Thoughts On The Rookies

With the NBA's regular season approaching we are starting to get a feel for which recent draft picks will be making a big splash in their rookie seasons.  The preseason only tells us so much, especially as it concerns teams win/loss records but it is a good chance to gauge and get a feel for how the youngsters will handle the NBA game.

Number one pick John Wall has been his usual self, a blur on the court, outpacing opponents and teammates alike.  His explosiveness is unparalleled and will lead to many easy baskets, both for himself and teammates but will also lead to many TO's and lost opportunities.

Evan Turner has been nothing short of a disappointment so far and fans in Philly are starting to wonder if he was the right pick.  Can he play alongside Jrue Holiday?  Should the 76ers have drafted Demarcus Cousins?  Those questions remain to be answered but I think it's too early to dispare.  Turner has a world of talent and I think he will eventually find his rythme and figure out how to fit his skills into the NBA game.  But it would be reassuring to see him find some success against the preseason back-ups he's been playing against.

Derrick Favors and Wesley Johnson have also been off to slow starts, which is not so unexpected for the young Favors but most people thought Johnson would find early success at this level.  Again, it's way to early to pass judgements are worry too much about the rookies, before they've even played a real NBA game.

One standout of the preseason is DeMarcus Cousins.  As he was in college, Cousins is too much for most opponents to handle down low and he is rebounding at an impressive clip.  The Kings are heading in the right direction and could be interesting to watch as their young players gel through the course of the season.

Although Blake Griffin wasn't drafted this year he is entering his first real NBA season.  So far he has been nothing short of spectacular for the Clippers, putting up huge numbers and highlight reel plays.

A surprise performer so far this preseason is Jordan Crawford of the Atlanta Hawks.  The 27th pick in the draft is playing more like a lottery selection and making the Hawks think along and hard about finding playing time for him (i.e. trading Jamal Crawford).

The preseason can be deceptive as many teams rest their star players and give the rookies an extended look but it gives us a first glimpse of how the rookies can handle the speed of the NBA game.