The Hoops Doctors.com post a monthly ranking of the top rookies in the NBA and three familiar faces are in the Top 5. If you have to ask who #1 is turn on Sportscenter one of the 500 times it is on every morning and it won’t take you long to figure out it is Blake Griffin.
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[QUOTE][COLOR=#ffffff][U]) John Wall[/U][/COLOR]
[B][I]2. John Wall, Washington Wizards[/I][/B][B][I]15.1 ppg, 9.2 ast, 3.8 rebs, 1.8 stl, .400 FG%, .303 3 PT%, .786 FT%[/I][/B]
[B][I]2010 Draft – #1 Pick[/I][/B]
[B][I]Previous: 2[/I][/B]
While this year’s #1 overall pick has struggled through injuries and turnover problems in his rookie season, the future looks bright. After all, Wall ranks 2nd behind only the great Blake Griffin in scoring, leads all rookies in assists and steals per game. In any other year Wall probably would rank #1 but mainly because of those nagging injuries has been in a mini slump in the month of January and has fallen back towards the field among rookies. He has proven to have the ability not only as just a scoring point guard but continually gets others involved, as evidence of ranking 4th overall among all NBA players in assists per game. Over the last 7 games Wall is again hitting his stride, scoring in double figures in 6 of 7, while dropping 10+ assists in 4 of those contests. One other area of concern is that although John has an impressive statline, those gaudy numbers have yet to translate into wins.
[COLOR=#ffffff][U]4) Demarcus Cousins[/U][/COLOR]
[B][I]4. DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings[/I][/B]
[B][I]13 ppg, 7.7 rebs, 1.7 ast, 1 blk, .423 FG%, .661 FT%[/I][/B]
[B][I]2010 Draft – #5 Pick[/I][/B]
[B][I]Previous: 4[/I][/B]
DMC has made the biggest jump among rookies this month as he has kept his emotions in check(for the most part), letting his immense natural abilities that made him the best big man in college shine through. Cousins is still at times inconsistent but has scored in double figures in 11 of 13 games, including 6 games of 20+ points. He also has notched 3 double digit rebound games during the same stretch, including a 21 point, 16 rebound gem against Memphis on December 29th. Despite his immense size, Demarcus will never be a great shot blocker and still connects on a below average FG% but if his head remains straight, he may very well be on his way to becoming the dominant big man we thought he could be. Over the last 3 games, Demarcus is averaging 16.7 points and 8.7.
[COLOR=#ffffff][U]5) Eric Bledsoe[/U][/COLOR]
[B][I]5. Eric Bledsoe, LA Clippers[/I][/B]
[B][I]6.7 ppg, 4 ast, 3 rebs, 1 stl, .419 FG%, .286 3PT%, .793 FT%[/I][/B]
[B][I]2010 Draft – #18 Pick[/I][/B]
[B][I]Previous: 7[/I][/B]
Along with Baron Davis’ return to the Clippers starting lineup from injury, Eric’s playing time has diminished and consequentially so has his production. Considering he has only been playing roughly 17 minutes per contest, he still has been outstanding dishing the rock, averaging more than 8 assists per 48 minutes. I know what you are thinking. Even I would have outstanding assist numbers dishing to Blake Griffin but Bledsoe is committing 2 turnovers or less in 9 of 10 contests this month alone. I guess you’d call it making the most out of what he is given. Eric ranks 2nd to Wall in assists, 6th in steals, and 10th in scoring among rookies.
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