Re: 2000 rookie class

[Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

David A Wickerham wrote:

> This may be the least productive rookie class in the history of the NBA.
> I can't think of a single legitimate ROY candidate, and the future satrs
> game at All-Star Weekend looks like it should be cancelled.  Here are the
> 5 leading rookie scoring averages in the East:
>
> Kenyon Martin - 11.8
> Khalid ElAmin - 8.3
> Morris Peretson - 8
> Mike Miller - 8
> Marcus Fizer - 7.6
>
> Only Martin has been getting starters minutes, and he frankly hasn't
> looked that impressive.  I'm not aware of any rookie setting the world on
> fire in the west, either.  Moiso may actually turn out to be a decent pick
> yet.
>

Hi Dave: Good points, but also one of the impressive things I've belatedly
learned over the past few years is how NBA rookies (almost all of whom are
underclassmen these days) can't be judged El Busto based on one year. It is
almost like the "good old days", when rookies had to sit and watch. For
example, I think I've referred in the past to Antwan Jamison and Baron Davis
as disappointments, but there you go, that's me. Same thing with Jermaine
O'Neil (although I'd rather have three first round draft picks). Or Billups
and Batgirl too.

So I guess we can't write off Jamal Crawford or DerMarr Johnson just yet
(neither is on your list), or Jerome "unleash the poodle" Moiso for that
matter. I heard Jerome had a pretty stunning two-hand reverse last night BTW.
Like a lot of you, I can't understand why McCarty gets into every game (even
in the fourth quarter in games I've tuned in on) while developmental guys who
project to help the team like Moiso and Blount get the DNP-CDs. As fans we're
supposed to grasp why a guy like Wallah who is shooting .250 from the field
hasn't quite yet earned a permanent benching. I'm sure he's batting more like
.100 on any shot that's off the dribble or contested in any way. He must be
doing a helluva job on defense.

My personal view is that this past draft will turn out better than the Billups
draft year, although it is obviously going to take some years before we can
compare the results. A lot of very unseasoned underclassmen were involved at
the top of the draft this time, such as Swift, Miles, Crawford, DerMarr,
Dooling and Pryzbilla. Mike Miller has been inconsistent but has already had
some potential "breakout" games.

Swift or Miles could develop like Jonathan Bender, or explode like T-Mac. Not
fair to judge yet, I guess. Just on paper, last year's top ten somehow seem
more promising than three of the consensus top five picks in 1997 (Billups,
Antonio Daniels and Battie).


Joe