got milk?Rookie Power Rankings: March 25, 2003

[大rodman91™]

By Randy Kim

If the 1999 Draft is known as the "Year of the Point Guard" (Steve Francis, Baron Davis, Andre Milller and Jason Terry were all taken in the first 10 picks), then the 2002 Draft may go down in history as the "Year of the Power Forward."

With all due respect to players like Caron Butler and Yao Ming, an impressive trio of fours are starting to step up in this year's rookie class. Carlos Boozer, Nene Hilario and Amare Stoudemire have emerged as their franchises' power forwards of the future, and with good reason. All are strong and athletic, yet they have soft shooting touches as well; the trio combined to shoot 67.9 percent from the field last week.

Here are this week's rankings:

got milk? Rookie Power Rankings

NO. 1 :: CARON BUTLER, F, MIAMI HEAT

Stats: 67 GP, 15.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.66 spg, .817 FT%, 37.0 mpg Last week: 4 GP, 21.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.75 spg, 32-61 FG's, 34.5 mpg Notes: Heat are still struggling, but Butler had possibly his best week of the season ... Has shot 50% or better from field in four straight games ... Also went 5-for-11 from three-point range for week ... Heat coach Pat Riley recently discussed his future plans for Butler with USA Today. "I see him as a multidimensional player, a guy who can play one through four," said Riley. "I've pigeonholed him at three so he can become consistent and familiar with the league. Eventually, I'll let him handle the ball and run the show. That's where I think he will evolve."

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

Stats: 70 GP, 13.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg, .517 FG%, 1.84 bpg, .800 FT%, 29.5 mpg Last week: 5 GP, 12.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.25 spg, 1.25 bpg, 29.2 mpg Notes: Had a solid week during Rockets' West-coast swing ... Houston played five games in seven days, with Yao's best outing coming against Golden State where he went for 23 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks ... Also hit his first three-pointer of the year against the Warriors ... According to the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets have drawn 17 sellouts in 35 road games, meaning they trail only the Wizards, Lakers and Sixers in road attendance, thanks in no small part to Yao.

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

Stats: 65 GP, 12.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, .356 3P%, .827 FT%, 27.4 mpg Last week: 4 GP, 14.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.00 spg, 29.5 mpg Notes: Magic have won four of last five, and Giricek continues to shine ... March 21 win over Cleveland was first time Giricek hasn't reached double-figures (9 points) since coming over to Orlando ... Magic are 11-5 since trading Mike Miller to Memphis for Giricek and Drew Gooden, and others have noticed. "I don't think the trade would have hurt the Magic even if it had been Giricek for Miller," Mavs coach Don Nelson told the Orlando Sentinel ... Gooden has missed Orlando's last three games with a toe injury.

NO. 4 :: CARLOS BOOZER, F, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Stats: 68 GP, 9.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, .542 FG%, 24.3 mpg Last week: 4 GP, 14.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 25-34 FG's, 28.5 mpg Notes: Had career night in March 19 loss to Memphis, with 27 points and 12 rebounds on 12-for-15 shooting ... Currently ranks second in the NBA in field-goal percentage, trailing only Shaquille O'Neal ... Boozer recently talked to the Plain Dealer about who he models his game after. "(Utah forward Karl Malone) is my favorite player, and I've tried to pattern my game after his," Boozer told the paper. "He's had a tremendous career and he's been very successful. I aspire to have a career like his."

NO. 5 :: NENE HILARIO, F, DENVER NUGGETS

Stats: 70 GP, 10.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.60 spg, .517 FG%, 28.0 mpg Last week: 5 GP, 13.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.20 spg, 25-37 FG's, 30.0 mpg Notes: Had 23 points on 9-for-11 shooting in Denver's March 24 loss to Dallas ... Played key role in Denver's March 22 win over Boston, with 16 points (on 6-for-7 shooting) and 5 rebounds ... Has missed just three shots in his last three games, going 19-for-22 over that stretch ... As with Boozer, comparisons being made to a young Karl Malone, due to supreme athleticism and struggles from the free-throw line.

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

Stats: 70 GP, 13.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, .467 FG%, 31.7 mpg Last week: 4 GP, 12.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.50 bpg, 20-32 FG's, 27.5 mpg Notes: Opened week with two solid outings, but then averaging just 9.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg over last two ... Defensive play is encouraging, however, as Stoudemire is averaging 1.58 bpg for March, compared to 0.99 for the season ... Suns should be encouraged by rookie's fearlessness. "There's no player that makes me nervous, there's not one," Stoudemire told The Arizona Republic. "When there's a big game, and almost all the rest of them are big games for us, you tend to want to come out harder."

NO. 7 :: EMANUEL GINOBILI, G, SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Stats: 56 GP, 7.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.39 spg, .333 3P%, 20.0 mpg Last week: 4 GP, 12.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.00 bpg, 1.50 spg, 28.7 mpg Notes: Averaging 15.3 ppg over last three games ... Does the little things well for a rookie, including smothering defense, quick hands, and he gets to the free-throw line a lot ... Coach Gregg Popovich makes an interesting comparison. "I keep telling people he's like our Doug Christie," says Popovich. "He does things to help you win games. He makes steals. He gets offensive rebounds when it counts. He makes a three when it counts. He finds people. He does all those things that makes everybody else better."

NO. 8 :: MEHMET OKUR, C-F, DETROIT PISTONS

Stats: 60 GP, 6.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, .360 3P%, 17.1 mpg Last week: 4 GP, 11.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5-10 3P's, 19-33 FG's, 21.3 mpg Notes: Emerging as one of the league's most versatile young big men. Can do everything from shoot the three to block shots ... Pistons are 12-4 when Okur scores in double-figures ... Had 18 points (on 7-for-9 shooting) and 6 rebounds in impressive March 20 win over red-hot Sixers ... “Mehmet is getting better and better as he adjusts to this league,” Coach Rick Carlisle said. "He's been used to the trapezoidal lane in Europe, but he's getting his low-post game together over here and he complements it with a nice outside touch.”

NO. 9 :: SMUSH PARKER, G, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Stats: 56 GP, 6.4 ppg, 2.4 apg, .817 FT%, .330 3P%, 16.5 mpg Last week: 4 GP, 9.3 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.25 spg, 4-12 3P's, 22.8 mpg Notes: Play has been erratic, but Parker has shown himself to be a very intriguing talent this season ... Had 15 points and 7 assists in March 23 win over Nets ... "As a point guard, he has to be up and the team will play off his confidence," Cavs coach Keith Smart recently told the Plain Dealer. "If they see he's shaken, the team's going to struggle." ... Parker isn't signed for next season, so the upcoming stretch run will be vital for his NBA future.

NO. 10 :: J.R. BREMER, G, BOSTON CELTICS

Stats: 53 GP, 8.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, .356 3P%, 23.1 mpg Last week: 5 GP, 9.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.0 apg, 33.6 mpg Notes: Despite arrival of Bimbo Coles, Bremer is still the Celtics' starting point guard ... Shooting has been off lately, though. Over Boston's recent four-game road trip, Bremer went 15-for-51 from the field, including 9-for-32 from three-point range ... Had 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in March 21 loss to Lakers ... Celtics have dropped five straight overall.

Honorable Mention: Rasual Butler, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Reggie Evans, Drew Gooden

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