While it is still early in the 2007-2008 NBA season, it is never too early to make predictions. This brings us to the yearly task of determining who the NBA’s Rookie of the Year will be.
With Greg Oden already out of the equation, due to his unfortunate microfracture surgery on his knee, it seems as if most people want to hand the award to the rookie forward out of Texas University, Kevin Durant. However, there are some other notable rookies that everyone should keep their eye on, because they to have a good chance of walking away with this award.
Al Thorton – Los Angeles Clippers, 6-8, 220 lbs., F
I’m not sure what his minutes will look like at the end of the season, but if he gets 30-35 minutes per game he is one of the favorites to win this award. In addition, with Elton Brand out for the season, getting those types of minutes are not out of the realm of possibility for Thornton. Al was a dominant player in his final year at Florida State. Some people question his true talent since he wasn’t able to shine in college until the ripe of age of 23, but I just think that development period made him a better player, and a more skillful one than his peers. Expect Thornton to do a lot of damage in the paint and on the perimeter. He is a greater and could be the answer to the Clippers problems with outside shooting.
Kevin Durant – Seattle Sonics, 6’9”, 225 lbs., G/F
Let’s not kid ourselves; KD is definitely the front-runner for this award. Even with Greg Oden in the mix, I would have found it hard to believe that Durant’s propensity to score could have been trumped by an offensively challenged Greg Oden. However, Kevin Durant does have a lot of growing to do. Early in the season, his turnovers outnumber his assists 4:1 (through the first 2 games). He also is getting pretty beat up in the paint, which is causing him to miss a lot of chip shots and it is possibly affecting him at the free throw line (63%). That said, the man makes plays all over the court. Whether he is shooting from three-point land, dunking off a cut to the basket, blocking or shot or snatching down a rebound, Durant makes plays, and playmakers win Rookie of the Year.
Mike Conley Jr. – Memphis Grizzlies, 6’1”, 180 lbs., G
Conley has already been dubbed the next great point guard, and while he will have to battle Randy Foye for minutes at that position, his time on the floor will undoubtedly be widely heralded. At Ohio State, Conley showed the ability to run the offense and push the ball out on the break, and when there was nothing going on offense, he is very adept at penetrating the lane and making things happen. His shooting is also extremely proficient for a young man with only one-year of post-high school basketball under his belt. Expect Conley to win the starting position for the Grizzlies and for him to dazzle the city of Memphis, and the NBA, at the same time.
Posts
0 Comments:
Post a Comment