duncan228
02-13-2009, 01:19 AM
Edit: Headline has been corrected, it's Six-Year Skid, not seven.
First-year team looks to end seven-year skid (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/First-year_team_looks_to_end_seven-year_skid.html)
By David Kendrick - Express-News
First and second-year players meet at 8 tonight in Phoenix in the Rookie Challenge on TNT. Here’s a look at the game.
History
Since this game became a rookie-sophomore challenge, the second-year players lead 7-2. Last season, Cleveland’s Daniel Gibson hit 11 3-pointers to lead the sophomores to a 136-109 victory, giving them six-straight wins. The last rookie team to win was the 2002 squad, featuring Tony Parker.
This season
Kevin Durant is having a huge season, and he’ll get the spotlight tonight and Saturday in the H-O-R-S-E competition. But this rookie class is tough and could end the sophomores’ streak. The first-year team boasts impressive backcourt depth and plenty of quality size with Brook Lopez and Greg Oden.
Rookie roster
PLAYER, TEAM AND POSITION — *STATS
MICHAEL BEASLEY, Heat F — 13.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.9 APG
No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft hasn’t started since November.
RUDY FERNANDEZ, Blazers G/F — 10.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.2 APG
Led all rookies through Thursday with 101 3-pointers made.
MARC GASOL, Grizzlies C — 11.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.0 BPG
Pau’s little brother has 11 double-doubles this season.
ERIC GORDON, Clippers G — 14.7 PPG, 2.6 APG, 2.4 RPG
Has emerged as one of Clippers’ most dependable scorers.
BROOK LOPEZ, Nets C — 12.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.9 BPG
Idolizes Tim Duncan and doing well himself so far.
O.J. MAYO, Grizzlies G — 19.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.8 APG
Leads his team — in this game, and in the NBA — in scoring.
GREG ODEN, Blazers C — 9.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.2 BPG
Top pick in 2007, but didn’t play last season because of injury.
DERRICK ROSE, Bulls G — 16.9 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.6 RPG
Has started every game this season. Leads all rookies in assists.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK, Thunder G — 15.0 PPG, 4.9 APG, 4.7 RPG
Has thrived since becoming a starter in late November.
Sophomore roster
PLAYER, TEAM AND POSITION — *STATS
AARON BROOKS, Rockets G — 10.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, 2.0 RPG
One of Houston’s key reserves, has hit 67 3-pointers this season.
WILSON CHANDLER, Knicks F — 13.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.1 APG
Has been a starter most of the season for New York.
KEVIN DURANT, Thunder F — 25.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.8 APG
Ex-Longhorn was ‘08 Rookie of Year, has been star this season.
JEFF GREEN, Thunder F — 16.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.1 APG
Move to power forward this season helped jump-start ex-Hoya.
AL HORFORD, Hawks C — 10.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.5 APG
Runner-up to Durant for rookie honors last year.
LUIS SCOLA, Rockets F — 12.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.2 APG
Ex-Spurs pick has started all of the Rockets’ games this season.
AL THORNTON, Clippers F — 16.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.5 APG
Has been a consistent scorer for his injury-plagued team.
RODNEY STUCKEY, Pistons G — 13.7 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.4 RPG
Took over as starting point guard after Chauncey Billups trade.
THADDEUS YOUNG, 76ers F — 13.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.2 APG
Athletic player has helped team deal with loss of Elton Brand.
* through Wednesday’s games
First-year team looks to end seven-year skid (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/First-year_team_looks_to_end_seven-year_skid.html)
By David Kendrick - Express-News
First and second-year players meet at 8 tonight in Phoenix in the Rookie Challenge on TNT. Here’s a look at the game.
History
Since this game became a rookie-sophomore challenge, the second-year players lead 7-2. Last season, Cleveland’s Daniel Gibson hit 11 3-pointers to lead the sophomores to a 136-109 victory, giving them six-straight wins. The last rookie team to win was the 2002 squad, featuring Tony Parker.
This season
Kevin Durant is having a huge season, and he’ll get the spotlight tonight and Saturday in the H-O-R-S-E competition. But this rookie class is tough and could end the sophomores’ streak. The first-year team boasts impressive backcourt depth and plenty of quality size with Brook Lopez and Greg Oden.
Rookie roster
PLAYER, TEAM AND POSITION — *STATS
MICHAEL BEASLEY, Heat F — 13.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.9 APG
No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft hasn’t started since November.
RUDY FERNANDEZ, Blazers G/F — 10.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.2 APG
Led all rookies through Thursday with 101 3-pointers made.
MARC GASOL, Grizzlies C — 11.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.0 BPG
Pau’s little brother has 11 double-doubles this season.
ERIC GORDON, Clippers G — 14.7 PPG, 2.6 APG, 2.4 RPG
Has emerged as one of Clippers’ most dependable scorers.
BROOK LOPEZ, Nets C — 12.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.9 BPG
Idolizes Tim Duncan and doing well himself so far.
O.J. MAYO, Grizzlies G — 19.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.8 APG
Leads his team — in this game, and in the NBA — in scoring.
GREG ODEN, Blazers C — 9.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.2 BPG
Top pick in 2007, but didn’t play last season because of injury.
DERRICK ROSE, Bulls G — 16.9 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.6 RPG
Has started every game this season. Leads all rookies in assists.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK, Thunder G — 15.0 PPG, 4.9 APG, 4.7 RPG
Has thrived since becoming a starter in late November.
Sophomore roster
PLAYER, TEAM AND POSITION — *STATS
AARON BROOKS, Rockets G — 10.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, 2.0 RPG
One of Houston’s key reserves, has hit 67 3-pointers this season.
WILSON CHANDLER, Knicks F — 13.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.1 APG
Has been a starter most of the season for New York.
KEVIN DURANT, Thunder F — 25.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.8 APG
Ex-Longhorn was ‘08 Rookie of Year, has been star this season.
JEFF GREEN, Thunder F — 16.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.1 APG
Move to power forward this season helped jump-start ex-Hoya.
AL HORFORD, Hawks C — 10.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.5 APG
Runner-up to Durant for rookie honors last year.
LUIS SCOLA, Rockets F — 12.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.2 APG
Ex-Spurs pick has started all of the Rockets’ games this season.
AL THORNTON, Clippers F — 16.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.5 APG
Has been a consistent scorer for his injury-plagued team.
RODNEY STUCKEY, Pistons G — 13.7 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.4 RPG
Took over as starting point guard after Chauncey Billups trade.
THADDEUS YOUNG, 76ers F — 13.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.2 APG
Athletic player has helped team deal with loss of Elton Brand.
* through Wednesday’s games