Award Watch: Rookie of the Year
With the All-Star break less than one week away, it already appears as Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers is going to run away with the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year award. Barring injury, or a sudden epiphany by someone else in this class of rookies, Griffin will take home the award so, as an acknowledgement of his dominance this season, Griffin will be tracked a little less regularly moving forward. The guy is an All-Star, for Pete’s sake; only six rookies have been selected since David Robinson in 1990.
It wasn’t a great week for first year players as Griffin averaged almost twice as many points per game (26.0) as any other rookie (John Wall averaged 13.2). Points scored, however, aren’t the only measure of success in the NBA. Here is a look at who is ballin’ and who is fallin’ in the 2010-11 Rookie of the Year race.
Ballin’
Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons – 12.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, .654 FG% (This Week)
There is no doubt that Greg Monroe’s NBA career got off to a slow start but, over the course of the last several weeks, the former Georgetown Hoya has emerged as one of the top rookies in the class of 2010. The 6-11, 250 lb., forward/center has seen his scoring average increase every month he’s been in the league and, after scoring in double figures just twice in his first 31 games, Monroe has cracked that same plateau 13 times in his last 18 outings. Amongst rookies, only Griffin (27.2) had a better efficiency rating than Monroe (17.7) this week. Most importantly, Monroe has helped the struggling Pistons win basketball games and given the moribund franchise hope for the future. With the help of the big man’s recent strong play, Detroit went 2-1 this week. The team has now gone 8-9 (.471) with Monroe in the starting lineup and 11-22 (.333) when he comes off the bench.
Christian Eyenga, Cleveland Cavaliers – 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.8 blocks
Coming in to this season, most people expected very little out of Christian Eyenga this year. The final pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, the 6-5 swingman has become a fixture in Head Coach Byron Scott’s rotation after spending most of the season’s first two months with the Cavs’ NBA Development League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks. Eyenga has now started nine consecutive games for Cleveland, averaging nine points, 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks in those games. This week, although the Cavs have now lost an NBA record-tying 24 straight games, the Congolese rookie has stepped his game up even further. Eyenga, who coming into the week had scored in double-digits just twice in his career, closed his week with three straight games of at least 10 points and had at least one assist, one steal and one blocked shot in each of his four contests, while showing the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.
Paul George, Indiana Pacers – 12.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals
Coming out of Fresno State, there was some question as to how soon, if ever, Paul George would be able to make an impact at the NBA level. Blessed with a diverse skill set, smooth athleticism and great length, the 6-8 forward clearly has the requisite skills to be an impact player in the NBA but, considering the level of talent George faced in college, he was something of a boom or bust pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. This week he help the resurgent Indiana Pacers win four straight games by putting on display his ability to help his team in a variety of ways. George knocked down three-point shots, got to the rim and the free throw line, rebounded his position, showed promise on the defensive end and shared the basketball. Over his last eight games, George is averaging 12.4 points and 1.1 steals while shooting .485 from the field and the Pacers have now won five of their last six games. {AUTHOR_BOX}
Eugene "Pooh" Jeter, Sacramento Kings – 9.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists
While the Sacramento Kings are struggling, rookie point guard Pooh Jeter is proving that his strong play with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Las Vegas Summer League was no fluke. The former University of Portland standout, who has spent the last four seasons playing in the D-League and overseas, shot .615 from field, in two games, this week, while posting and assist to turnover ratio of 2.5-to-one. This week, Jeter ranked second (behind Washington’s John Wall) amongst rookies in assists per game (Blake Griffin was third, by the way).
John Wall, Washington Wizards – 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.0 assists
Save for a poor performance against the New Orleans Hornets on Feb. 1, Washington Wizards rookie John Wall had perhaps his best week as a pro. The former Kentucky star continues to be one of the best ball hawks and distributors, regardless of tenure, in the NBA, averaging 1.7 steals and 9.1 assists per game. This week, the 6-4, 195 lb., point guard took care of the basketball (2.5 turnovers per game, down from 3.7 for the season) while his shot selection and scoring efficiency were up as well. Wall still has some learning to do, obviously, but is making strides as a decision-maker and a floor general. In games against Dallas, Orlando and Atlanta, Wall averaged 16.3 points, seven assists and five rebounds while shooting .526 from the field.
Honorable Mention
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings – 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds
Consistency (or lack thereof) has been a huge issue for Kings’ rookie DeMarcus Cousins so far this season and this week was no different. Statistically, Cousins wasn’t bad, but the 6-11 center scored 20 points against Boston on Feb. 1 and had just seven (on 3-8 shooting) against San Antonio on Feb. 4.
Ed Davis, Toronto Raptors – 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 21.7 minutes
Replacing the productivity of former Toronto Raptors big man Chris Bosh is more than
Ed Davis is capable of at this point in his career, but the former North Carolina star has given the Raptor’s fan base something to be excited about moving forward. The 6-10 forward impacts the game without having plays run for him and is extremely active defensively, pulling down rebounds and blocking shots.
Ben Uzoh, New Jersey Nets – 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Undrafted out of the University of Tulsa, Ben Uzoh has played a limited role for the New Jersey Nets in the early stage of his NBA career. This week, Uzoh made the most of the minutes he was given, shooting 10-19 (.526) from the field and racking up an 11:3 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Fallin’
Al-Farouq Aminu, Los Angeles Clippers – 4.5 points, 2.8 rebounds
After a hot start to his career with the Clippers, Al-Farouq Aminu had easily the worst week of his young career. The 6-9 forward shot just .182 (4-22) from the field, .100 (1-10) from the three-point line as the Clippers lost three of four games.
Eric Bledsoe, Los Angeles Clippers – 4.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Much like his teammate, Aminu, Eric Bledsoe got off to a strong start in the NBA and has come back to Earth some as the season has progressed. This week, the point guard out of Kentucky shot 4-15 (.267) from the field and missed both of his attempts from behind the three-point line.
Wesley Johnson, Minnesota Timberwolves – 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists
At first glance, Wesley Johnson’s numbers don’t look too bad, but the rookie out of Syracuse had one of his least efficient weeks in the NBA, making just 10-33 (.303) field goals and 4-16 (.250) three-point shots.
Rookie of the Year Rankings – Top 5 (Season Stats)
1. (1) Blake Griffin – 22.9 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, .515 FG%, .500 3FG%
2. (2) John Wall – 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.7 steals
3. (3) Landry Fields – 10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, .520 FG%, .391 3FG%
4. (4) DeMarcus Cousins – 13.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, .8 steals, .8 assists
5. (NR) Greg Monroe – 7.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, .526 FG%, 1.0 steals
Be sure to check back, here at HOOPSWORLD, as we continue our coverage of the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year race. Don’t forget to check out our coverage of NCAA basketball and the2011 NBA Draft as well. Drop me a question in my weekly chat, held Tuesdays at 1pm Eastern time, or hit me up on Twitter if you have questions or comments.
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