Paul Pierce vs. other rookies

[jmc@ptc.com]

I just checked the rookie stats at nba.com. 

Currently, among rookies, Paul Pierce is: 

  1st in points per game (19.0)
  1st in blocks per game (1.83)  YES, over Olowokandi and LaFrentz and everyone!
  1st in steals per game (3.0)        No one else is even close
  1st in steals per TO   (1.5)
  3rd in rebounds per game (6.7)      behind only LaFrentz and Olowokandi
  3rd in minutes per game (35.7) (can lend some perspective to the other stats)

  4th in Assists per game (2.2)        NOTE: Only point gaurds are ahead of him 
  6th in Assists per TO   (1.08)
  7th in FG percentage    (.456)
  4th in 3-point FG percentage (.438)
  10th in FT percentage   (.714)        Gotta improve that.
  1st in FT attempted     (6 per game... he gets to the line well!)

Those look like Rookie of the Year numbers to me!

All he needs to do is cut down on turnovers and raise the Free Throw
and Field Goal percentages.

Jon Mc