I tried to wedge this into another topic but I think it deserves it's own thread. Now that we are a month or so into the season, what are your impressions of the rookies so far?

1. Griffin: TBD
2. Thabeet: bust
3. Harden: seems to be playing fairly well, I have not seen enough of him to accurately comment
4. Evans: he is playing better than I imagined he would. i'm still wondering what exactly he *is*, doesn't really seem like a pure Nash-style PG, and not really a pure shooter either. i'm going to give another incomplete here as I really want to see how he's going to interact with K-mart when he comes back. i really like his aggressiveness though
5. Rubio: N/A
6. Flynn: inconsistent as all hell, but flashes of greatness. i like his stroke and think he's going to improve his shooting. i don't quite understand what's going on in Minnesota as the word before the season was that Rambis was going to make this an uptempo team and push the ball but now he has Flynn trying to initiate complex set plays. I think he's kind of being stifled in a way compared to someone like Evans. I still think he's going to be a star though
7. Curry: again, flashes of greatness and also again I think he's being hampered by the team (Nelson to be specific)....with the fluctuating minutes, having CJ Watson playing ahead of him...he hit a big 3 in the closing minutes of that win at the Mavs, I just don't understand why he's not playing more. GS isn't doing anything, let him develop and play major minutes. I think he can co-exist with Monta in the backcourt together too. I'm still really high on him and I think if he gets consistent major minutes he'll be in the running for ROY
8. Hill: can't comment, haven't seen have no idea
9. DeRozan: ditto, only have seen him once this year vs. ATL...a little reckless but was able to get to the rim. but again, only saw him once
10. Jennings: coming back down to Earth after the 55 point game...like Evans with Martin, like to see him playing with Redd at full strength (which may never happen it seems). Still, I think the ROY is his to lose and not just on the basis of the 55 point game. while his FG% has been poor as of late, I still think the key is that he can GET his shot anytime he wants and can create for himself which is the most important part. I think his shot is good enough that he'll come back around.

giving up from here on out as most of the rest I've only seen sporadically, although some random lower pick thoughts
Lawson: quick as hell, impressive, obviously will not get major minutes but obviously is up there for steal of the draft
Teague: from what I've seen can penetrate well, his shot is broke though. at least better than Acie Law for the Hawks
Collison: admirable play after being forced into duty after CP3 injury
Casspi: another possible steal, playing real well

No love for Blair? I loved him coming into the draft, and was pissed the Bulls passed on him before and even moreso now. He's a stud.

I like Harden, but dont think he'll ever justify his draft spot.

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no you're right....i haven't seen enough of him though

I agree with Evans. I'm not sure what he is either. Fat Lever?

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other than being 7'3", what could you expect from Thabeet? You can't teach size is true, but he sucks.

Watched some of the Warriors-Thundarr game last night....Harden looks pretty good

Right. Is anyone surprised that he's a bust?

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"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." ~ H.L. Mencken

if only because chris wallace drafted him

[quote="Bagels"]4. Evans: he is playing better than I imagined he would. i'm still wondering what exactly he *is*, doesn't really seem like a pure Nash-style PG, and not really a pure shooter either. i'm going to give another incomplete here as I really want to see how he's going to interact with K-mart when he comes back. i really like his aggressiveness though
/quote]

I debated this one too....and for some reason, I'm thinking a combo of Jamal Crawford and Penny Hardaway. He's scores like Jamal but plays a better PG than him but not as good as Penny and his D is average so you can leave him on the floor and not worry about getting torched.

he seems really strong though, I like that. his body is built to take that punishment at the rim unlike someone like iverson. i think that bodes well for him

i still think he will emerge at the top of this rookie class. i'm conditionally saying that since obviously we haven't seen blake griffin yet. he is the #1 pick so i expect a lot but obviously need to see it

I think he's got a game to be in that second tier of players but until he learns to hit the J, he will always been a very good player but never elite.

this might be one of the deepest classes of the decade. Guys like casspi and blair are rarely talked about but look like they will be terrific starters. All this and we haven't seen griffin yet, who despite evans and jennings, i still believe will be the best of the class, especially if he can get off the clippers

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I really liked Blair, but a lot of people shit all over him prior to the draft.

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Second City Saint

i know i was complaining about this all draf night. The fact the bulls passed on him twice made it one of the most disappointing drafts i've witnessed in a long time

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Fess up FF, the real reason that girl got all whacked out on your date was you wanted to talk to her about your love for Blair all night?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I'm still shocked he fell as low as he did.

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Second City Saint

actually i think the fact that she left me in the room with the wizard outfit and came back in and i was dressed like josh mcdaniels was a little offputting. Then she kept harping on the 2-7 so eventually i just yelled "freak!" and left

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I love you more than words can tell
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what about Tyreke going for 27/11/7 last night?

My dream of Blair being the biggest darkhorse ROY ever was extremely short lived. This really is an excellent rookie class.

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Listen to the river sing sweet songs
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Barkley made a great point about the great player exception. If LeBron or KB24 had done the same thing no team would be looking to shred their contract.

Whenever I hear Barkley talk I can't help but hear the Aries Spears impersonation.

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That was actually a really good back and forth to start the night off. The most interested the guys have sounded all season. Usually they save their A game for April/May

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I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
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Marcus Thornton has really been coming on as of late...the game vs. the Cavs at the Q the other night was ridiculous...he had something like 23 in the 2nd quarter alone. the thing that was impressive to me (i couldn't turn away, had to watch it) was that it all came in the flow of the game. he wasn't forcing anything. at one point after he had 35 or so then he did- kind of a heat check i guess...but i guess i can't blame him, he was on fire. i know you'll have a very small backcourt, but I think if you're the Hornets when Paul comes back you have to find a way to play them together or at the very least have him be a Jamal Crawford type that comes off the bench but still gets 30 minutes or so. Especially with Paul out, I admit to not watching many Hornets games so I haven't seen a whole lot of them...I never really liked West that much or Peja or Okafor..but man are Collison and Thornton impressive.

as for the other rookies, Jennings seems to be in a prolonged shooting slump...still think the ROY frontrunner is Tyreke Evans. I like Flynn...he shows flashed but Evans seems to be far more consistent. Flynn will make some spectacular plays and I think he's probably a better passer, but he takes some really bad shots at times and Evans seems to be the better decision maker as well as just a better scorer, plain and simple

Was completely wrong on Curry.The goods

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Did you see the Grizz are thinking (or have done it) of sending Thabeet to the D League?

Ya read that the other day. Think it's a done deal, what a waste of a pick.So many others that they passed up to take him too.

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You never miss your wealth, till your well went dry
Seem like only yesterday, you were here smiling
Now you gone away, but I know you in a better place
No traces of you, what can I do?
Alone and confused

I wonder if the Hornets will move Paul if they get the right offer. Considering they've always wanted to trim payroll, I think it could happen given the recent play of Collison. He definitely seems to be the real deal.

I agree Evans is the favorite, but I think I'd still rather have Curry over him.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul