Rookie Rankings: Dec. 6, 2004

[Kori Ellis]

Rookie Rankings: Dec. 6, 2004

By Randy Kim

http://www.nba.com/milk_rookie/rankings_041206.html

Boston's Al Jefferson and Atlanta's Josh Smith deserve credit for putting up some decent numbers last week, but they didn't quite qualify for the top 10. An international baller and a big man from the Northwest did manage to crack the lineup, however. Here's how this week's rankings look:

1. Emeka Okafor, F-C, Charlotte (No. 2)
Stats: 13.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.1 APG (25.6 PRA)
Upcoming: at Clippers (12/6), at Sac. (12/7), at Pho. (12/10), at G.S. (12/12)
Breakdown: Followed up a 26-point, 12-rebound, 3-block outing against the Nets with 20 points and 18 boards in an impressive win against the Knicks. The Bobcats have won three of their last five, and Okafor is averaging 20.4 ppg, 13.2 rpg and 1.60 bpg over that stretch.

2. Dwight Howard, F, Orlando (No. 1)
Stats: 9.8 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.4 APG (21.6 PRA)
Upcoming: at Den. (12/6), at Utah (12/8), at G.S. (12/10), at Lakers (12/12)
Breakdown: After grabbing 10 or more rebounds in his first nine games, Howard has only reached double-digits on the glass three times over his last seven games. The Magic have won five out of six, though, and the high-schooler's minutes haven't dropped at all.

3. Luol Deng, G-F, Chicago (No. 7)
Stats: 14.5 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.9 APG (21.8 PRA)
Upcoming: vs. S.A. (12/6), vs. Cle. (12/8), vs. Phi. (12/10), vs. Min. (12/11)
Breakdown: Deng is still a steady scorer (12.8 ppg over his last four games), but fellow Bulls rooks Gordon, Duhon and Nocioni have stepped it up lately, meaning things are at least starting to get a little crowded in Chicago's backcourt.

4. Ben Gordon, G, Chicago (No. 3)
Stats: 10.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.4 APG (14.0 PRA)
Upcoming: vs. S.A. (12/6), vs. Cle. (12/8), vs. Phi. (12/10), vs. Min. (12/11)
Breakdown: Totaled 33 points and hit 4-of-10 3-pointers over Chicago's last three games. Seems to be adjusting well to a scorer's role off the pine.

5. Andre Iguodala, F, Philadelphia (No. 9)
Stats: 7.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.5 APG (15.6 PRA)
Upcoming: at Atl. (12/6), vs. Min. (12/8), at Chi. (12/10), vs. Mil. (12/12)
Breakdown: After scoring a season-high (15) against the Magic last Monday, Iguodala totaled just nine points over his next three games, though he did contribute 13 rebounds and 10 assists over that stretch. The Sixers have dropped four straight games, however.

6. Matt Bonner, F, Toronto (No. 45, 2003)
Stats: 8.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.4 APG (12.3 PRA)
Upcoming: at N.J. (12/6), at Det. (12/8), vs. Den. (12/10), vs. Mia. (12/12)
Breakdown: Had his best game of the season last Saturday with 16 points and 7 rebounds in a loss to Cleveland. Bonner has hit 15 of his last 26 field goals and ranks No. 1 in the league in field-goal percentage.

7. Chris Duhon, G, Chicago (No. 38)
Stats: 4.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 4.0 APG (9.7 PRA)
Upcoming: vs. S.A. (12/6), vs. Cle. (12/8), vs. Phi. (12/10), vs. Min. (12/11)
Breakdown: Duhon has started the last five games for the Bulls, and tallied his best game as a pro over that stretch, with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists in a Dec. 3 loss to the Heat.

8. Kris Humphries, F, Utah (No. 14)
Stats: 3.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.6 APG (6.1 PRA)
Upcoming: vs. Mia. (12/6), vs. Orl. (12/8), vs. Por. (12/10), at Por. (12/12)
Breakdown: After dropping five of seven games, Jerry Sloan shook up the Jazz lineup a bit, which led to a e in Humphries' minutes. Over the last three games, the rookie out of Minnesota has averaged 20.7 mpg, and put up 13 points and 4 rebounds against Phoenix. Unfortunately, Utah has dropped their last four in a row.

9. Beno Udrih, G, San Antonio (No. 28)
Stats: 5.7 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 1.3 APG (7.8 PRA)
Upcoming: at Chi. (12/6), vs. Sea. (12/8), at Hou. (12/9), vs. Cle. (12/11)
Breakdown: The Spurs have won seven straight, and Udrih has been a solid contributor over that run. The Slovenian rookie is averaging 9.8 ppg and 2.8 apg over San Antonio's last four games.

10. Quinton Ross, G, L.A. Clippers (Undrafted)
Stats: 4.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.0 APG (8.4 PRA)
Upcoming: vs. Cha. (12/6), vs. Lakers (12/11)
Breakdown: The Clippers continue to impress in the West thanks in no small part to the steady play of Ross. The SMU rookie is averaging 8.0 ppg and 3.6 rpg over the Clips' last five games. Most impressively, however, when "The New Q" plays more than 30 minutes in a game, his squad is 4-0.

[RobinsontoDuncan]

Didnt somebody say beno was a wuss who was injured all the time and couldnt lick tony parker's boots? I'm trying to think, who was that..........

[ducks]

is barry even averaging that?

[RobinsontoDuncan]

yeah he is averaging 6.7 ppg