got milk? Rookie Power Rankings |
NO. 1 :: CARON BUTLER, F, MIAMI HEAT |
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nba.com%2Fmedia%2Fplayerfile%2Fcaron_butler.jpg)
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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."
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NO. 2 :: YAO MING, C, HOUSTON ROCKETS |
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nba.com%2Fmedia%2Fplayerfile%2Fyao_ming.jpg)
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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.
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NO. 3 :: GORDAN GIRICEK, G, ORLANDO MAGIC |
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nba.com%2Fmedia%2Fplayerfile%2Fgordan_giricek.jpg)
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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.
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NO. 4 :: CARLOS BOOZER, F, CLEVELAND
CAVALIERS |
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nba.com%2Fmedia%2Fplayerfile%2Fcarlos_boozer.jpg)
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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."
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NO. 5 :: NENE HILARIO, F, DENVER NUGGETS |
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nba.com%2Fmedia%2Fplayerfile%2Fnene_hilario.jpg)
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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.
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NO. 6 :: AMARE STOUDEMIRE, PF, PHOENIX SUNS |
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nba.com%2Fmedia%2Fplayerfile%2Famare_stoudemire.jpg)
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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."
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NO. 7 :: EMANUEL GINOBILI, G, SAN ANTONIO
SPURS |
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nba.com%2Fmedia%2Fplayerfile%2Femanuel_ginobili.jpg)
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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."
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NO. 8 :: MEHMET OKUR, C-F, DETROIT PISTONS |
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nba.com%2Fmedia%2Fplayerfile%2Fmehmet_okur.jpg)
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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.”
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NO. 9 :: SMUSH PARKER, G, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS |
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nba.com%2Fmedia%2Fplayerfile%2Fsmush_parker.jpg)
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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.
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NO. 10 :: J.R. BREMER, G, BOSTON CELTICS |
![](https://img1.daumcdn.net/relay/cafe/original/?fname=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nba.com%2Fmedia%2Fplayerfile%2Fjr_bremer.jpg)
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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.
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