Award Watch: Rookie of the Year
It seems like just yesterday the NBA season was getting underway and, suddenly, here we are in the final week of the regular season. Clippers forward Blake Griffin has dominated the Rookie of the Year race from wire-to-wire, but several first year players have emerged, late in the season, as quality starters or important rotation players. Here is a look at who is ballin’ and who is fallin’ in the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year award race.
Ballin’
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers – 21.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.8 steals, .528 FG%
Although Blake Griffin’s tremendous season hasn’t resulted in great team success for the Clippers, the 6-10 forward has put together one of the greatest rookie campaigns in the history of the NBA. He currently ranks 16th in the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating (21.83), ahead of players like Manu Ginobili, Deron Williams, Steve Nash and Chris Bosh. No other rookie ranks inside the top 50. In Wednesdays loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Griffin had one of his best games as a pro, scoring 35 points (on 15-20 shooting), grabbing eleven rebounds and dishing out six assists with one steal, one block and no turnovers. His 62 double-doubles this season ranks third in the NBA behind Kevin Love and Dwight Howards (64 each).
John Wall, Washington Wizards – 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 3.3 steals, .500 3FG%
The season started slowly for Washington’s John Wall, who missed thirteen games due to foot and knee injuries. When he has been on the court, however, the 6-4 point guard has played near an all-star level. The former Kentucky star is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 16 points, 8.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game and, while Wall’s play hasn’t resulted in more victories for the Wizards, his competitive nature and other-worldly talent give the organization and fan base something a reason to be excited for the future. Washington is 4-3 in its last seven games and Wall’s 19 points (on 8-15 shooting), seven assists, five rebounds, two steals and one block against Atlanta on Saturday helped the Wizards record their first win over a playoff team since Jan. 22, when Washington beat Boston, 85-83.
Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons – 15.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists
Pistons big man Greg Monroe saw limited action through the first five weeks of the season, never recording more than 24 minutes in a single game until Dec. 1, a 97-72 loss at Miami in which the 6-11 rookie posted career-highs with 15 points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes of action. Since that time, Monroe has been an efficient low-post scorer while blossoming into a solid rebounder, averaging nine boards per game (which would rank 12th league-wide) in his 46 starts this season. He had 22 points, ten rebounds, two steals and two blocks in Wednesday’s 116-109 win over the Nets and shot .629 from the floor in four games this week as the Pistons went 3-1.
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings – 12.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists
In a topsy-turvy first NBA campaign for DeMarcus Cousins, his skills on the basketball court have proven to be undeniable. The 6-11, 270 lb., center had just four points and three rebounds in 16 minutes due to foul trouble on Friday against Memphis, but still posted three double-doubles as the Kings went 2-2 in four road games this week. Cousins is shooting just .429 from the field this season, but made 20-36 field goals (.556) this week. Since the beginning of March (22 games) Cousins is averaging 4.1 assists per game. {AUTHOR_BOX}
Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz – 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks
The third overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft, Derrick Favors has looked overwhelmed for the majority of his rookie season, despite showing flashes of his untapped potential. This week, however, Favors looked like one of the top players in the class of 2010. The 6-10, 246 lb., power forward had arguably his best game as pro on Monday night, when the Jazz went into the Staples Center and knocked off the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. In a career-high 31 minutes, Favors 14 points (on 6-9 shooting), eleven rebounds, one steal and two blocked shots. In three games this week, the Georgia Tech product shot .621 from the field and averaged 10.4 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Honorable Mention
Ed Davis, Toronto Raptors – 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks
Throughout the seasons, Ed Davis has improved as much as any player in his draft class. After an early stint in the NBADL, the former North Carolina star has emerged as an effective rebounder and efficient scorer. This week he shot .556 (25-45) from the field and had two double-doubles in for games.
Gordon Hayward, Utah Jazz – 13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Derrick Favors wasn’t the only Utah rookie to help propel the Jazz past the Lakers on Monday. Forward Gordon Hayward had 22 points (9-14 FGs), six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one blocked shot. In three games, Hayward shot .538 from the field.
Paul George, Indiana Pacers – 12.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Swingman Paul George, after seeing inconsistent minutes early in the season, has started 18 straight games for the Pacers and has emerged as solid scoring threat for Coach Frank Vogel. George had 23 points (on 9-15 shooting), six rebounds, four assists, two steals and one blocked shot in 26 minutes against Washington on Tuesday. This week George shot .600 (15-25) from the field and .750 (6-8) from behind the three-point line.
Fallin’
Landry Fields, New York Knicks – 6.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Shooting guard Landry Fields played extremely well for the majority of the season but his productivity and efficiency have dipped the last few weeks. The former Stanford standout shot just .421 (8-19) from the field in three games this week and has reached double-digit scoring in just three of his last 14 games.
Al-Farouq Aminu, Los Angeles Clippers – 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds
Former Wake Forest star Al-Farouq Aminu got off to a hot start in his first NBA season but has since tailed off dramatically. This week he shot 5-20 (.250) from the field and 1-5 (.200) from the three-point line. After scoring in double-figure eight times during an eleven game stretch in December, Aminu has cracked the ten point plateau just six times since the New Year.
Rookie of the Year Rankings – Top 5 (Season Stats)
1. (1) Blake Griffin – 22.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, .504 FG%
2. (2) John Wall – 16.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.7 steals
3. (3) Greg Monroe – 9.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals, .552 FG%
4. (5) DeMarcus Cousins – 14.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals
5. (4) Landry Fields – 9.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.0 steals, .497 FG%, .394 3FG%
Be sure to check back, here at HOOPSWORLD, each and every week as we continue our coverage of the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the year. You can follow Luke Byrnes on Twitter or drop him a question for his weekly chat, held Tuesdays at 1pm Eastern time. Don’t forget to check out HOOPSWORLD’s coverage of the NCAA men’s basketball.
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