game
Grade: B-
5. Jazz: Marques Johnson
The Jazz are one of the worst teams in the league this season and the lack of production from the #5 pick might be a tad correlated. The Jazz do not have a definite PG and it shows and effects the production of Johnson. Kasey Hill and Marcus Smart have both been fighting to get the PG spot which seems to hurt Johnson's production. Johnson does shoot efficiently at 46% from the Field and shoots the three ball 33% Johnson only scores 8.6 PPG so what is happening. Well he is not getting a lot of shots. He does need to improve his FT shooting which can easily jump him to 10PPG. Really though he has done well when given a chance.
Grade: B-
9. Heat: Michael Ray Richardson
Finally at #10 is Heat shooting guard Michael Ray Richardson. The Heat are a .500 team right now and currently at 2 games out of the playoffs. Richardson does play a big part in the contributions of the team He does score nearly 10 PPG but he is taking ill advised shots from three and can't seem to buy a Free throw. Solid rebounder at 5 a game which shows great promise. He has big potential in scoring the basket but need to be a lot more efficient he should be close to 13 PPG and if he can he should Jump up these standing by the end of the season.
Grade B-
HM:
15. Lakers: Tree Rollins 41 21.3 MPG/ 6.9 PPG/ 6.0 RPG/ 1.7 APG/ 2.1 BPG (Barley Edged out)
7.Pistons: Jack Sikma 35 23.4 MPG/ 6.0 PPG/ 6.9 RPG/ 1.2 BPG
18. Rockets: Kent Benson 37 22.7 MPG/ 5.4 PPG/ 6.6 RPG/
22. Raptors: Robert Reid 38 17.2 MPG/ 5.8 PPG/ 2.9 RPG/ 1.9 APG
19. Suns: Tom Lagarde 39 19.8 MPG/ 5.4 PPG/ 5.3 RPG/
Steals (Best to Worst):
16. Blazers: James Edwards
James Edwards was selected #16 and is playing like a player selected 6 per my rankings an Exceptional Player who dropped heavily. He was taken after Sikma, Cummings and Tree Rollins. Though Rollins is up there too. Edwards can do a little of everything and rebounds very well, something very important in this league.
15. Lakers: Tree Rollins
Went 15th behind Sikma but has produced well off the bench on a championship caliber team. He was taken after Sikma and Cummings and gets his in limited 21 minutes. His blocks a great getting 2.1 in 21 minutes and he is an O.K Rebounder at 6 a game even though the notes said other wise which is why many passed him up. From what I have seen this season the Tree should have been selected within the top 10 but Slide down rather quickly.
18. Rockets: Kent Benson
Benson has produced in just 22 minutes a game under the Rockets scoring 5.4 and 6.6 Boards a game. He is still raw but he is a good hustle player who at the 18th pick is a great selection and good value for the Rockets
22. Raptors: Robert Reid 38 17.2 5.8 2.9 1.9 0.7 0.5 0.9 .427 .789 .371
Reid was selected #22 but production wise he looks like a he should have been between the 12-16 pick. Reid is playing just 17 minutes a game but is scoring nearly 6 PPG and shooting well for the time he is given. He has shot 43% from the Field, 79% from the Line, and 37% from three. Once he is given more minutes and gains a bigger role he will produce much more
19. Suns: Tom Lagarde 39 19.8 5.4 5.3 0.7 0.6 0.7 1.2 .409 .699 .000
Lagarde Is also a player who has produced rather well and could have been selected a tad higher than he is now. He is doing a bit of everything in 20 MPG. HE is scoring 5 points a game and 5 boards as well. He needs to do better around the rim but he does shoot his free throws decently at 70%.
Bottom 4 (in order from Best to Worst)
11.Spurs: Tony Robertson Traded to the Grizzlies
Lack of minutes might be the biggest knock on Robertson and looks to become even harder now that he was shipped the Grizzlies. Playing in only 22 games and 16 MPG in those games Robertson scored 4.5 a game and shot the ball rather well. He shot 44% tom the field and 75% the FT and 46% from three. I have a feeling once he get a bigger role and becomes a more reliable defender he can be fairly good.
13.Grizzlies: Mo Cheeks
Mo Cheeks has shown promise but being selected in the lotto and has played 26 games to show his worth he has not produced. In 14 MPG he scored only 5 PPG and only 2.5 assists while tuning the ball over 1.2 a game. He shot terribly at 38% from the Field and only 60% from the Charity stipe while shooting the 3 ball 25%. Very bad for a PG. With other selections available they could have gotten someone who could produce now.
17. Nets: Michael Cooper
Cooper was selected # 17 and has not produced at all in 14 games he did play. He was given 22 MPG but scored only 3 PPG shooting 10% from 3 and 63% from the Free throw. He does do well getting inside and shooting the Jumper at55% from the Field but he hardly does it he has been a big let down since being selected 17th.
14. Nets: George Johnson SF 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 .000 .000 .000
Simply a 14th pick not in the D-League and has played not a single game in his rookie season. What else can be said?
