18 players selected for the 2008 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge

[nasty daddy]

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/ ... challenge/

Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy, the reigning T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, and Seattle SuperSonics guard Kevin Durant, the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, lead a list of 18 players selected for the 2008 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, Feb. 15 in New Orleans. The participants in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam were selected by the NBA

[nasty daddy]

http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/langloi ... 80130.html

Results of voting for the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam

[roc]

Why only 9 per team instead of the normal 12 I wonder. I expect Sean Williams to have 10 blocks.

[GJense4181]

The rookie teams aren't usually 12-man rosters ^.
http://www.nba.com/games/20070216/RKESPH/boxscore.html = 18 total players.
http://www.nba.com/games/20060217/RKESPH/boxscore.html = 18 total players.
http://www.nba.com/allstar2005/rookie_c ... index.html = 18 total players.

I definitely can argue against Mike Conley and Juan Carlos Navarro for the rookies. Conley was injured and out of the rotation for much of the season and Navarro, well, is his backup, only a starter due to necessity.

[GJense4181]

Oh, I also have a problem with Luis Scola on the rookie team.

The Sophomores were put together very well. Paul Millsap is the most questionable selection and he is an effing horse.

[roc]

I should have worded that better.

I do know what it's been, just wondering why they don't give 6 other kids a chance to have some fun.

[ajaX82]

Scola? ugh...terrible selection

[Champs04bigshot]

Scola? ugh...terrible selection

Thats not actualy a bad selection he has played well this year hes averaging the same numbers as Maxiell and he didnt get into a consistant rotaion until about a month into the season. He has been big for them and i believe does deserve a spot.

[RTM]

Sophomores will MURDER the Rooks.

That being said, I don't think Bargnani deserves to be there...

[GJense4181]

^Agreed. Bargs is shooting under 37.5% from the floor as a 7-footer. If he were CLOSE to a double-double, I'd reconsider, but he's not. Far from it, actually. He averages under 4 rpb and only 9 ppg.
See for yourself: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/andrea_bargnani/

I would replace him with Craig Smith, as most will agree.
For the freshman, I would keep Navarro (fine, he's averaged 25mpg for 45 games) and Scola (21+minutes for 45 games) and replace Mike Conley with one of Daequan Cook/Al Thornton/Joakim Noah/Nick Young.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/ ... o_one.html

Detroit rookie Arron Afflalo was not among the nine rookies chosen to play in the Rookie/Sophomore Challenge during All-Star weekend. The one player whose selection might be considered questionable was Memphis point guard Mike Conley, who has spent most of this season out with injuries. Conley, taken with the No. 4 overall pick by the Grizzlies last June, has played in 19 games this season. He is out with a chest/rib injury, but he is expected to be able to play sometime next week.

[legacyinthemakin89c]

I agree with the Craig Smith thing, but for all the complaints with the rookies, who is there to replace them? Its a top heavy rookie class and then theres a significant talent drop off.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 10379/1127

The NBA announced the teams for the rookie game during All-Star weekend, and no Piston made the cut.

Rookie guard Arron Afflalo was thought to have a shot to make the team, but Mike Conley of the Grizzlies was selected.

The last time Detroit was represented in the game was 2004, when Tayshaun Prince played for the sophomores.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti ... 31007/1051

The league announced its rosters for the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, which headlines the Feb. 15 festivities on All-Star weekend in New Orleans. Neither of the Pistons' rookie guards, Arron Afflalo nor Stuckey, earned a spot on the rookie team's nine-man roster. Both were considered longshots.