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hawksdogsbraves

12-05-2014, 09:25 PM

Although the 2013 draft class was not pegged as special by many basketball experts, we have seen players from this group look special from month to month. It just hasn't always been the same guys each month.

Still, a dozen or so look like impact players in their second NBA season, ranging from solid rotation players to potential All-Stars. The man who leads them all after a month of games is the same guy who exploded onto the scene late last season.

Here's the current top 10:

1. Gorgui Dieng, Timberwolves
After a terrific run at the end of his rookie season, Dieng is showing his significant talent again with Nikola Pekovic out with a wrist injury. He is finishing more than 65 percent of his rim shots and is one of the better passing centers in the game right now. That is a unique combination for a second-year player (even though he's almost 25 years old). And although he isn't shooting well from the perimeter now, he looks like he could become a good shooter, too.

In addition, Dieng is one of the top offensive rebounding centers in the league thanks to his strong hands and long arms -- physical talents that also make him a decent shot-blocker (an area of his game that should improve even more over time). Total it all up and Dieng can be a strong starting center with the potential to be an upper-tier center one day.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Antetokounmpo dripped with talent last season, but was mostly lost on the court except for when he made plays out of pure athleticism. This season he has been far better at reading the game, reacting to his defender's actions and sometimes even dictating those actions before making a counter move.

It's clear he is more focused on scoring this season, rather than being a ball-mover. That's not necessarily a bad thing for his development (think about how Kevin Durant shot everything he could as a rookie). It's better for Antetokounmpo to learn from experience and failure than to play conservatively and not see how good he could be.

Antetokounmpo is also stronger with the ball now and, because the game has slowed down for him, finishing far better despite being more aggressive (which often translates to more shots but lower field goal percentages). He is not a great defender yet, but it's still a fair expectation that he will become one.

3. Shabazz Muhammad, Timberwolves
After transforming his body into a smaller version of a typical power forward, Muhammad is shaping up to be a "power guard." He is simply too strong for many wings to deal with, and his leaner frame still allows him to make very athletic plays at the rim. He is the top small forward in the NBA in offensive rebound rate thanks to his strength and eagerness to attack the glass.

Muhammad has a little lefty hook that he uses effectively and his midrange jump shot is better, as well. His overall ballhandling, passing and defense are still a work in progress, but the Wolves can envision their future with Muhammad playing an important role as a sixth-man type of scorer.

4. Dennis Schroder, Hawks
Schroder is another fast player who has learned to slow down, reading rather than just reacting. He is shooting and scoring much better this season, in large part because he is both attacking more effectively off the dribble and accounting for the help defense better.

He is also one of the top point guards in the league at finishing drives at the rim -- he currently leads the league in points per 48 minutes on drives -- using his excellent change-of-speed dribbles to get past his man, and great length and hand strength to make the shot. Being in better control overall has helped him lower his turnovers, too, so he is now a reliable backup point guard with a bright future.

5. Rudy Gobert, Jazz
From summer league to the World Cup to today, Gobert has made noticeable improvement as a player. Basketball experts often say big men develop late and, with some exceptions, they are right. Gobert never showed this kind of talent earlier simply because he lacked the strength required to control his incredibly long body while also dealing with stronger men. While he still has to get much stronger and more coordinated, the evidence is in: He is a force in the paint as both a rebounder and shot-blocker.

The great thing about him is his willingness to mix it up inside despite his relative lack of strength. This bodes well for his future because he is not going to get weaker over time. He has to be accounted for inside when he's in the game.

6. Kelly Olynyk, Celtics
Shooting cures almost every ill in basketball, as Olynyk is proving. His lack of speed and length is problematic for a big man in the NBA, but he is just such a good shooter that he impacts the game more often than not. He's been the best catch-and-shoot center in the game, excellent from midrange and the 3-point line -- a fact that greatly helps Rajon Rondo and the Celtics spread the floor offensively.

Of course, his physical limitations hurt his ability to defend at the rim and rebound, so he may not be a starting center for the bulk of his career. But he will have a place in the NBA for a decade thanks to his shooting talent.

7. Victor Oladipo, Magic
Oladipo hasn't played great basketball since returning from a facial fracture. While his perimeter shot is slightly better, he has been about the same player as last season: He is still decent in transition, he is not good in ball-screen action and he ranks as one of the worst setup guys among all NBA guards who see a lot of minutes at the 1.

Thus it is fair to say he still isn't a point guard. What he is though -- a skilled and athletic guard who competes hard, defends very well and has some scoring talent -- has value. Perhaps he will ultimately be paired in the backcourt with Elfrid Payton, a true PG, allowing him to do what he does best: score.

8. Michael Carter-Williams, 76ers
MCW's return from injury hasn't gone well, either, as his stats are down in basically every kind of category from last season. His rebounding efforts, though, show his tenacity, and he is one of the elite rebounding guards in the game.

It's important to remember when evaluating any Sixer that their team is playing like a minor league club. That is, the players are encouraged (or allowed) to work on their weaknesses during games, rather than try to hide them in order to win a game. This will end up being a great help to the development of Carter-Williams, who is still far from being a decent long-range shooter or reliable ball handler.

9. Anthony Bennett, Timberwolves
Like Muhammad, Bennett changed his body and now sports a terrific frame for an NBA power forward. He can now make athletic plays and owns many of the Wolves' dunking highlights from this season. His great hands also help him on the defensive glass, though he isn't involved enough in offensive rebounding because he likes to float on the perimeter. He's still too quick to shoot jumpers, but at least he's making more shots from all parts of the court and not just looking for 3s.

He still shows significant upside as a power player and now needs to value making more of his living in the paint with occasional forays to the perimeter. If that happens, Minnesota has its power forward of the future and a perfect complement to its future center (Dieng) and small forward (Andrew Wiggins).

10. Otto Porter, Wizards
Porter showed this summer that he was going to be a far better player this season than he was last season and has become a solid rotation player on a good team. He is not needed for much else besides shooting and defense, but he is fulfilling that role well.

Although his upside is still murky to project since the Wizards have plenty of veterans to carry the heavy workload, his shooting is a small part of their early success.

Next up
Trey Burke, Jazz
Players to watch
Jerome Jordan, Nets; Mason Plumlee, Nets; Isaiah Canaan, Rockets