Durant looking like jewel of weak '07 class
If his play of late is any indication, there's no question about that. Milwaukee began a stretch Wednesday where it will play nine of 12 on the road, so it's worth watching to see how Yi handles that, but if his habit of being a quick study continues, expect more improvement.
"I'm very straight forward with what I want to talk about with him," Krystkowiak said. "I keep it as simple as possible and he's really solid when it comes to basketball English. There hasn't been much time for him or I to do much off the floor but he's not tricking me.
"It's not one of those deals where you tell him something and you're like, 'Oh, he didn't understand what I was saying.' He doesn't make the same mistake twice, at least he hasn't yet this year. He's got a lot of sets down and a lot of schemes down and he's as solid as they come when it comes to that stuff."
Yi is about 7-foot tall, has a beautiful shooting stroke and isn't shy about mixing it up. He's going to be as good as he wants to be, which is very similar to what was said about Gay. His opportunity to turn the corner has arrived.
The other '04s: Florida's two-time champions haven't had as much success early on in their pro careers. Without doubt, Al Horford has enjoyed the best of it. Not only are his Hawks the only team currently with a winning record, but he's also been the most productive, leading all first-year players in rebounding (9.6 rpg) while also averaging a block per game, second behind New Jersey's Sean Williams. He's the clear choice behind Durant for top rookie honors.
Corey Brewer's first month was filled with ups and downs, tied primarily to the fact that his minutes fluctuated between consistent and scarce. He doesn't shoot the ball well enough to keep opposing defenses honest and has shot just better than .500 in just two of 25 games, but he's displayed great activity, including an 18-rebound game in early December. He's going to have to straighten out the jumper to reach his full potential, but there's no question he has the athleticism to be a major asset in the league.
According to former coach Scott Skiles, Chicago's Joakim Noah does, too.
"He's in a limited role, trying to do the most he can," Skiles said prior to his firing. "For a rookie, he's done a nice job on different type of people trying to affect their shots. He's got a ways to go, though. There are times where he looks lost."
Noah doesn't look sure of himself with the ball and has problems when pressured, which makes you think his greatest contributions are going to be on the defensive end due to his game-changing energy. It does say something that in Skiles' eyes that Noah had fallen behind second-round pick Aaron Gray, who has looked far more comfortable asserting himself inside in terms of position and physicality.
Taurean Green, who beautifully ran the show for the Gators and was a major reason they had the poise to win consecutive titles, endeared himself to Portland's Nate McMillan early on, but hasn't received many opportunities to play behind Steve Blake, Jarrett Jack and Sergio Rodriguez. Green's played in four games, accumulating nine points and five assists in 24 minutes.
Meet the late arrival
Because five rookies haven't separated themselves as the cream of the 2007 crop, Detroit's Rodney Stuckey has an opportunity to immediately become an elite first-year player now that he's back from a broken left hand. The 21-year-old from Eastern Washington made his debut on Dec. 21, scored on his first possession and will ultimately be a difference-maker on a Pistons squad that has displayed flashes of being a title contender.
It's as if the Pistons have been hiding Stuckey in their back pocket, a little insurance to spring on the league when anyone least expects it. He's been watching the veterans on his team, Chauncey Billups, Lindsey Hunter and Richard Hamilton, learning and trying to see where it is that he can be most effective.
"I just watch those guys and how they play and what they're doing," said Stuckey, who will be counted on to provide a jolt of energy off the bench. "I've just been trying to get that in my mind for when my time comes. Me and Chauncey have different games. Chauncey is a set-the-offense type guy and I look to push the ball, get in the lane and create for teammates. When I come in I'll look to quicken the pace.
Stuckey's Summer League play had him drawing comparisons to Wade for his ability to get into the paint and wreak havoc. He has a huge fan in Joe Dumars, who became enamored with him during the draft process and sees big things in Stuckey's future.
"He's going to be good," Dumars said. "He's got a great feel for the game. Some guys just have great feels for the game as scorers. He's explosive. When there's an opening he's gone. He's strong.
"It wasn't lost on me that he went to a small school, had to do everything, handle both guard positions, so I had a definite appreciation for that, because I know how hard that is to have to carry an entire team through everything, so I knew, he's got to have a good all-around game."
Value picks Among players who weren't lottery picks but have started to carve out a niche in the league are Miami's Daequan Cook, New Jersey's Williams, Detroit's Arron Afflalo, Boston's Glen Davis, Utah's Kyrylo Fesenko and Chicago's Gray, who looks like the best bargain value of the 2007 crop.
According to Boston's Doc Rivers, the current draft culture hurt the 7-footer out of Pittsburgh most, because teams started poking holes at his game instead of concentrating on what he could do. What he can do is establish a presence inside, gain position and bang the offensive boards.
If the season ended today, my All-Rookie teams would look like this:
First: F Yi, Milwaukee; F Jamario Moon, Toronto; C Horford, Atlanta; G Durant, Seattle; G Juan Carlos Navarro, Memphis.
Second: F Jeff Green, Seattle; F Luis Scola, Houston; C Williams, New Jersey; G Brewer, Minnesota; G Cook, Miami.
