got milk? Rookie Power Rankings: March 11, 2003

[大rodman91™]

By Randy Kim

With this year's rookie class, the big men have been getting most of the hype. But lately, some key perimeter players are starting to rise up, and on winning teams, no less.

Gordan Giricek has been a revelation for Orlando, as he's shown athleticism to go with his impressive shooting touch. In Boston, long-range marksman J.R. Bremer is doing his best David Wesley/Dana Barros impersonation. And for San Antonio, Emanuel Ginobili has been nothing short of a defensive whiz kid, grabbing 18 steals in his last five games.

Must be all that time spent playing next to stopper-extraordinaire Bruce Bowen. Here are this week's rankings:

got milk? Rookie Power Rankings

NO. 1 :: DREW GOODEN, F, ORLANDO MAGIC

Stats: 60 GP, 12.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, .455 FG%, 27.2 mpg Last week: 3 GP, 18.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.00 bpg, 21-38 FG's, 31.7 mpg Notes: Since coming over to Orlando with Giricek, Magic are 7-2 ... Had 26 points (a career high) and 16 rebounds in March 5 win over Milwaukee ... "Struggled" in road loss to Knicks, with 19 points and 8 rebounds. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Gooden apologized to coach Doc Rivers after the game, which impressed the Magic coach. "With rookies, they would usually just put their head down," Rivers told the paper. "I like that he expressed his emotions."

NO. 2 :: YAO MING, C, HOUSTON ROCKETS

Stats: 62 GP, 13.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, .516 FG%, 1.82 bpg, .804 FT%, 29.4 mpg Last week: 3 GP, 17.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.67 bpg, 35.0 mpg Notes: Put together back-to-back 20-point efforts for only the second time this season in split with Pistons and Raptors over March 4-5 ... The Rockets are quickly learning that their fortunes rest squarely on Yao's shoulders. Maurice Taylor to the Houston Chronicle: "We've got to get the ball to (Yao). We've got to let him go to work. And we've got to stick with him. He's the man."

NO. 3 :: GORDAN GIRICEK, G, ORLANDO MAGIC

Stats: 58 GP, 12.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, .363 3P%, .821 FT%, 26.7 mpg Last week: 3 GP, 18.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 22-41 FG's, 37.7 mpg Notes: Had best outing since coming to Orlando, with 21 points in March 9 win over Denver ... Odd, how knock on him in Memphis was his lack of consistency. Giricek is averaging 17.2 ppg and 5.4 rpg since coming to Orlando, as well as shooting .504 from the field and .390 from three-point range. And he's scored in double-figures in all nine games.

NO. 4 :: J.R. BREMER, G, BOSTON CELTICS

Stats: 45 GP, 7.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, .373 3P%, .778 FT%, 21.3 mpg Last week: 3 GP, 16.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, 12-23 3P's, 31.0 mpg Notes: Celtics recently brought on veteran point guard Bimbo Coles, but that shouldn't slow Bremer ... Sparkplug point guard has been on a tear lately, averaging 18.0 ppg over his last four games, as well as going 17-for-31 (.548) from three-point range ... Playing style resembles former Celtics point guard Dana Barros, who was undersized, yet sturdy, and could hoist the three.

NO. 5 :: EMANUEL GINOBILI, G, SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Stats: 49 GP, 6.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.39 spg, .337 3P%, 18.8 mpg Last week: 3 GP, 12.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.3 apg, 4.33 spg, 29.3 mpg Notes: Major bench contributor for a title contender ... Ginobili's all-around numbers in March are truly exceptional: 12.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.6 spg. Plus, he's shooting very well, going 20-for-36 from the field ... According to the San Antonio Express-News, Spurs veteran Kevin Willis' form of rookie rites involve making Manu shake hands with everyone on the team when he arrives. When asked if he followed Wilis' orders, Ginobili responded, "Not all the time, but when he looks at me I do."

NO. 6 :: AMARE STOUDEMIRE, PF, PHOENIX SUNS

Stats: 62 GP, 13.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, .460 FG%, 31.9 mpg Last week: 3 GP, 12.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.00 bpg, 32.7 mpg Notes: After stumbling through much of February, Suns have won three of last five, including big wins over San Antonio and Portland ... Amare had one subpar outing against Portland (5 points, 5 rebounds), but otherwise has been solid ... Highlight of week was his double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) in March 4 win over the Spurs.

NO. 7 :: CARON BUTLER, F, MIAMI HEAT

Stats: 60 GP, 14.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.65 spg, 2.6 apg, .819 FT%, 36.9 mpg Last week: 4 GP, 16.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.00 spg, 37.0 mpg Notes: Doing all he can to carry struggling Heat. Broke a franchise record by scoring 19 points in third quarter of March 10 loss to Utah. Wound up with 24 points for the game, one below his career high. "I was just trying to play hard, make anything happen," Butler told the Sun-Sentinel. Coach Riley was ejected in that same quarter, and the Heat went on to lose the game.

NO. 8 :: NENE HILARIO, F, DENVER NUGGETS

Stats: 63 GP, 10.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, .511 FG%, 27.9 mpg Last week: 4 GP, 14.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.50 spg, 28.3 mpg Notes: Had impressive outing, with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in March 8 win over Miami. Win snapped Denver's 14-game losing streak ... Hilario has reached double-figures in his last four games ... ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported that Hilario wants to have "Nene" on the back of his jersey instead of Hilario, a tradition started by Brazilian soccer stars who only go by one name.

NO. 9 :: CARLOS BOOZER, F, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
	Stats: 62 GP, 9.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, .530 FG%, .764 FT%, 24.0 mpg Last week: 4 GP, 15.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 24-40 FG's, 28.3 mpg Notes: Cavs aren't winning, but Boozer had a big week ... Perhaps most impressive part of his game is his shooting touch (shot 60% from field over last four games) ... Opportunistic low-post scorer is one of Cleveland's only consistent options on offense.

NO. 10 :: MIKE BATISTE, F, MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Stats: 55 GP, 6.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .768 FT%, 16.2 mpg Last week: 3 GP, 8.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 9-18 FG's, 18.3 mpg Notes: Grizzlies have won three straight, and five of their last eight, and Batiste has been a steady contributor over that stretch ... Arizona State product has a solid all-around game, and is making it difficult to give the small forward spot exclusively to Mike Miller or Shane Battier ... A tough defender who rebounds well and also is aggressive on offense.

Honorable Mention: Rasual Butler, Smush Parker, Chris Wilcox

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