Over the last four weeks in our Rookie Rankings, Toronto Raptors guard Terrence Ross ascended from ninth to sixth to fourth before plummeting entirely out of the table. That staged climb and quick descent somewhat resembles Ross in the open court, where he has unleashed some of the more memorable dunks this season. But dunks aren’t enough to get a spot in these rankings. Anyone who regularly reads this piece knows that I cut these kids very little slack. You don’t just
There were more than a few folks wondering if Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal had hit the Rookie Wall. To silence those folks, Beal broke through it. Right about the time rookies start to feel the rigor of their first NBA season – somewhere between 30 and 40 games, with back-to-backs and extended travel college players don’t face – Beal produced his best week of the season and showed why everyone was so high on him in June. [Read more…]
Over the last two weeks, readers of this weekly feature have let it be known that I am undervaluing Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond. [Read more…]
In the 2012 draft, Thomas Robinson and Damian Lillard could not have been closer together. Robinson went fifth to the Sacramento Kings and Lillard went sixth to the Portland Trail Blazers. In their rookie seasons. however, Robinson and Lillard could not be farther apart. To be fair, Lillard has had a better opportunity to show his wares. Portland basically gave him the point guard position with carte blanche to learn on the job, dumping everyone from last season except Nolan Smith. Robinson wasn’t
Given his precocious play and the piles of praise he is receiving, Damian Lillard appears to have a stronghold on this season’s Rookie of the Year. And the calendar hasn’t even changed. Some of that recognition came recently from San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who along with a national TV audience watched the point guard light up his squad for 29 points last week. “I think he’s a wonderful player,” said Popovich, who normally isn’t prone to effusive praise. “His skills
The struggling Cleveland Cavaliers are no longer without star guard Kyrie Irving. The team announced that Irving was cleared to practice Monday and is expected to be available to play Tuesday, when the Cavaliers host the Los Angeles Lakers. [Read more…]
Damian Lillard made a rookie mistake Sunday night. Lillard didn’t lose track of the shot clock. He didn’t go under the pick-and-roll on a shooter. He didn’t forget to bring the Krispy Kremes to practice. He broke an unwritten NBA rule. [Read more…]
Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Kyrie Irving will miss a month recovering from a hairline fracture in his left index finger. The said Irving had an MRI and CT scan Monday at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health that revealed the non-displaced fracture. Irving will not have surgery but rather will be treated with taping and a splint. Irving is expected to miss four weeks. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks, when his status will be updated. [Read more…]