NBA Rookie Ladder (Neal is in)

[ceperez]

Only 2 players in the top 10 are from teams with better than .500 records.

Considering the Spurs are top in the league and Neal has scored 22 points in 2 games, he should beat out Fields from the #2 spot.

[duncan228]

Today.

Rookie Ladder
NBA.com

4 Gary Neal : Neal has cooled off in his last two games, but he's still not afraid to pull the trigger. Neal was on a hot streak in a three-game stretch earlier in the week, going 9-for-20 from 3-point land while averaging 20.0 points. But in the Spurs' last two, Neal has gone just 3-for-14 from beyond the arc, scoring nine points in each of those games (both wins). In San Antonio's 94-80 win over the Wizards, Neal missed all five attempts and in Tuesday's 97-82 rout of the Lakers, Neal played just 18 minutes, but still managed to put up 10 shots (going 3-for-9 on 3s). Clearly, this rookie has no lack of confidence in his shot, and the Spurs are reaping the rewards.

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1 Blake Griffin : Los Angeles Clippers
2 Landry Fields : New York Knicks
3 John Wall : Washington Wizards

5 Wes Johnson : Minnesota Timberwolves
6 DeMarcus Cousins : Sacramento Kings
7 Al-Farouq Aminu : Los Angeles Clippers
8 Eric Bledsoe : Los Angeles Clippers
9 Ed Davis : Toronto Raptors
10 Greg Monroe : Detroit Pistons

http://www.nba.com/rookieladder/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

[jimo2305]

neal for 3 pt contest in all star weekend.. whaddayathink?

[TimmehC]

neal for 3 pt contest in all star weekend.. whaddayathink?

Bonner's far more likely.

[Agloco]

Neal and Blair should both definitely make the rookie game.

Too bad that Blair is not actually a rookie eh? They could beat on opponents together.

[TIMMYD!]

Too bad that Blair is not actually a rookie eh? They could beat on opponents together.

I think he means Blair as a sop re.

[arodz]

Bonner's far more likely.

[duncan228]

This week.

Rookie Ladder
NBA.com

6. Gary Neal : San Antonio Spurs Neal's streak of games with a 3-pointer is at 15, a streak that dates back to Dec. 26. Neal, who averaged 9.3 points while going 7-for-18 on 3s in his last four games, is still surprised by how his rookie season has panned out. "I couldn't have written a script that would have been better than this is right now," Neal said. "As far as the team goes, we've got the best record in the NBA, and as far as me playing, I'm playing more, and better, than I thought I could play."

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The rest, hit the link for the write-ups.

1 Blake Griffin : Los Angeles Clippers
2 John Wall : Washington Wizards
3 Landry Fields : New York Knicks
4 DeMarcus Cousins : Sacramento Kings
5 Greg Monroe : Detroit Pistons
7 Ed Davis : Toronto Raptors
8 Evan Turner : Philadelphia 76ers
9 Semih Erden : Boston Celtics
10 Paul George : Indiana Pacers

http://www.nba.com/rookieladder/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

[greyforest]

If Gary Neal can put up some more of these 20 point games, then what the , he could be a serious contender for rookie of the year.

blake griffin

[Werdsniper2]

Good job Gary! Keep making Towson University proud.

Keep it up!

[MoSpur]

If Demarcus Cousins wasn't such a cry baby and an idiot he could challenge for ROY, but his Bball IQ and overall personality are not all that.

[MoSpur]

Props to Neal. His confidence is high and it needs to remain that way.

[DieHardSpursFan1537]

Wasn't he 7 last week?

[duncan228]

This week.

Rookie Ladder
Drew Packham, NBA.com

7 Gary Neal: San Antonio Spurs Neal saw his string of games with at least one 3-pointer end Saturday, as he went 0-for-3 in a 108-95 win over the Rockets. Neal finished with just two points, his lowest point total since Nov. 22, as he went 1-for-7 from the field. The good news for Neal came Tuesday as the undrafted rookie got the call he'd been hoping for -- a spot on the Rookie team in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge. The rookies will be coached by Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, who has given Neal free reign. "He's got the green light in our (Spurs) games," Budenholzer said. "No reason he shouldn't have it in the Rookie game, too."

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1 Blake Griffin : Los Angeles Clippers
2 DeMarcus Cousins : Sacramento Kings
3 Landry Fields : New York Knicks
4 John Wall : Washington Wizards
5 Greg Monroe : Detroit Pistons
6 Paul George : Indiana Pacers
8 Wes Johnson : Minnesota Timberwolves
9 Evan Turner : Philadelphia 76ers
10 Ed Davis : Toronto Raptors

http://www.nba.com/rookieladder/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

[crc21209]

He wasnt "Nealing" with it last night, that's for sure....

[SouthTexasRancher]

Congrats to Gary....a damn good find for Pop. He has that killer mentality we need to go far this season!

[duncan228]

Today. Hit the link for videos.

Rookie Ladder
Drew Packham
NBA.com

9 Gary Neal : San Antonio Spurs Neal has struggled to put up the big numbers, but he's still contributing in limited minutes for the Spurs. After averaging 8.9 points in January, Neal has slowed down a bit in February, scoring just 6.0 per game and shooting just 28 percent from beyond the arc. He'll be fine, but he takes a slide this week with his decrease in numbers.

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1 Blake Griffin : Los Angeles Clippers
2 Landry Fields : New York Knicks
3 DeMarcus Cousins : Sacramento Kings
4 John Wall : Washington Wizards
5 Greg Monroe : Detroit Pistons
6 Christian Eyenga : Cleveland Cavaliers
7 Wes Johnson : Minnesota Timberwolves
8 Paul George : Indiana Pacers
10 Evan Turner : Philadelphia 76ers

http://www.nba.com/rookieladder/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

[lefty]

Dear Evan Turner,


Neal with it.

[duncan228]

Rookie Ladder: Big Men Contribute for Contenders
Drew Packham
NBA.com

...But a few rookies are seeing more minutes as their teams make playoff pushes:

Tiago Splitter, Spurs: The Brazilian big man will be thrust into the lineup with Tim Duncan out indefinitely with a sprained ankle he suffered in Monday's win over the Warriors. Splitter came right in and immediately paid dividends, putting up a double-double (10 points, 14 rebounds) in 26 minutes. It was Splitter's first double-double, first double-digit rebounding game and just his fifth game scoring in double figures. Experts have long talked about Splitter's potential, so maybe now we'll get to see some of that on display.

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6 Gary Neal: San Antonio SpursNeal did his usual work off the bench, providing an offensive spark, but drew praise from Gregg Popovich for his defense after the Spurs' win over the Mavs on Friday. "He's not afraid of contact and won't be intimidated out of playing defense," Popovich said. "He's going to be consistent in that regard. He's not going to back away from physical situations. Beyond that, you have to learn how to play defense wisely, and that's where he's really improving. He's learning how to save steps; how to get angles; how to do work early; how not to foul in certain situations. He's learning to do those sorts of things and be more consistent."

http://www.nba.com/rookieladder/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

[8FOR!3]

I'm surprised Trevor Booker out of Clemson hasn't gotten any love. He's playing well in Washington.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Haven't heard much from Favors or Turner this year. Philly is so under the radar I don't think I could name more than 5-6 players on that team.