As we’ve blown through the first quarter of the most heralded rookie class since 2003, best known as the Year of LeBron, it’s a little hard to fathom the trio of rookies that have made the most impact.
OK, who’s got the lowdown on Jamario Moon?
If you want to break it down to the rookie who has made the most impact on a good team, it would have to be Moon, although Glen Davis – you know the “Big Baby” of the Celtics – has had his moments in a limited role.
Everybody knew Juan Carlos Navarro, hardly a rookie considering his 10 years of experience in Barcelona, would have an impact on the Grizzlies . . . then again, they are still holed up in the 13th slot in the Western Conference. And to Navarro’s credit, he certainly has given them a lot more than what the Rockets have gotten from Argentinean Luis Scola, who came to Houston with great expectations with his credentials from international play.
Granted, No. 3 overall pick Al Horford deserves props for helping the Hawks continue their rise in the East into the seventh seed, above .500 this late for the first time since the year of the lockout. He's playing more than 30 minutes a game.
And apologies to Bucks general manager Larry Harris are in order for battering him over the decision to take Chinese forward Yi Jianlian, who has stepped right in and contributed significantly as the Bucks take their annual ride on the playoff-lottery fence in the East.
But let’s step back for a moment and look at the 2007 lottery.
There was no getting around the shock and disappointment in Portland with the microfracture knee surgery of the next great big man, No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden, ending his season before it began. He’s a special personality as well as a physical specimen, who has been busy bulking himself up and supporting the team. The expectations, if not fear of the unknown, continue to be very high for next season.
And that’s not to minimize the performance of equally hyped and gifted Kevin Durant at No. 2 to the Sonics. He has scored at an impressive 19.6 points per game with some major 30-plus point efforts that led to rare victories in their record-setting slow start. The hope is his erratic play is more a byproduct of his teen years as opposed to just being swallowed by the ineptitude and turmoil of the Sonics franchise overall. The same goes for No. 5 pick Jeff Green, who has been up and down, but most importantly came in the Sonics trade with the Celtics that handed Boston Ray Allen.
Meanwhile, at No. 4, physically underdeveloped point guard Mike Conley figures strangely on a Grizzlies team, with Navarro, Kyle Lowry and Damon Stoudamire. Meanwhile, the wretched Timberwolves aren’t getting much help from the No. 7 pick, Corey Brewer, still not able to reach 30 percent shooting from the field on a team that can’t seem to shoot the ball into any of its 10,000 lakes.
Yeah, it’s early, but heading right down the list, Joakim Noah (Bulls), Spencer Hawes (Kings), Acie Law (Hawks), Thaddeus Young (Sixers), Julian Wright (Hornets) and Al Thornton (Clippers) have yet to provide the dividends that such a heralded lottery class promised.
So what about this Moon in Toronto? It’s almost as if he landedas opposed to being acquired. At 6-foot-8, 205 pounds and 27 years old, he’s a product of Meridian (Miss.) Community College, been through the minor leagues in Albany of the CBA and Gary of the USBL, and battled his way through the trenches of the Mexican Basketball League before being signed by always-daring Raptors president Bryan Colangelo.
Although obviously very slim, Moon set a franchise record with at least one block in 12 consecutive games and has been huge for Toronto in the wake of injuries to Chris Bosh and Jorge Garbajosa. On a team challenging for the fourth seed in the East, he’s averaging just less than 30 minutes a game, while contributing 8.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
With so many games remaining, there are plenty of rookies that may yet rise or fall before the NBA reaches the spring. The prevailing expectation is that Durant will continue to separate himself from the pack, but Yi has proven to be superb and the Nets' Sean Williams (No. 17) is beginning to make an impact with his toughness inside and exceptional shot-blocking ability.
The key is sustaining it: Will the Heat’s Daequan Cook continue to shoot 43.4 percent (32.1 on 3-pointers)? Are Hawes’ knees capable of playing through an 82-game season to help the Kings? Can Law battle his way back from the ankle injury to be the point guard the Hawks sorely need, so to speak? There is still plenty to be learned this season and beyond, since it generally takes 3-4 years to sort out the impact of a draft class.
Certainly, we have been blown away by the Class of 2003 – considering not only James and Bosh, but Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich, and many others all the way down to the final two picks of the first round – Leandro Barbosa and Josh Howard. And that’s not to mention at least six impact players from the second round, beginning with Luke Walton, Mo Williams, Keith Bogans and Steve Blake.
So we’ve got a long way to go before anything major is decided about this year’s group. At the end of the first quarter, we’ve landed on Moon in the Class of 2007.
2007 Lottery stats
Greg Oden, Portland, out for season with knee surgery
Look for rookie Rodney Stuckey on the Pistons to make a name for himself once he starts playing and his broken hand is fully healed. I also like Nick Young on the Wizards. If these guys get some playing time, they will show they have what it takes.
heres a situation: KG gets injured and big baby comes in and starts say 10 games. Guarantee 10-12 ppg and 7-8 rpg. He gets 5 points and 4 boards in just 13 minutes. double his minutes and his stats will rise
Once again this isnt football this is basketball. Usually rookies dont progess intil their three or fourth year unless its a player like Durrant or Lebron James who is a special breed. dudes like Conley(not a big fan of his) Law, Brewer, and Nick Young and others will come alone with time. Durrant might get the ROY award but i wont be surpised if alot of other players have better careers.
Its to early to jugde. give it two maybe three years.
i dont watch every game, but i dont understand the reference to yi! his stats tell me that he is a overated clone of that so-called player in houston(no skills after all his years in the league). the writer must be a homer for the bucks. imo al horford has gotten the most #### for the buck. multiple double doubles. with more poise than the average rookie. i disregard a 27 or 28 year old rookie, i don't think it's the same as these 20 or 21 year old rookies.
btw javaris crittendon was a teamate of dwight howard on aau teams and at southwest atlanta christian acad high in atlanta for three years.
Last edited by JUNEBABY on December 21st at 1:48 PM.
Javaris Crittenton is the next big thing!!! Please believe that.Phil Jax isn't playing him for whatever stupid reason but hey ,if he had his minutes,people wouldn't even be talking about Moon or Green and stuff.I would put just Durant ahead of him.
Watch out people.!!!
Wow! I've followed the Lakers since dirt was invented but even I wouldn't be hyping Crittenton like you Biz. Whew.
As far as the rest goes Mike Kahn has to write about them and I guess Oden can overcome it, others have to some extent so I won't have an opinion there. As for Durant I'm leaning towards this is more of the disrray with the Sonics than I am Durant out of control.
Otherwise I'm styfling a yawn. Just not in the mood for projecting how role players turn out in the future after 30 games or so. Yi maybe. Been a suprise to me so far.
Yes, Rodney Stuckey will be making his name just around all star weekend time. He should take Rip's spot when he forgets to play defense and make shots. GO PISTONS GO!!!!!!!!!!
JUNEBABY,
You lost all credibility. Yao no skills. 22 and 11 are no skills. And these numbers with the worst point guard in the NBA. 86% from the free throw line. You aren't watching the same game I am.
JuneBaby, you've got no knowledge of the game.. you just said you don't watch enough game and don't understand the reference to Yi.. go watch some games first then! wtf.. Yi last game stats, something like 29 points, 10boards, 1 block, 2 to, 14/17 shooting.. AND this article was written before that game son..
jumpers, drives, put backs dunks, fast break, blocks, the kid does it all.. and if you have ever watched a Bucks game.. Mo William and Redd doesnt even fricking pass the ball!
Over-rated clone of Yao?? Now You're really dumb.. two players with totally different skill sets and game.. their only similarities is that they're both Chinese you fawktard..and to say Yao has no skills? are you kidding me?? He's in an elite class of centers, one of the top true centers still in the game today.. Duncan, Yao, Dwight.. You're dumb dude.
By the way, Top two Rookies as of right now, today, Durant then Yi, maybe it won't be like this at the end of the season, maybe it will.. but as of right now, it is...
Last edited by xngboy on December 24th at 8:32 AM.
Have not ideas about basketball at all. Yao is arguable the best skilled center in the NBA nowdays. Yi just came up with 29Pts, 10 Rb, 3st, in the latest game. He actually fired over the court and did many impacting this game. You told us these guys are non skills? Are u kidding me?
It looks like neither Brandon or Julian made the "Wright" move by going to the NBA so early. They could both be playing for what is the No.1, and what probably would be the No. 2 teams in the country if they'd stayed. Brandon Wright should have learned from Marvin Williams a few years ago. Marvin has started to come around, but if he'd stayed a couple more years, he's be a much more complete player.
i agree and disagree with you. All real ball players who played basketball knows that you can only get better by player people who is better then you. Staying in College could have improved somethings, but it wouldnt make them better. you get better by playing at the next level. But if you are saying that both wrights and williams wasnt ready for the NBA then that is different. If you are ready, you are not going to get better playing guys at the College level.
Many guys wasnt ready and should have went to college or stayed in college longer, but the ones who are ready(like KG, Kobe, Lebron, A.I est) should come out right away. Unless they are trying to graduate. Marbury(marbury played one year of college ball) staying in college four years he would have still been a selfish player.
point is you get better playing at the next level. Brandan Wright was picked because his physical ability.(how many times that worked not much) he wasnt even the best player on his team in college. Marvin Williams was the best wing player out of his draft. he did the right thing coming out early. people expected to much from him. But he has the tools to be special.(i think he will become good soon). Now he is just O.K
Last edited by bassda1 on December 25th at 5:16 PM.
I agree with the you all about Crittendon. I just hope that Jax gives him some more burn. That's what I hate about some of the sc top tier coaches. It's like they feel the need to keep the rookies down. If Crittendon was in Phoenix or Cleveland he would be on the floor more. I bet Pat Riley would use him. As a Bucks fan, yes a Bucks fan, I feel that while Yi has done better as of late the press gives him a pass as they do all big men from overseas. Yi is a bit of a plodder. They say he could play the 3 but who can he guard. He's too soft right now even at the 4. Yet they criticize Durrant who is doing as well as any 19 year old would. Milicic, Bargnani, Tskitishvili and even Bogut were all suppose to be special yet Chris Kaman is better than all of them right. Eddie Curry, Kwame Brown and Tyson Chandler were all from that 2001 class and they got villified though Chandler has blown up the others could be lumped in the same heap. Rudy #### right now seems like the best player from Bargnani calss alon with Brandon Roy in Portland. Once Crittendon gets playing time he will be the steal of the last draft.
Last edited by Pops58 on December 26th at 5:27 AM.
