The OFFICIAL rookie impressions thread pt.III

[dlts20]

Beal has really surprised me. He underwhelmed me at Florida, but now he looks like a future star.

This season is actually kinda similar to his Florida season. Starting very slow, not living up to the hype, and then finishing strong. This season is obvously better because he started playing better sooner but I also think he figured it out late in his Florida year and wouldve played great the rest of the season if he had another 10-15 games left.

Its almost like he came to both teams trying to justify his HS hype or his hype period. He tries too hard early on to live up to that star status. You can tell he wants to show that he's worth it and doesnt wanna let people down. It ends up hurting him. Then when he settles down and just plays ball, he exceeds the hype.

[dlts20]

Lillard is great but a different position from the others. Davis & Drummond are great but in different confrences and are also in slightly different positions. To me the best thing about this draft is Beal & Waiters because they are close to the same age, in the same conference, and play the exact same spot. I could see them battling eachother in the playoffs for years to come.

If the Wiz get a new coach to fit Wall's strengths then you could have great matchups of Wall-Beal vs Irving-Waiters. The best thing is that I dont even wanna compare Waiters & Beal. I just love to appreciate both there games. I named there similarites up top but there physical attributes & style are night & day. Thats great for the league. Different people will prefer different things.

[Dame Lizard]

Lamb has to piss GM's off, such a skill set and length, and 0 production

Call me crazy, but I still think Lamb could be the best SG out of this draft. (then again I suppose there is a chance for anything).

All bets are on Beal at this point in time for me, but I'm not ruling out Lamb just yet. If OKC don't resign K-Mart and give Lamb a chance, I think there is a good chance of him absolutely flourishing.

I'm glad Waiters is turning out to be an impressive player, because it would have been disappointing seeing Cleveland waste a number 4 pick when they've got a potential top 3 NBA player in Kyrie.

The top 9 from this draft is looking incredibly impressive, with some good potential in Meyers, Lamb, Henson, Harkless, Zeller and Nicholson.

[GhostsOfGil]

Last 20 games:

Beal:
15.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.5 apg on 56 % TS
Waiters:
14.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.1 apg on 53 % TS

Honestly I expected Lamb and Ross as the best prospects at SG!

But those 2 are proving me wrong now and I like it!

Lamb has to piss GM's off, such a skill set and length, and 0 production

Last 5 games:
Beal:
18.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.8 apg, on 47% FG% and 42.9% 3FG%
Waiters:
19.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.8, apg on 54% FG% and 27.3% 3FG%

[TheKingOfVa360]

I don't even see why people are talking about Drummond like he'd have any chance whatsoever to be ROY. He's not even close.

I was thinking the same thing but I didn't want to say it. While Drummond has impressed in limited mintues, he also has missed games, hasn't played vs starters, and can't shoot over 40 from the FT line. In the future he might be a star but he has a ways to go. Only Lillard, Ant Davis, Beal, and Waiters have any shot at the ROY award. Lillard probably will win it by a good margin.

[DCsOwn]

Don't want to oversaturate this thread with Beal stuff, but this is a pretty decent piece about Beal's in-season development:

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/2/27/4 ... ile-rookie

Worth the quick read I think.

[TheOUTLAW]

I don't even see why people are talking about Drummond like he'd have any chance whatsoever to be ROY. He's not even close.

is this serious?

I am absolutely serious. ROY is largely a fashion contest. It normally goes to the player with the best stats and almostlways to one of the rookies with the best PPG. 7.3 ppg just isn't going to get it done virtually any year. Not to mention the fact that he's missed quite a few games. He's really need a compelling reason for folks to vote for him and I don't think there is one.

[orangeparka]

I don't even see why people are talking about Drummond like he'd have any chance whatsoever to be ROY. He's not even close.

I was thinking the same thing but I didn't want to say it. While Drummond has impressed in limited mintues, he also has missed games, hasn't played vs starters, and can't shoot over 40 from the FT line. In the future he might be a star but he has a ways to go. Only Lillard, Ant Davis, Beal, and Waiters have any shot at the ROY award. Lillard probably will win it by a good margin.

My thoughts exactly.

Don't want to oversaturate this thread with Beal stuff, but this is a pretty decent piece about Beal's in-season development:

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/2/27/4 ... ile-rookie

Worth the quick read I think.

Great read.

[TheOUTLAW]

Beal, has shown some extraordinary improvement during the season. You really do have to just love his game.

[Hydroponic3385]

Dion Waiters became the first rookie this season to post back-to-back 25+ point performances. He's also drastically improved his FG% this year. A couple months ago he was in the low 30's, and now he's up to 40.9% (thanks to shooting over 50% for the past month+).

[GeneWilderSTL]

not surprised by Beal's game, saw him play at Chaminade in St. Louis. Also not surprised he was slept on, typical as this board seems to be dominated by pacific northwest tools.

[whatchaknow]

Don't want to oversaturate this thread with Beal stuff, but this is a pretty decent piece about Beal's in-season development:

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/2/27/4 ... ile-rookie

Worth the quick read I think.

Not overstating at all, this is a great read. Beal is the real deal and for all the talk that Lillard gets from the national media for his "poise" and "pace", I think Beal is pretty much the sg equivalent of that. I love his demeanor and im glad his stats are starting to back up what you could see he was capable of. Honestly the Wiz are 1 or 2 pieces away from being as good as the Agent 0 Wiz imo. Good to see some good things happening to that franchise

[22WigginsRoss31]

Last 20 games:

Beal:
15.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.5 apg on 56 % TS
Waiters:
14.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.1 apg on 53 % TS

Honestly I expected Lamb and Ross as the best prospects at SG!

But those 2 are proving me wrong now and I like it!

Lamb has to piss GM's off, such a skill set and length, and 0 production

If Jeremy Lamb had been drafted by a team as bad as the Cavs or Wiz, I'd guarntee he'd be putting up better numbers than both Waiters and Beal, and would contend with Damian for ROY.

Lamb problem is that, he's been traded to a team that doesn't even need him. They already got a player similar to him in Kevin Martin and Thabo is beloved by the HC, so you won't see him getting any PT soon, unless someone gets traded or released.

[22WigginsRoss31]

Jeremy Lamb is real good

[Blkbrd671]

I am absolutely serious. ROY is largely a fashion contest. It normally goes to the player with the best stats and almostlways to one of the rookies with the best PPG. 7.3 ppg just isn't going to get it done virtually any year. Not to mention the fact that he's missed quite a few games. He's really need a compelling reason for folks to vote for him and I don't think there is one.

as i said previously, if Dre comes back, starts and carries the pistons into the playoffs, its going to be very hard to not include him in it. Especially since he's a athletic big that plays above the rim. I do agree with you that it is a fashion contest and that its going to be hard for him to surpass Lillard, but he'll at least be in the discussion

[Dame Lizard]

Beal and Waiters having very strong starts. These 2 are exciting to follow, that's for sure.

[fishnc]

I am absolutely serious. ROY is largely a fashion contest. It normally goes to the player with the best stats and almostlways to one of the rookies with the best PPG. 7.3 ppg just isn't going to get it done virtually any year. Not to mention the fact that he's missed quite a few games. He's really need a compelling reason for folks to vote for him and I don't think there is one.

as i said previously, if Dre comes back, starts and carries the pistons into the playoffs, its going to be very hard to not include him in it. Especially since he's a athletic big that plays above the rim. I do agree with you that it is a fashion contest and that its going to be hard for him to surpass Lillard, but he'll at least be in the discussion

That doesn't seem likely. A rookie big who has come off the bench all year gets sidelined with an injury, and now he's going to come back from injury and play starter minutes? I don't see that happening.

[Roger Murdock]

Theres a better chance Drummond doesn't make 1st team rookie than there is he wins ROY. Hes been injured and playing backup minutes. Lilliard & Davis have been good all year and Beal/Waiters/Barnes have played more games with good productivity.

[Left Side Drive]

Dion Waiters was amazing against the Raptors. Made shots contested like it was nothing. He also got to the line frequently. This guy has all the confidence in the world and plays with no fear. Great rookie I was definitely wrong about him.

[TheOUTLAW]

Last 20 games:

Beal:
15.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.5 apg on 56 % TS
Waiters:
14.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.1 apg on 53 % TS

Honestly I expected Lamb and Ross as the best prospects at SG!

But those 2 are proving me wrong now and I like it!

Lamb has to piss GM's off, such a skill set and length, and 0 production

If Jeremy Lamb had been drafted by a team as bad as the Cavs or Wiz, I'd guarntee he'd be putting up better numbers than both Waiters and Beal, and would contend with Damian for ROY.

Lamb problem is that, he's been traded to a team that doesn't even need him. They already got a player similar to him in Kevin Martin and Thabo is beloved by the HC, so you won't see him getting any PT soon, unless someone gets traded or released.

How could you possibly guarantee such a thing. Prove it