The Armon love-fest continues: Thorpe's rookie rankings released.

[Nikolokolus]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=thorpe_david&page=Rookies-101104

6. Armon Johnson, Blazers
Johnson is playing his way into a strong Portland rotation with excellent defense and energy. There are people in Portland who think his surprising play is what paved the way for the Blazers to trade a lottery talent like Jerryd Bayless.

Not bad for a second round pick.

 

[hasoos]

Any time you get some love for a second round pick it is a bonus. It is just so rare they make an impact.

 

[BGrantFan]

Hope Armon keeps it up.

Last year's 2nd-round darling, DeJuan Blair, has a 2.2 PER so far this season as a starter for the Spurs. There is a reason these guys are 2nd-round picks, but Armon seems to be more multi-dimensional than Blair at his position.

 

[hasoos]

Hope Armon keeps it up.

Last year's 2nd-round darling, DeJuan Blair, has a 2.2 PER so far this season as a starter for the Spurs. There is a reason these guys are 2nd-round picks, but Armon seems to be more multi-dimensional than Blair at his position.

I haven't seen if Splitter is playing. Has Splitter been playing and taking his minutes?

 

[BGrantFan]

I haven't seen if Splitter is playing. Has Splitter been playing and taking his minutes?

Splitter missed the first 2 games and has come off of the bench the last two games.

He is playing much better than Blair in limited minutes, though. Then again, so is just about every other player in the NBA.

 

[Shooter]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=thorpe_david&page=Rookies-101104

I don't subscribe to Insider. Can you tell us who the Top 10 rooks are, according to ESPN?

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't subscribe to Insider. Can you tell us who the Top 10 rooks are, according to ESPN?

http://espn.go.com/nba/players/rookies/rankings

The first ten are non-insider

EDIT: my bad looks like only the top 5 are non-insider

Here's 7-10
7. James Anderson, San Antonio
8. Eric Bledsoe, Clippers
9. Wesley Johnson, Minny
10. Evan Turner, Philly

 

[hasoos]

Bledsoe had a real nice game last night. Easily the best I have seen him play so far. In fact i would say it is the first time I have seen him play in control so far.

 

[THE HCP]

^Clips are kickin themselves for giving Baron all the bank!

 

[BrianFromWA]

Splitter missed the first 2 games and has come off of the bench the last two games.

He is playing much better than Blair in limited minutes, though. Then again, so is just about every other player in the NBA.

It must be Blair's defense that's keeping him as Pop's starting center while shooting 23%.

The reason he was a 2nd-round pick was because he was a "huge injury risk" b/c he didn't have ACLs. So far, he's 86-for-86 in games played in his short career.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Last year's 2nd-round darling, DeJuan Blair, has a 2.2 PER so far this season as a starter for the Spurs. There is a reason these guys are 2nd-round picks, but Armon seems to be more multi-dimensional than Blair at his position.

And that same second rounder, as a 20-year old rookie put up a PER = 17.7 and played in all 82 games last season. That kind of production, especially when playing on a play-off caliber team that wins 50 games, is enough to win ROY in some seasons.

So, I'll let you do the math, which is the more signifcant sample size, 82 games, or 4?

BNM