STANDOUT ROOKIES
Kevin Durant, SG, SEA - When Greg Oden became the updated version of Sam Bowie for the TrailBlazers, it was widely assumed that Kevin Durant would be the top rookie since he did not have to contend with the Herculean Monster out of Ohio State. Perhaps for Oden, it was better that he went out with an injury, because he would not have stood a chance. Seen as second best for well over year, Durant has finally silenced doubters, leading all rookie scorers with 19.7 points per game, while the rest of the rookie class is struggling to break double-digits. Many criticized an apparent allergic reaction to the weight room, but what Durant lacks in strength, he makes up with finesse. At a long 6’10”, Durant can get off any jump shot without fear off getting blocked or having a defender seriously disrupt it. After loosening up the defense from outside, Durant’s speed provides easy access to the lane, where he is extremely effective due to his power forward height. The versatile Durant also shoots over .300 percent from beyond the arch, making him a dangerous offensive threat from any spot on the court. There is no doubt that he will be this year’s ROY, and he is even proving to be a decent fantasy option, combining spectacular scoring with almost 5 rebounds per game.
Al Horford, C, ATL - Al Horford seemed doomed in the NBA. Sure, his 245 lbs. frame could overpower fragile teenagers in college, but there was very little reason to believe that he was going to be able to out-muscle centers who weighed more than him and who had a couple of more inches to his 6’10” height. Horford also seriously lacks any offensive fundamentals, so ultimately, he had the potential to become the biggest bust of this year’s draft. Instead, Horford continued where he left with the Florida Gators – swiping boards and performing a miracle in order to score on offense. He leads all rookies, and most veterans, in rebounds with 9.9 per game. He is experiencing mediocrity at 9 points per game, although for Horford, single digits might just be his professional norm. What the Atlanta Hawks (and any fantasy owner smart enough to draft him next year) have on their hands is the next Tyson Chandler. Plus, Horford is way ahead of the curve… Chandler did not start averaging 9 rpg until his fourth season in the pros. With such a great start, Horford has the potential to become one of the most prolific rebounders in the NBA.
Yi Jianlian, PF, MIL - Yi was the top international player before the season, and still is the top international player with every passing week. He may not be scoring like Durant, but remember that he has played in internationally throughout his entire life, and the type of game he has been a part of is almost as different as the English language is to Chinese. The style of play is much slower, and does not emphasize as much on athleticism. Also, the three-point line is slightly closer in proximity to the rim (which is why there are plenty of centers in Europe who have a knack for the long-range jump shot). Considering he has to adjust to a totally different culture, different dimensions, and different rules, the transition for Yi is running smoothly. He is averaging slightly over double-digits in scoring, and has disproved all criticisms of him being soft with 5.5 rebounds per game. Best of all, Yi is hitting .357 percent of his three-point attempts, showing countless potential of a deadly long-range bomber.
FIRST-YEAR TROUBLES
Joakim Noah, F/C, CHI - He was not effective and extremely overrated as a college player (he only scored 6 points in the National Championship game against Ohio State), so one has to wonder what the Chicago Bulls where thinking when they selected Noah. He has the same amount of offensive skill as his former frontcourt mate Al Horford, yet his petit frame will never let him surge in the rebound category. Noah is averaging a dismal 4.5 points per game, and only grabbing 3.2 rebounds. Hopefully, he enjoyed his time in college, because his days as top dog are long gone.
Marco Belinelli, G, GSW - There must be some correlation between Italians and wasted hype. First Andrea, now Marco. This new Italian bust torched everyone in the Summer League, making a name for himself and drawing a buzz. Now on the Golden State Warriors, a team that relies on the type of shooting that Belinelli delivered in the summer, he has gone dry. Barely even playing, Belinelli is scoring just a little over 2 points per game and has fractions for rebounds and assists. Not that the Warriors spent a lottery pick on him, but it must be disappointing from scoring in the 30’s in the summer to not scoring at all a few months later. |
