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2001 preseason rookie watch
Hi list, I took a look at the (meaningless) rookie exhibition stats just to
see what's up. This is, after all, probably the most important draft for
the Boston Celtics franchise in awhile.
I guess a few things stand out.
Perhaps not surprisingly, #5 pick Jason Richardson (GS) has stepped up as a
*frontrunner* for top rookie impact player (stats follow below), but he is
followed closely by Memphis super rookies Battier and Gasol. I'm eating
crow as far as Gasol is concerned. Pau could be a ROY if he keeps up his
all-around play.
Veteran NCAA All Americans like Battier and Troy Murphy are making
immediate preseason impacts compared to the kids, but that probably doesn't
surprise anyone.
Philly's Speedy Claxton is an asterisk rookie, having missed last year. I
don't know if he's a ROY contender, but he is averaging 42 minutes per game
(.333FG%) with 12.6ppg 3.9rpg and 7.6 assists in the absence of Snow and
Iverson. Of course, the Sixers are losing every game he starts but...
Of the players picked in the Celtics lotto range (7-14), so far it doesn't
look like Wallace really overlooked the next Kobe Bryant. There are a
number of slow starters in this range, granted including Kedrick Brown but
also "mock draft" sensations like Rodney White (.303FG%), Vladimir
Radmanovic (.263) and Eddie Griffin (.263 in two games). In this 7-14
range, Troy Murphy (9.2 ppg on .489FG%) and Eddie Griffin (7.5ppg) are the
leading preseason scorers, with Joe Johnson next. Some of the other names
considered for the Celtics (Michael Bradley) seem to have been best avoided.
As for any potential draft "steals", the Wiz' Brendan Haywood (a #20 pick)
is so far putting up better numbers than the #1 pick Kwame Brown. The other
high profile NCAA bigman who fell off the charts, 2nd rounder Loren Woods,
is averaging more points and rebounds than both of the top two overall
picks (Kwame and Tyson). Again, this is probably a question of experience
over talent. And its not like Haywood or Woods is putting up numbers that
are any better than Boston's three centers.
But hands down, based on limited evidence, Gerald Wallace has been the
early "steal" of this draft, averaging in 22mpg for Sacramento with 10.5ppg
2.0rpg 2.5apg and a .583FG%.
The 2001 draft still looks to be one of the deepest, if not top-heaviest in
talent. A number of guys in the 30+ draft range are stepping right into NBA
rotations. A lot of second rounders could have ten year NBA careers.
----
Here are some stats on the rookies.
1 Kwame Brown (Wizards) 21mpg 4.6ppg 3.3rpg 1.7apg .452FG%
2 Tyson Chandler (Bulls) 17mpg 5.7ppg 3.0rpg 2.0bpg .407FG%
3 Pau Gasol (Memphis) 23.6 mpg 11.4ppg 6.0rpg 2.0apg .552FG% .556FT%
4 Eddy Curry (Bulls) 16mpg 8.4ppg 4.2rpg .500FG% .320FT%
5 Jason Richardson (Warriors) 23mpg 12.6ppg 3.0rpg 3.0apg .533FG%
6 Shane Battier (Memphis) 34 mpg 11.3ppg 4.9rpg 1.6apg .491FG%
7 Eddie Griffin (Houston, 2 games played) 25mpg 7.5ppg 5.5rpg .263FG%
8 Sagana Diop (Cavs, DNP)
9 Rodney White (Pistons) 19 mpg 4.2ppg 3.0rpg 0.3apg .303FG
10 Joe Johnson (Celtics) 23 mpg 6.6ppg 3.1rpg 1.4apg .360FG% 1.000FT%
11 Kedrick Brown (Celtics) 11 mpg 3.3ppg 2.0rpg .263FG% .750FT%
12 Vladimir Radmanovic (Sonics) 16mpg 4.2ppg 1.3rpg .276FG%
13 Richard Jefferson (Nets) 18mpg 6.5ppg 3.5rpg 1.5apg .526FG%
14 Troy Murphy (Warriors) 24mpg 9.2pg 4.8rpg .489FG%
15 Steven Hunter (Magic) 12mpg 5.5ppg 2.3rpg 0.0apg .375FG%
16 Kirk Hasten (Charlotte) 10mpg 2.5ppg 2.4ppg .229FG%
17 Michael Bradley (Raptors) 6mpg 1.8ppg 1.4apg .750FG% (3/4)
18 Jason Collins (Nets) 16mpg 4.0ppg 2.6rpg .370FG%
19 Zach Randolph (Portland) 15mpg 7.5ppg 4.5rpg .452FG%
20 Brendan Haywood (Wiz, 2 games) 19mpg 6.5ppg 6.5rpg .500FG%
21 Joe Forte (Celtics) 12mpg 4.9ppg 2.1rpg 1.0apg .303FG%
22 Jerryl Sasser (Orlando) 13mpg 1.8ppg 2.3rpg 1.1apg .286FG%
23 Brandon Armstrong (Nets) 14mpg 7.1ppg .500FG%
Others:
Gerald Wallace (Sacramento) 22mpg 10.5ppg 2.0rpg 2.5apg .583FG%
Jeff Trepagnier (Cleveland) 15 mpg 5.0ppg .500FG%
Tony Parker (Spurs) 22mpg 7.5ppg 2.7rpg 2.5apg .405FG%
Terence Morris (Houston) 25mpg 6.3ppg 4.3rpg 1.3apg .378FG%
Loren Woods (Timberwolves) 17mpg 6.2ppg 3.8rpg .435FG%
Omar Cook (Denver) 12mpg 3.0ppg 1.3rpg 2.0apg .286FG%
Will Solomon (Memphis) 12mpg 3.8ppg 1.5rpg 1.5apg .286FG%