gatorunvrsty
02-27-2008, 12:26 PM
Rookie Watch: Clips' Thornton climbs into Top 5
By David Thorpe
ESPN.com
Last week, there was a big shakeup at the top of our rankings. Al Horford claimed the No. 1 spot from Rookie of the Year frontrunner Kevin Durant. So how did KD and the other top rookies perform this week? Here are my latest observations:
• Watching tape of Al Thornton this week left me thinking of all the times I used to watch him in college, wondering what he'd be like if he ever learned to play to exhaustion. Now I know; he's a dynamic player who becomes his team's go-to guy on many possessions.
• There are many aspects of the NBA game that Kevin Durant (like most rookies) needs to learn before his second season begins. One of them is the art of game preparation. Specifically, he needs to learn the tendencies of his opponents. For example: Anyone defending Kobe Bryant must know that he likes to get deep post-ups in the Lakers' early offense (one reason why he's so great), so playing behind him as he crosses through the paint is a mistake. So when KD did exactly that in the game's first minute on Sunday, Kobe simply sealed and scored an easy bucket against a barely-there Durant. The NBA game is not as complicated as, say, performing heart surgery, but it's far more complex than some may realize.
• I also wasn't impressed by the way Jeff Green defended Kobe on multiple possessions. But I am impressed that his coaches and teammates think he can guard opposing shooting guards. Of course, nobody can really defend Bryant, but Green looks like a guy who can defend inside and out, which is a rare and valuable talent.
• I'm interested to see if Atlanta puts in any of Sacramento's "corner" plays -- offense that runs through the high post with the low post open for cutters or drivers -- with Al Horford playing the role of Brad Miller. Horford is not the shooter or passer Miller is now, of course, but he's better than you might think in those areas. It could be an excellent wrinkle in the Hawks' attack -- one that Mike Bibby can run in his sleep.
• On Sunday, Joakim Noah found out firsthand how difficult it is to face Yao Ming, especially the first time you start against him. But in typical Noah fashion, he was up to the challenge and made up for his lack of offense against the huge All-Star by using his speed and agility, combined with his surprising feistiness, to make things difficult for Yao. Noah also had four steals and battled Yao every step of the way.
• Luis Scola's consistent production is an important part of the Rockets' success. Chuck Hayes, who used to be the Rockets' starting 4, is a glue guy with no offense, while Scola is just as "gluey" and is a capable scorer. He can play off of franchise guys or get his own shot when needed.
• The Rockets have the luxury of playing Carl Landry behind Scola, making Houston strong at the power forward position. Landry could start for some teams right now and is going to be a relative force in this league. Amazingly, at 24 years of age, he's not even the oldest rookie on the team (Scola turns 28 in April).
• It has to be difficult for Juan Carlos Navarro to play out the rest of the season on a team that is hopeless. His career in Europe had few such games, and I have to believe that the Beijing Olympics will start to creep into his mind. Looking at his poor shooting numbers this month, perhaps it already has.
• Jamario Moon has some defensive talent -- because of his length and athleticism -- but I'd love to see him play with more discipline on close-outs. He rises up far too often on shot fakes, giving opponents easier access to dribble-drives toward the rim.
• In his first four games without Jason Kidd, Sean Williams scored a total of 15 points -- less than any three-game total he had amassed since the first week of December.
• The more I watch Mike Conley, the more I think Tony Parker. He is terrific at getting to the rim, and is a far better finisher than one would think.
• Spencer Hawes continues to impress me with his scoring ability, but he hasn't shown me much else. Without a real commitment to reshaping his body -- and improving his agility -- this offseason, I worry that he won't find a place in the Kings' rotation next season.
• A recent possession during a Sixers-Heat game provided a good teaching point for every rookie. Thaddeus Young left Shawn Marion, who was standing in the corner about 20 feet from the rim, to provide help on a driving Jason Williams. Williams had already been cut off by another 76ers player, and had no shot, but Young failed to realize that. Williams kicked it to Marion, who easily went by a "hot" close-out by Young and scored a layup. The teaching point? Don't help off a scorer unless the player with the ball will have a shot he will can finish.
ESPN - ESPN - 2008 NBA Rookies (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/rookies/rankings?season=2008&playerRankingType=1&period=1&set=0)
I like to reflect on all the posts from some of our rivals' boards proclaiming that UF's draftees weren't NBA material, and would never amount to anything. UK fans were the harshest; but all 5 guys that were drafted are in the Top 50, and ranked #1 (Horford), #11 (Noah), #15 (Brewer), #29 (Richard), and #41 (Green). Richard and Green are struggling because of the personnel with their teams (both are behind more experienced players on the depth chart), but they all look to make it in the NBA; and the first 3 could end up being legitimate stars.
By David Thorpe
ESPN.com
Last week, there was a big shakeup at the top of our rankings. Al Horford claimed the No. 1 spot from Rookie of the Year frontrunner Kevin Durant. So how did KD and the other top rookies perform this week? Here are my latest observations:
• Watching tape of Al Thornton this week left me thinking of all the times I used to watch him in college, wondering what he'd be like if he ever learned to play to exhaustion. Now I know; he's a dynamic player who becomes his team's go-to guy on many possessions.
• There are many aspects of the NBA game that Kevin Durant (like most rookies) needs to learn before his second season begins. One of them is the art of game preparation. Specifically, he needs to learn the tendencies of his opponents. For example: Anyone defending Kobe Bryant must know that he likes to get deep post-ups in the Lakers' early offense (one reason why he's so great), so playing behind him as he crosses through the paint is a mistake. So when KD did exactly that in the game's first minute on Sunday, Kobe simply sealed and scored an easy bucket against a barely-there Durant. The NBA game is not as complicated as, say, performing heart surgery, but it's far more complex than some may realize.
• I also wasn't impressed by the way Jeff Green defended Kobe on multiple possessions. But I am impressed that his coaches and teammates think he can guard opposing shooting guards. Of course, nobody can really defend Bryant, but Green looks like a guy who can defend inside and out, which is a rare and valuable talent.
• I'm interested to see if Atlanta puts in any of Sacramento's "corner" plays -- offense that runs through the high post with the low post open for cutters or drivers -- with Al Horford playing the role of Brad Miller. Horford is not the shooter or passer Miller is now, of course, but he's better than you might think in those areas. It could be an excellent wrinkle in the Hawks' attack -- one that Mike Bibby can run in his sleep.
• On Sunday, Joakim Noah found out firsthand how difficult it is to face Yao Ming, especially the first time you start against him. But in typical Noah fashion, he was up to the challenge and made up for his lack of offense against the huge All-Star by using his speed and agility, combined with his surprising feistiness, to make things difficult for Yao. Noah also had four steals and battled Yao every step of the way.
• Luis Scola's consistent production is an important part of the Rockets' success. Chuck Hayes, who used to be the Rockets' starting 4, is a glue guy with no offense, while Scola is just as "gluey" and is a capable scorer. He can play off of franchise guys or get his own shot when needed.
• The Rockets have the luxury of playing Carl Landry behind Scola, making Houston strong at the power forward position. Landry could start for some teams right now and is going to be a relative force in this league. Amazingly, at 24 years of age, he's not even the oldest rookie on the team (Scola turns 28 in April).
• It has to be difficult for Juan Carlos Navarro to play out the rest of the season on a team that is hopeless. His career in Europe had few such games, and I have to believe that the Beijing Olympics will start to creep into his mind. Looking at his poor shooting numbers this month, perhaps it already has.
• Jamario Moon has some defensive talent -- because of his length and athleticism -- but I'd love to see him play with more discipline on close-outs. He rises up far too often on shot fakes, giving opponents easier access to dribble-drives toward the rim.
• In his first four games without Jason Kidd, Sean Williams scored a total of 15 points -- less than any three-game total he had amassed since the first week of December.
• The more I watch Mike Conley, the more I think Tony Parker. He is terrific at getting to the rim, and is a far better finisher than one would think.
• Spencer Hawes continues to impress me with his scoring ability, but he hasn't shown me much else. Without a real commitment to reshaping his body -- and improving his agility -- this offseason, I worry that he won't find a place in the Kings' rotation next season.
• A recent possession during a Sixers-Heat game provided a good teaching point for every rookie. Thaddeus Young left Shawn Marion, who was standing in the corner about 20 feet from the rim, to provide help on a driving Jason Williams. Williams had already been cut off by another 76ers player, and had no shot, but Young failed to realize that. Williams kicked it to Marion, who easily went by a "hot" close-out by Young and scored a layup. The teaching point? Don't help off a scorer unless the player with the ball will have a shot he will can finish.
ESPN - ESPN - 2008 NBA Rookies (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/rookies/rankings?season=2008&playerRankingType=1&period=1&set=0)
I like to reflect on all the posts from some of our rivals' boards proclaiming that UF's draftees weren't NBA material, and would never amount to anything. UK fans were the harshest; but all 5 guys that were drafted are in the Top 50, and ranked #1 (Horford), #11 (Noah), #15 (Brewer), #29 (Richard), and #41 (Green). Richard and Green are struggling because of the personnel with their teams (both are behind more experienced players on the depth chart), but they all look to make it in the NBA; and the first 3 could end up being legitimate stars.