Scoping The Rookies

The NBA season is a week old and some of the highly touted rookies are already making an impact. How much of an impact they are providing actually will make for good water cooler conversation, yet it cannot be denied that they’re out there.

Having said that, let’s check on the current crop of rookies and the progress – if any – they have made:

• Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks – 22.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, .481 FG%

For the sake of redundancy, the numbers do not lie. And to think that he is doing this on a squad that by itself is trying to find its own way.  Up to this point, he is one of the few bright spots on the Bucks.

• Stephen Curry, Golden State – 13.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, .571 FG%

Much like Jennings, Curry is one of the few bright spots on an otherwise dysfunctional Warriors squad. From the few games that I have seen, he has a presence that belies the fact that he a raw rookie. Perhaps that’s because of his NBA pedigree. At this rate, he just may grab some ROY hardware.

• Tyreke Evans, Sacramento – 10.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.5 APG, .357 FG%

Early on he looked good, but an ankle injury later, he is looking like a…rookie. That’s not to say that Beno Udrih is going to steal Evans’ starter minutes; after all, there is a reason why Sacramento drafted him. And  it wasn’t to be Udrih’s understudy.

• Jonny Flynn, Minnesota – 14.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, .475 FG%, .900 FT%

Hard to say what to make of Flynn; but to be fair, he plays in Minnesota. While his overall numbers are decent, his propensity for turnovers has made team coach Kurt Rambis nervous. As a result, Flynn has been benched in favor the more experienced Ramon Sessions. Nonetheless, nothing but upside for Flynn.

• Terrence Williams, New Jersey – 10.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, .400 3P%

Williams will probably be the beneficiary of the injury bug biting the Nets, keeping in mind that Devin Harris and Yi Jianlian are both injured – which means more playing time and room to get even better.

• DeJuan Blair, San Antonio – 8.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, .706 FG%, .333 FT%

His offensive numbers are pretty good for someone who plays almost 21 minutes a game. Just by the numbers alone, he’s the top rebounding rookie until Blake Griffin returns from his injury. Reminds me a little of jailbird Jayson Williams – because of his skill set, not his character. Needs to learn how to shoot a free throw because 33% isn’t going to cut it. Shaq can shoot that percentage in his sleep.

• Omar Casspi, Sacramento – 10.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.5 APG, .581 FG%,  .167 FT%

As if he has enough pressure being the first Israeli-born NBA player, Casspi is acquitting himself well despite that obstacle. So much so that team coach Paul Westphal has no problem putting him in during clutch situations. Not that the King shave had many of those. He could steal minutes from Andres Nocioni, as a result.

• Ty Lawson, Denver – 9.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, .483 FG%, .400 3P%, .857 FT%

Decent numbers although he is Chauncey Billups’ understudy, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in his young career. He’s learning from the best, so his time on the bench isn’t exactly wasted.