over/under for spurs rookies at the all-star game

[spectator]

it's the beginning of the season - perfect time to make ridiculous generalizations on how the spurs' rookies will perform this season. fyi, the spurs have 3 nba-standpoint rookies: james anderson, gary neal, tiago splitter; even though the last 2 are technically new comers.

ja and gn are (at this point) in the top 10 in rookie points per game and PER:

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/scoring-per-game/sort/avgPoints/position/rookies

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?position=rookies&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2fhollinger%2fstatistics%3fposition%3drookies

they are also in strong consideration for 1st of the bench shooting guards. even though hollinger says neal is a point guard, we all know that is not the case, so let's not be delusional about neal and anderson being the 1st off the bench at the same time for the rookie team.

splitter is an interesting case - if one looks at the current rookie centers, there are no real starters for any team; however, there are 3 great PFs: griffin, cousins, and favors and one has to think that these guys will be selected. given that the teams are composed of 9 players, it may be too far to think that splitter will be given a chance to play at C, especially since last year rookies are really short in the paint - blair, gibson and jerebko (out for a long time) give away size at PF, not to mention C.

thus, i will make the over/under for spurs rookies at the all-star game at 0.5; what do you guys think? i know it's very, very, very early. many things can change and injuries will affect line-ups as well. still, we do this for fun. drop a word or two.

[duncan228]

Gregg Popovich's youth movement spurs San Antonio (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/2010-11-02-san-antonio-spurs-rookies_N.htm)
J. Michael Falgoust, USA TODAY

Even an old-school coach such as Gregg Popovich has to change his spots.

Until this season, rookies didn't get much action with the San Antonio Spurs.

Now, Gary Neal, James Anderson and Tiago Splitter are playing vital roles in rejuvenating a franchise thought to be too old to emerge again for the Western Conference playoffs.

" I think he has to" play them, says point guard Tony Parker, in his 10th season with the Spurs. "For so many years we had so many vets and I think it's time for us to rebuild. … They have to throw them on the fire like he did (with) me when I first came in."

Two, however, aren't traditional rookies:

• Neal, 26, a 6-4 guard from Towson State, is an accurate shooter who spent the last three seasons playing in Italy, Spain and Turkey.

"We were really pleased with Gary Neal's confidence taking shots," says Popovich, after Neal scored a season-high 16 points and hit four of his eight three-pointers in 20 minutes in a 97-88 win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

• Splitter, 25, is a 6-10 forward from Brazil who has played professionally for 10 years. The Spanish League MVP, coming off a preseason injury to his right calf, played for the first time against the Clippers and scored two points. Contrary to popular belief, he's not a scorer. It's his ability to run the floor and distribute that impresses most.

"Tiago getting those minutes showed he knows how to play. He's a hell of a passer," Popovich says. "He didn't look like a fish out of water at all. He looked like he'd been here for a while."

Anderson 21, is a 6-6 guard who leads all Spurs rookies in scoring at 7.7 points per game.

"You've got to go with what you have. If they're rookies, they're rookies. You can't do anything about that," Popovich says. "I think they're performing really well for guys who haven't been in the program."

And learning his complicated system isn't easy. "You just have to come with a good attitude and a good mentality to get better," Neal says.

The trio has boosted San Antonio's confidence. Winners of four NBA championships since 1999, the Spurs last advanced to the Western Conference finals in 2007-08

They knocked off the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of last season's playoffs but were swept for the first time in franchise history, by the younger, more athletic Phoenix Suns.

The core remains the same with Tim Duncan, 34, Manu Ginobili, 33, and Parker, 28. All three are healthy together for the first time in three years.

"All three of those guys have to be healthy. We're not going to do much if one of them is hurt," Popovich says. "It's just the way we're built. So keeping Timmy fresh is important. Manu and Tony didn't play for their national teams this summer so they're healthier than they've been in a few years."

Ultimately, success in San Antonio starts with its veterans.

"We have to play well. Everybody has to follow," Parker says. "It starts with us."

[ohmwrecker]

I think they all have a pretty legit shot at All-Rookie 2nd team honors this season.

[ChuckD]

DeJuan will likely get picked for the soph team, but none of the rooks are really high profile, which is what this game is about.

[chazley]

Cousins is a center. Just wanna clear that up.

[ohmwrecker]

Cousins is a center. Just wanna clear that up.

I think you might be on the wrong thread.

[duncan228]

More on the Rookies.

Pop casts lot with rookies (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/02/pop-casts-lot-with-rookies/)
by Jeff McDonald

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2010/11/02/pop-casts-lot-with-rookies/