Tracking the 2008 Rookies

[closg00]

Roy Hibbert is tearing it up and dominating in the post - 23 min, 9 rebounds, 17 pts against the Griz. Note that McGee also tore through them so they appear to have some serious problems in the middle.

Mayo looks great, as has Beasley. This is going to be a great year for watching hoops despite our injury situation.

[BigA]

Does Greg Oden count as a rookie?

[WizBiz]

^^^
yep

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Rookies that's box scores have stood out in preseason:

OJ Mayo had 6 threes and 5 steals in the same game last night.

When the Grizzlies traded Love and Miller for Mayo I thought THEY got the steal. Now, that Memphis GM ain't looking to shabby at all. Mayo, Conley, and that other rookie they have Marc Gasol can all play. Marc Gasol can defend, can pass, and he looked very good in the Olympics against the US Olympians.

Another rookie that looks nasty: Roy Hibbert.

Big Roy had 17 and 9 in about 20 mins the other night for Indiana. He's going to seriously push Nesterovic for playing time. In the highlights Ii've seen of him he doesn't look stiff or slow at all.

Brandon Rush also looks good for the Pacers. That Bayless/Rush swap seems to have been good for both teams.

Jarryd Bayless really impressed in summer league, but Portlands' so stocked with talent that Rudy Fernandez will be ahead of him at SG, as so far Sergio Rodriguez is ahead at backup PG behind Blake. Regardless, Bayless is an explosive scorer who will play. The Blazers are very impressed with Nicholas Batum (as was doclinkin, way prior to the draft). Dude can play very good NBA defense and is super young. Sky is the limit for Batum. I see him as a young Posey crossed with Grant Hill.

And as if the Blazers don't already have ENOUGH young talent, Greg Oden's considered a rookie this season. He's been effective scoring and causing guys to have to foul him. He will be a monster, but I'm thinking Pryzbilla is such a solid rebounder that Oden might not get the minutes to get ROY.

I think the EASY ROY will be Micheal Beasley. Might put up near 20 and 10 as a rookie.

A rookie who I wanted the Wizards to draft got his first playing time the other night. Richard Hendrix had 12 points, 13 rebounds (6 offensive), with 2 steals and a block in 22 minutes the other night.

All the talk about Javale McGee being a monster seems to bode well for the Wizards, but I say Richard Hendrix might be better than Boozer down the road. (And I said that about Hendrix before the draft; just as I said before a past draft that Millsap should have been the Wizards pick, the year they drafted Pecherov.)

Lastly, in tracking 2008 rookies I think two are notably NOT AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED.

Russell Westbrook with OKC has struggled mightily. And, Derrick Rose hasn's set the world on fire in Chicago.

I thought before the draft that both those guys were way overrated. (I think Mario Chalmers will be more effective in the long run than either of those two, but I could easily be wrong on that call). The stupidest thing I saw on draft day was that Westbrook went before Kevin Love. Kevin Love made UCLA great last season and Westbrook was good but not great IMHO.

Likewise, Derrick Rose is super talented ... HOWEVER, the dudes that made Memphis great were Chris Douglas Roberts and Joey Dorsey. I should have mentioned CDR above, because he's been very impressive in preseason play. Rose to me reminds me a bit of Desmond Mason--highly athletic but not as highly skilled. Probably, the experts were right to select him high ... he should get the turnovers down and be good in time.

I don't think OKC will ever be that pleased with Westbrook, however. He's going to take a long time to pan out, a la Antonio Daniels and Chancey Billups. Niether guy was a hit until after their rookie deals and they'd been traded away. I see the same for Westbrooks.

Overall as far as this year's rookies go, I see a MONSTER class. I didn't even mention Randolph in GS or Brook Lopez in NJ. Both look ready to put points on the board consistently. The guy Thompson, that they jeered in Sacto on draft night, also looks like a very serviceable player.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

closq and Big A, just call me Mr Tell-me-something-we-haven't-already-said!

I was so eager to post on the rookies when I saw the title of this thread that I didn't read what you guys had already posted about Hibbert, Mayo, Beasley and Oden. My bad.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

ANOTHER ROOKIE: BILL WALKER

Managed to irritate Tracy McGrady in preseason play. Has been extremely impressive with the Celtics.

Of course most of us RealGMers KNEW he'd be good right after EG sold him to Boston for chump change.

[Badgerlander]

Don't forget the Bucks second rounder Luc Richard Mbah A Moute SF from UCLA.
12pts 8reb 1ast 1stl vs GS
10pts 7reb 1ast vs DAL
4pts 7reb 5ast 4stl vs DET
9pts 2reb 2ast 1stl vs MIN
He plays great D and should see solid rotation minutes this year.

[closg00]

Mike Taylor had another impressive game with 21 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who are unbeaten in three exhibition games

Mike Taylor was still on the board when we picked in the 2nd round. On draft night, I was screaming at the set hoping we would pick him. Taylor had already established himself in the D-League, and was on DX'x list of top available PG's in the draft. Right now we would be paying him what we are paying Dee Brown. Dee Brown's lack of scoring ability is going to be a difference maker this year as we fight for scraps. Taylor >>>>>>Dee Brown

Ok, I feel better now

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Prior to the draft I was aware of Taylor but I was afraid of his arrest history and him having been kicked off of an NCAA team.

Dude had solid D League numbers IIRC.

I'd love to have his talent at PG and him if he's got his head on right for the long haul. His background to me says he might have a little Pacman Jones in him.

[closg00]

Darrell Arthur went 0-6 last night, but got 10 DREB

Michael Beasley had a nice stat line for min played
27 min 9 Reb 17pts