Dame No Longer #1 Rookie!

[THE HCP]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/Rookies-130228/new-top-10

2. Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
The grind of the season might be taking a bit of a toll on Lillard, who has played huge minutes while quarterbacking his team all season. Consider that he has played more than 600 minutes more than any other rookie -- the equivalent of more than 12 games in which he played every minute. But he still is playing well and impressing.

Watching him in isolation is particularly vital, because one way to separate point guards, in terms of effectiveness, is by assessing their ability to score without needing screens. Lillard ranks high in this area. Two plays in particular stood out recently. He sized up Boston's Avery Bradley at the top left side of the key, then blew by him with a right-hand dribble for an easy layup. And two games before that, he did the same thing against Phoenix's Goran Dragic, only he beat Dragic going left the whole way. Those two guys are fast defenders, and Lillard was able to beat both with either hand.

Of course, Lillard has plenty of dribble moves and can stop and start on a dime, but that burst of speed allows those other moves to be even more effective. Because defenders know they can be beat by his pure speed, they often race backward and are therefore unable to change directions as well as Lillard does when he makes a move.

Rank Player
1 Anthony Davis
2 Damian Lillard
3 Bradley Beal
4 Andrew Nicholson
5 Andre Drummond
6 Dion Waiters
7 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
8 Brian Roberts
9 Tyler Zeller
10 Kyle Singler

 

[BlazerWookee]

Is that rating based on the whole season so far, or just the last week?

 

[THE HCP]

Davis

1. Anthony Davis, Hornets
Davis has not been setting the world on fire to get to this top spot. He just keeps getting better and smarter and continues to produce efficiently. Studying two aspects of his game in particular -- ball screen action and transition offense -- show that even if he never learns to be a strong low-post scoring option, he's going to be an All-Star.

Davis is used a lot at the pinch-post area and often moves the ball to a guard before stepping toward the guard's defender to set the screen. New Orleans smartly uses Davis in these actions inside the 3-point line often, because he then can screen and roll and get to the rim in an instant. He is doing that with a high success rate, as his highlight-reel dunks suggest. Davis has learned that if he commits to the air immediately after the catch, he can get to the rim without much fear of charging, since a defender can't slide in front of him once he is airborne (without being called for the block).

He also looks so much smoother on his jumper, balanced with good arm extension, making him even harder to account for in these actions.

But as good as he is on ball screens, he's better in transition. In fact, he may be the best "big" transition player in the league after Blake Griffin. He gets out quickly once his team secures the rebound. The key is his first two steps, long and quick, helping him to jump out ahead of his man and get to the rim before his opponent does. He avails himself to lobs and regular passes and putbacks of missed layups.

 

[tlongII]

That's ridiculous! How does Anthony Davis become #1 when he's injured?!

 

[THE HCP]

SoupMan

6. Dion Waiters, Cavaliers
Waiters is almost too talented for his own good. Consider Lamar Odom, Tyrus Thomas, J.R. Smith and Earl Clark -- all guys who are deeply talented as athletes, full of skill and craft, but struggled to fine-tune their game as young players because they could do so much. Waiters belongs in this group, in danger of not having a game tight enough to produce efficiently.


Waiters
But something is emerging that can change all that for him -- he is finding success by spotting up and shooting, or attacking quickly off the catch for a one-dribble shot. This is an important development, because even though he is capable of pounding his dribble in search of a good shot, that is not a recipe for efficient production. Letting the game come to him and then decisively shooting or attacking -- but doing so in just one dribble -- keeps the game simple, and this is helping Waiters improve his numbers. He had his best month yet in February despite poor 3-point shooting thanks to this "less is more" frame of mind.

 

[Natebishop3]

Whatever.... they've been wanting to do that all year. Fuck espn

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Boob-No-More]

BFD! ESPN doesn't determine ROY, voters do. And the very first thing voters look at is:

Damian Lillard: 18.5ppg
Anthony Davis: 12.5ppg

Game over.

Never in the history of ROY voting has someone won the award over another player who is averaging nearly 50% more points per game.

In terms of overall production, Lillard and Davis are currently tied at EFF = 16.7. Unless Davis totally blows Lillard away in total production, the award will go to the player who is scoring 6 more ppg, has played more games, and has been leading his team to more wins.

This ESPN opinion piece changes nothing.

BNM

 

[donkiez]

typical no respect for anything Portland. Its nice that the NBA lets us keep our farm team though.

 

[pinwheelempire]

lame

 

[Natebishop3]

Seriously, it's like they had this penciled in from the start and numbers be damned. Pretty hilarious. How many rookie of the months has Davis won, by the way?

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Damian has nothing to worry about. He'll keep going and have it wrapped up very soon. ROY = Damian Lillard.

 

[Natebishop3]

The title should really say:

"ESPN lost their damn mind"

 

[jlprk]

Never in the history of ROY voting has someone won the award over another player who is averaging nearly 50% more points per game.

That makes sense, but I doubt that you checked. You'd have to run a Basketball-Reference about 65 times, once for each NBA season, sorting each year's rookies by ppg.

 

[KingSpeed]

Doesn't the media vote, thus ESPN gets a vote?

 

[BlazerWookee]

The title should really say:

"ESPN lost their damn mind"

"You must be out your damn mind." [/Burton Guster Voice]

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Doesn't the media vote, thus ESPN gets a vote?

Sportswriters vote but I don't think ESPN specifically. One of their bloggers that also covers a NBA team might get a vote though.

Remember when Roy was 1 vote away from unanimous? The TOR beat writer is the one who didn't vote for him.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think that Davis playing both ends helped him here.

Lillard scored well, per usual, but was lit up this month:

Rubio: 15 pts | 14 ast | 4-9 FG
J. Lin: 15 pts | 4 ast | 6-10 FG
Nelson: 14 pts | 15 ast | 2 TO
Dragic: 16 pts | 18 ast | 5-13 FG
Lawson: 30 pts | 6 ast | 12-22 FG

A lot shot well above their season average outside Nelson.

 

[magnifier661]

I think that Davis playing both ends helped him here.

Lillard scored well, per usual, but was lit up this month:

Rubio: 15 pts | 14 ast | 4-9 FG
J. Lin: 15 pts | 4 ast | 6-10 FG
Nelson: 14 pts | 15 ast | 2 TO
Dragic: 16 pts | 18 ast | 5-13 FG
Lawson: 30 pts | 6 ast | 12-22 FG

A lot shot well above their season average outside Nelson.

FWIW oppenent PER while playing primary position

batum (SF) 12.8
lillard (PG) 13.6
matthews (SG) 14.5
LMA (PF) 16.4
hickson (C) 19.4

hickson (at PF) 26.5
LMA (at C) 12.5

Funny, yet Lillard averages +3.7 PER over other PGs he faces

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

So?

Look at what he's done THIS month.

And that's why Davis is now #1.

 

[magnifier661]

So?

Look at what he's done THIS month.

And that's why Davis is now #1.

Oh I forgot I'm talking to Fez... I forget he puts the entire season on one article!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'll leave it up to you to wait for another poster to post advanced stats that are ....too advanced for you.

Incapable much?

Total Mags MO.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think that Davis playing both ends helped him here.

Lillard scored well, per usual, but was lit up this month:

Rubio: 15 pts | 14 ast | 4-9 FG
J. Lin: 15 pts | 4 ast | 6-10 FG
Nelson: 14 pts | 15 ast | 2 TO
Dragic: 16 pts | 18 ast | 5-13 FG
Lawson: 30 pts | 6 ast | 12-22 FG

A lot shot well above their season average outside Nelson.

How is that "lit up"? THe only one who scored over 20 points was Lawson. If you're counting assists, how is that his fault?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

How is that "lit up"? THe only one who scored over 20 points was Lawson. If you're counting assists, how is that his fault?

He couldn't stay in front of his man. They got into the paint at will and found cutters/shooters all game long, ESPECIALLY Dragic. The PHX game was probably Dame's worst defensive game this season.

 

[magnifier661]

I think that Davis playing both ends helped him here.

Lillard scored well, per usual, but was lit up this month:

Rubio: 15 pts | 14 ast | 4-9 FG
J. Lin: 15 pts | 4 ast | 6-10 FG
Nelson: 14 pts | 15 ast | 2 TO
Dragic: 16 pts | 18 ast | 5-13 FG
Lawson: 30 pts | 6 ast | 12-22 FG

A lot shot well above their season average outside Nelson.

Okay let's give you production for production?

Rubio: 15 pts | 14 ast | 4-9 FG vs. Lillard: 21 pts | 6 ast | 9-17 FG -----> Point Lillard
J. Lin: 15 pts | 4 ast | 6-10 FG vs. Lillard: 18 pts | 6 ast | 7-13 FG -----> Point Lillard
Nelson: 14 pts | 15 ast | 2 TO vs. Lillard: 4 pts | 12 ast | 1-16 FG -----> Point Nelson
Dragic: 16 pts | 18 ast | 5-13 FG vs. Lillard: 24 pts | 7 ast | 8-196 FG -----> Point Lillard
Lawson: 30 pts | 6 ast | 12-22 FG vs. Lillard: 26 pts | 4 ast | 8-14 FG -----> Point Lawson

Seems your strawman fails again! Only one game was when one player (lit up) Lillard.

It's way too easy with you Fez

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Okay let's give you production for production?

Rubio: 15 pts | 14 ast | 4-9 FG vs. Lillard: 21 pts | 6 ast | 9-17 FG -----> Point Lillard
J. Lin: 15 pts | 4 ast | 6-10 FG vs. Lillard: 18 pts | 6 ast | 7-13 FG -----> Point Lillard
Nelson: 14 pts | 15 ast | 2 TO vs. Lillard: 4 pts | 12 ast | 1-16 FG -----> Point Nelson
Dragic: 16 pts | 18 ast | 5-13 FG vs. Lillard: 24 pts | 7 ast | 8-196 FG -----> Point Lillard <--
Lawson: 30 pts | 6 ast | 12-22 FG vs. Lillard: 26 pts | 4 ast | 8-14 FG -----> Point Lawson

Seems your strawman fails again! Only one game was when one player (lit up) Lillard.

It's way too easy with you Fez

MN: W
HOU: L
ORL: L
PHX: L
DEN: L

You were saying?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

BTW, how old are you? By your posts you seem like a newbie to the game.

But you look 46.

Weird.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Clear case of ESPN looking for a fresh angle. Who wants to read about Lillard being the best rookie this year....again. Everyone has already read it and heard it over and over. When he wins the award every month....there is nothing else to say.

They need a fresh idea. Pretty soon everyone will be hating on Lillard. It is a normal progression that sports fans and the sports media seem to always go through. Part of the build them up to tear them down routine.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Seems your strawman fails again!

I wasn't on the debate team or anything, but I don't think that word means what you think it means.

 

[Natebishop3]

He couldn't stay in front of his man. They got into the paint at will and found cutters/shooters all game long, ESPECIALLY Dragic. The PHX game was probably Dame's worst defensive game this season.

Every single one of those assists were because Dame couldn't stay in front of his man? Holy shit! That's terrible. Carry on.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Every single one of those assists were because Dame couldn't stay in front of his man? Holy shit! That's terrible. Carry on.

Did you not pay attention to those games? Dragic and Rubio, especially, collapsed the defense all game long. "Everything they shot went in!" they cried -- When an NBA player is given that open of a shot/lane, chances are they're going to hit that shot.