Re: 2001 preseason rookie watch

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>]

Joe, thanks for posting this. You're right that for the most part, rookie
preseason numbers are meaningless, but I enjoyed reading it.

A few thoughts... Gasol's early success is a little surprising, but probably
shouldn't be. A few talented, slightly-built Europeans have had surprising
early success the last few years (like Stojakovic and Turkoglu). These guys
just seem to have an understanding of the game and the team concept that so
many American youngsters don't. ... Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler aren't
going to be in the Bulls' rotation (Floyd announced it this week) but their
numbers don't seem too shabby for high schoolers. Curry, in particular,
seems to have been pretty effective in limited minutes. Of course, stats can
be awfully deceiving. Still, I expect him to be a force and anticipate many
teams kicking themselves for not making a move for this kid when he was very
much available around draft time..... You probably knew I'd mention Haywood.
The sample size is small, but he's shown that he can contribute right away.
In fact, Doug Collins has been glowing in his descriptions of Haywood. The
fact that his numbers (again, just two games) compare at all to the Celtic
centers says a lot. I think we really missed the boat on this guy.... Tony
Parker looks good. He's a point guard. I wouldn't be surprised if the Celts
live to regret the Forte/Parker decision. ... You mention Gerald Wallace.
Here's a super-athlete (like Kedrick Brown) with raw skills who was
available late. I have high hopes for Kedrick, but did the Celts trick
themselves by promising the 11 pick? Time will tell. ... Biggest
disappointment has to be Rodney White. Everyone's choice for "most ready"
among the lottery group is struggling mightily. ... It will be interesting
to see what happens with Omar Cook. The Celts clearly were interested before
the draft, even with the 21st pick. Now that he's available for practically
nothing, will they undermine the Forte pick (their "developmental" PG) with
Cook, a more natural point? I'm not advocating it, but it bears watching.
... One guy you didn't mention was Jamaal Tinsley, who was linked to the
Celts for months. Isiah Thomas just named him the starting PG in Indiana.
This should be interesting for a number of reasons-did the Celts miss the
boat? And can a rookie lead a team the Celts will be battling with for a
playoff spot?

Mark




Joe wrote:

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%