got milk? Rookie Power Rankings |
NO. 1 :: YAO MING, C, HOUSTON ROCKETS |
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Stats: 26 GP, 12.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, .577 FG%,
2.00 bpg, .786 FT%, 25.8 mpg
Last Week: 3 GP, 19.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 4.0 bpg,
.500 FG%, 35.0 mpg
Notes: Cemented status at top with monster
game (29 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks) in
impressive win over Pacers ... In last week,
points and rebounds per game averages went up
by 0.8 and 0.3, respectively ... Blocks also went
up by 0.26 bpg as well ... Not far behind Shaq in
All-Star voting for West center spot ... With his
agility, size and feel for the game, the
expectations for the Rockets center are going
through the roof ... New nickname: "Chairman".
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NO. 2 :: AMARE STOUDEMIRE, PF, PHOENIX SUNS |
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Stats: 28 GP, 10.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.14 bpg, 29.7
mpg
Last Week: 4 GP, 12.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.25 spg,
.500 FG%, 33.8 mpg
Notes: Becoming a SportsCenter highlight
staple ... Monster dunk over 7-0 Michael
Olowokandi in win over Clippers left teammate
Stephon Marbury shaking head in disbelief ...
Intensity is a virtue; plays every game like he's
on a 10-day contract fighting for a roster spot
... Oh yeah, Suns have won seven of last eight.
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NO. 3 :: CARON BUTLER, F, MIAMI HEAT |
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Stats: 28 GP, 12.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.39
spg, .850 FT%, 36.1 mpg
Last Week: 4 GP, 16.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.3 apg,
1.8 spg, 36.3 mpg
Notes: Coupled with guard Eddie Jones to lead
the Heat to a 3-1 week ... Had 25-point outburst
in win over Raptors ... Has played 40-plus
minutes in seven of last eight games ... Taking
fewer three-pointers than at start of season,
which is better suited to his game until he really
gets comfortable in league.
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NO. 4 :: MARKO JARIC, G, L.A. CLIPPERS |
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Stats: 27 GP, 8.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.67
spg, .818 FT%, 25.6 mpg
Last Week: 3 GP, 15.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 5.7 apg,
.471 3P%, 3.7 spg,
39.3 mpg
Notes: Really developing into an all-around
threat ... He's becoming the player everyone
thought Spurs' Manu Ginobili was going to be ...
Had monster outing in win over Nuggets, with 22
points, 5 three-pointers and 6 steals ...
Averaging more steals than turnovers, which
means he'll continue to see plenty of court time.
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NO. 5 :: DREW GOODEN, F, MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES |
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Stats: 28 GP, 13.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, .477 FG%,
.417 3P%, 28.2 mpg
Last Week: 3 GP, 12.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .485
FG%, 2-for-4 3P's, 26.7 mpg
Notes: Still a little out of position when he
spends time at the three, but learning to adapt
... Can hit the three now, which helps Grizzlies
justify playing him at small forward ... Bottom
line is Memphis has won six of last nine, and
Gooden is a big part of their success.
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NO. 6 :: JAY WILLIAMS, PG, CHICAGO BULLS |
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Stats: 28 GP, 10.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.8 apg, 1.50
spg, 31.3 mpg
Last Week: 4 GP, 9.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 7.3 apg,
4-for-12 3P's, 30.3 mpg
Notes: Had second double-double of season in
impressive win over Pacers, with 14 points, 5
rebounds and 13 assists ... Bulls have won six of
last nine games, and Williams has been steady
over that stretch ... Might want to consider
taking free throws from the three-point line,
however. Oddly still struggling from charity
stripe (.545 FT%).
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NO. 7 :: CARLOS BOOZER, F, CLEVELAND
CAVALIERS |
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Stats: 29 GP, 8.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .564 FG%,
22.3 mpg
Last Week: 4 GP, 10.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg,
.588 FG%, 30.3 mpg
Notes: Notched seventh and eighth
double-doubles of the season this past week ...
Quicker and more athletic than anyone thought
... Excellent touch around hoop as well ... Out of
all the Cavs youngsters, Boozer is the most
consistent contributor; and that includes Davis
and Miles.
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NO. 8 :: DAJUAN WAGNER, G, CLEVELAND
CAVALIERS |
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Stats: 15 GP, 18.4 ppg, .342 3P%, 3.9 apg,
1.27 spg, 37.5 mpg
Last Week: 3 GP, 14.3 ppg, 2.0 apg, 35.0
mpg
Notes: Had poor shooting week, going
14-for-44 (.318) from the field and 3-for-12
(.250) from three-point range ... Missed
Monday's game against the Heat with a stomach
virus ... Hard for Wagner to get good looks on
rebuilding Cavs team, especially with majority of
shots going to Ricky Davis.
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NO. 9 :: VINCENT YARBROUGH, G-F, DENVER
NUGGETS |
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Stats: 12 GP, 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, .424 FG%,
.333 3P%, 13.8 mpg
Last Week: 3 GP, 9.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 spg,
1.0 bpg, .500 FG%, 21.7 mpg
Notes: The next Nuggets swingman? ... With
James Posey shipped off to Houston, don't be
surprised if 6-7 Yarbrough gets a crack at the
two-three spot ... Former Tennessee Volunteer
has athleticism to fill in for Posey; also has
decent shooting touch.
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NO. 10 :: REGGIE EVANS, F, SEATTLE SONICS |
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Stats: 24 GP, 2.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .500 FG%,
14.2 mpg
Last Week: 3 GP, 1.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 20.0 mpg
Notes: Season high in scoring is 10 points. So
why did 6-8 forward out of Iowa make the Top
10? Rebounds and hustle ... With all the
shooters on the Sonics, Evans doesn't have to
score to contribute ... Had 12 rebounds in loss
to Portland ... Also had season-high 17
rebounds in Dec. 16 win over Cleveland.
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