Official ROY Race Thread

[KF10]

This thread will be served as keeping tabs with Evans and his other fellow rookies on the ROY race. So, anything about the 2009 rookie class is fair game here. Okay, knowing that Griffin is out for a period amount of time, Evans is pegged to be the best candidate for ROY. NBA.COM updated ranking (with the knowledge of Griffin's absence i.e. injury) has Evans at #1 in the ROY race:

Tyreke Evans (#1):

The only thing working against Evans is this: He plays for the Kings. Evans is going to have a monster year, no doubt about that. Playing big minutes in the backcourt alongside Kevin Martin, I fully expect Evans to average around 18 points, five boards and five assists. But, his team will be lucky to win 20 games and voters may take that into consideration when it comes time to fill out their ballots. Still, Evans is a special player and, if he can improve in the turnover department (he averaged 4.0 in the preseason), he’ll be taking home the ROY trophy come April.

The others:

2) Stephen Curry
3) Blake Griffin
4) Johnny Flynn
5) Brandon Jennings
6) James Harden
7) DeJuan Blair
8) DeMar De Rozan
9) Terrance Williams
10) Chase Budinger

http://www.nba.com/rookies/

EDIT: Forgot the link

[Nicky Nix Nook]

This might be a little off topic, but I'm tired of the disrespect (for lack of a better word) that the Kings get on a national level. I feel like these analysts just talk out of their ass. Ya Kings were the worst team last year, but no one even tries to analyze the situation last year OR this year.

Martin missed 31 games (Leading scorer obviously)
Garcia (second leading scorer) missed 17 games
Thompson (rookie), Hawes (sophomore) started half the year.
Our youth has improved, and if healthy this team is looking at 25+ at least. I could see them MAYBE getting 30 wins.

No one takes those factors into account when analyzing this team. Not to mention we just added Tyreke Evans which is a BIG addition, but somehow some people think we actually won't improve with a better roster and healthy players? Doesn't make any sense.

[kings4life]

I really see no reason why Tyreke Evans should not put up the best numbers of any rookie. That may or may not translate to ROY, due to voters putting more emphasis on team wins.

[KF10]

Totally agree with you, NNN.

I always keep that in mind when these "analyst" talks about the Kings. They will go off by saying "Well, the Kings were the worst team in the league last year. They are last in several categories such as three point percentages. I'll say this, they are lucky to win 20 games this year. They will be almost lock for the John Wall sweepstakes. Yeah, Evans is a very good player but is he a point guard? He can contribute so much. *sarcasm*" This kind of analysis is the BS kind. No depth of any kind. I laugh when some of these clowns think we are going to win less than last year. The chances of that happening is very low.

Anyways, lets talk about the game tonight haha

[Nicky Nix Nook]

Do you think Westbrook will stay on Evans? I'm nervous about us beating them so badly last time, I would say they actually have the advantage.

[KF10]

Do you think Westbrook will stay on Evans? I'm nervous about us beating them so badly last time, I would say they actually have the advantage.

Well, we won against them very handily without Kevin Martin. At one point we were up by 30+ points. But then again, they played Durant and other players not to the minutes they usually play. So, I don't know.

About Evans/Westbrook. If I can recall, I think Westbrook had a much tougher time guarding Evans than Evans on Westbrook. I heard Evans did a very good job on him. But I don't know if they will be a different defender against Evans this time. Maybe Selfoloha on Evans (sp)?

[pj_tor]

Evans´ numbers are terrible so far. He is killing my fantasy team, dude can´t even sink a free throw. I've watched a couple of games and I still have not seen anything worth picking him ahead of Rubio, Jennings, Flynn...

Any thoughts?

[Cruel_Ruin]

Tyreke is coming into the NBA as the focus of the defense's attention, there is going to be an adjustment period. Not to mention he rolled his ankle against the Spurs.

[pillwenney]

Evans´ numbers are terrible so far. He is killing my fantasy team, dude can´t even sink a free throw. I've watched a couple of games and I still have not seen anything worth picking him ahead of Rubio, Jennings, Flynn...

Any thoughts?

He's been injured the last couple of games. And also, you know, he's a 20-year-old rookie that is still learning his position.

[Nicky Nix Nook]

Evans´ numbers are terrible so far. He is killing my fantasy team, dude can´t even sink a free throw. I've watched a couple of games and I still have not seen anything worth picking him ahead of Rubio, Jennings, Flynn...

Any thoughts?

As Mitch said, he's really played 2 healthy games. One of those games he put up 22. Let him get the hang of things a little more.

[Gus McCrae]

I have the same issue, was really high on him grabbed him in both my leagues. I think I'm goign to bench him for 2 weeks and let him get the jitters out.

By the way, is it just me or does the team freeze him out a little bit on offense? I've seen inbound passes after the other team scores go to Kevin Martin even when Tyreke is calling for it and I"ve seen him standing at the top of arc, open, calling for the ball and it get's forced in to Spencer or JT.

Am I trippin?

[darkadun]

I noticed that too. Seems like they always try to run ISO for Evans which I disagree with. Last night they ran alot of pick and rolls with Beno/Hawes which was effective.

IMO, they should do that for Evans, let him roll off a screen, penetrate and kick out to his teamates or score himself. I think its a little early to expect him to beat his man 1 on 1 every time.

[Nicky Nix Nook]

I'm really not a fan of iso's all together.

[Smills91]

This might be a little off topic, but I'm tired of the disrespect (for lack of a better word) that the Kings get on a national level. I feel like these analysts just talk out of their ass. Ya Kings were the worst team last year, but no one even tries to analyze the situation last year OR this year.

Martin missed 31 games (Leading scorer obviously)
Garcia (second leading scorer) missed 17 games
Thompson (rookie), Hawes (sophomore) started half the year.
Our youth has improved, and if healthy this team is looking at 25+ at least. I could see them MAYBE getting 30 wins.

No one takes those factors into account when analyzing this team. Not to mention we just added Tyreke Evans which is a BIG addition, but somehow some people think we actually won't improve with a better roster and healthy players? Doesn't make any sense.

Are you a post-1999 Kings fan? Story of this franchise. We had one little outlier of minimal respect from 2000-2003 due to the fact that we played the most beautiful basket since the 1980's that they could no longer ignore us. The fact is, if you're a Kings fan, you're gonna get dumped on. See ESPN, see RealGM trade board, see any nationally syndicated sports outlet. We're the Rodney Dangerfields of the NBA. You'll get calloused to it soon enough.

[pj_tor]

yes, I guess he needs time to heal and get used to the position...

Anyway, his FT % is TERRIBLE for a scoring guard. He just shot .711 % in college and is below .600 % in the NBA. At 4.5 attemps per game (it will increase) that is a lot of wasted chances. He definitely needs to work a lot on that

[RIPskaterdude]

While Evans was my #1 choice, I'm gonna have to say a big "I told you so" to Smills and all of those "Jennings will be a HUGE bust" posters on this board... 22 and 5 so far through 3 games.

[KF10]

For the record, I'm been a Jennings supporter since his senior year in HS. I knew he will prove the haters/doubters wrong. I couldn't believe how much stuff/negativity he was getting. It was almost ridiculous. From being a huge bust and being another Marbury without the talent.

With that said, I think it's too early into the season and saying "I told you so". I think a large sample of games should justify that. And I have confidence that Jennings will resume at this level (or close to it) by then, he is already being recognize as a threat to the ROY.

I think Jennings is going to have a very good career in Milwaukee and/or somewhere else.

[Smills91]

While Evans was my #1 choice, I'm gonna have to say a big "I told you so" to Smills and all of those "Jennings will be a HUGE bust" posters on this board... 22 and 5 so far through 3 games.

Hey may very well pan out, but I told you so after 3 games? Com'n, you gotta allow time for teams to adjust as their was ZERO game film on the kid.

[RIPskaterdude]

Film or no film, you were the biggest anti-Jennings guy here, saying that he would be absolutely the BIGGEST bust of the draft.

[Nicky Nix Nook]

In 'player comparison' I had Jennings being runner up to ROY under Evans above Griffin. I am definitely not digging it up though.