ESPN Insider - The Official Thread

[QUOTE=Faptastrophe][SIZE="3"][B][URL="http://i.minus.com/i6BqAbsObc2CT.png"]Rookie Watch: Early top 10[/URL][/B][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/images/icons/icon12.gif[/IMG][/QUOTE]
Repped :cheers:

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PERDiem-121109/where-did-all-offense-go[/url]

:cheers:

[QUOTE=oolalaa][url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PERDiem-121109/where-did-all-offense-go[/url]

:cheers:[/QUOTE]
Bump. Can someone post this?

[QUOTE=Faptastrophe]I have access to [URL="http://espn.go.com/nba/"]ESPN Insider[/URL] so if you would like to know anything, i will copy and paste/screencap it to your needs.

Would you be interested in this?



'Ford/Hollinger future rankings' as an example:

[URL="http://i.minus.com/iWmNRxZg61YfU.png"]26-30[/URL]

[URL="http://i.minus.com/ibpMiDbeX2esHU.png"]21-25[/URL]

[URL="http://i.minus.com/ib0IREGH9kPpBa.png"]16-20[/URL]

[URL="http://i.minus.com/iUn25p6Vha6KS.png"]11-15[/URL]

[URL="http://i.minus.com/ivlxZx2CGjKZb.png"]6-10[/URL]

[URL="http://i.minus.com/ibpmH5Ro8FQDbG.png"]1-5[/URL][/QUOTE]

Hey Fan, can you show images of the betting % for the public for each NBA game?

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8610192/nba-utah-jazz-paul-millsap-al-jefferson-players-most-likely-traded[/url]

will repped

Not an NBA story but would appreciate if posted:

[URL="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/law_keith/id/8629650/toronto-blue-jays-make-major-improvement-sending-much-miami-marlins-mlb"]http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/law_keith/id/8629650/toronto-blue-jays-make-major-improvement-sending-much-miami-marlins-mlb[/URL]

(about today's huge MLB trade)

[QUOTE=hangintheair][url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8610192/nba-utah-jazz-paul-millsap-al-jefferson-players-most-likely-traded[/url]

will repped[/QUOTE]

Here ya go

[QUOTE]As the NBA season gets under way, there are already names we know will come up when the February trade deadline approaches. At that point, we will start seeing trade rumors fill our Twitter timelines and RSS feeds.

When dealing with impending free agents, more and more teams are proactively shopping players early rather than running the risk of losing them to free agency.

Here's a look at some players who are priced to move:

Al Jefferson | C | 2013 UFA | 2012-13 salary: $15 million
Paul Millsap | PF | 2013 UFA | 2012-13 salary: $8.6 million


Millsap
While the Utah Jazz aren't projected to be a taxpayer, as a small market team it has to exercise extreme caution and be more proactive in shaping its future. With two promising big men in Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, it would not be prudent to lock into long-term, lucrative deals with players who play the same position, particularly with more than $35 million in projected cap space that could be used to address more glaring needs in the backcourt.

Millsap is the more versatile of the two; Utah's best producing plus-minus lineups feature Millsap at small forward. He is the face of the Jazz, a blue-collar worker who sets the tone in the locker room and has improved his skill level steadily since entering the league in 2006. High motor and good lateral mobility make him a good defender in the pick-and-roll. On the flip side, he is undersized as a power forward and a below-average defensive rebounder. Although a much-improved perimeter shooter, his range is still inconsistent at the 3-point line.


Jefferson
Jefferson is a bruising post presence with an array of exaggerated shot fakes and unorthodox shot release points around the rim, good footwork and touch. He is an outstanding defensive rebounder and decent shot-blocker, but that's where the praise ends for him on the defensive end. He is often slow on rotations and lacks awareness on the weak side. It also bears mentioning that although Jefferson has been the franchise player on his team for much of his eight-year career, he has been to the playoffs just twice. For a guy looking to get paid as a franchise player, winning has to factor into the price tag.

Both players are looking to be paid handsomely, particularly Millsap, who can legitimately claim to be one of the few players who have been underpaid on two contracts. If Utah had to choose one to keep, it would probably be Millsap for his ability to slide to small forward and the culture-setting he brings, but that's what makes him a more attractive trade piece in terms of getting value back. If they don't move one of the two, there's a huge chance they won't be able to retain them in free agency, because there will be suitors.

Josh Smith | PF | 2013 UFA | 2012-13 salary: $13.2 million


Smith
Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry's aggressive overhaul of Atlanta's roster has set the Hawks up with extreme cap flexibility moving forward. With only Al Horford, Lou Williams and John Jenkins with guaranteed salaries on the books, Ferry can potentially clear almost $40 million of cap space for summer 2013, giving him the liberty to craft his roster in any style he wants.

In a league progressively moving toward having power forwards play center and small forwards play power forward, Smith is an ideal fit next to Horford. He has been a tremendous rebounder, particularly on the defensive end, and is annually among the league leaders in blocks and steals. Smith is an excellent finisher with his elite length and above-the-rim athleticism.

Those perks come with questionable shot selection, though, as he has become the king of the most inefficient shot in basketball, the long (17-plus feet) 2-pointer. In 2009-10, he took 8 FGA/game at the rim versus 3.2 from long 2-point range; by 2011-12, that ratio inverted to 5.5 FGA/game at the rim versus 6.5 from long 2-point range -- one of the highest number of such attempts in the league. ESPN's Joe Kaiser detailed just how inefficient Smith has become.

The reward in moving Smith is that Atlanta can potentially net some useful assets in the form of young players and draft picks to aid in the rebuilding effort while simultaneously avoiding the long-term commitment Smith will undoubtedly seek. The risk is that the Hawks never replace his talent. The question is, what's that talent worth? Looking at a comparable talent from last summer, Andrei Kirilenko signed a two-year, $20 million deal after being absent from the NBA for a year. Ideally, Ferry can lock Smith into a flat deal (e.g., $40 million over three years with a fourth-year player option), but due diligence dictates exploring his trade value.

Timofey Mozgov | C | 2013 RFA | 2012-13 salary: $3.1 million


Mozgov
Due to the recent extension of Ty Lawson ($48 million over four years), Denver will be pushing right up against the tax threshold in 2013-14. With so little breathing room, it is almost certain that Masai Ujiri and the Nuggets will not be able to afford the services of Mozgov. They already have two rotation-caliber centers under contract in JaVale McGee and Kosta Koufos and won't be able to offer an upgrade in playing time or pay for Mozgov.

Mozgov is a true 7-footer who changes ends well, can knock down the 15-footer with enough consistency to space the court and keep the defense honest and sets solid screens, both in the pick-and-roll and off the ball. He is an active offensive rebounder, with a big body that demands box-out attention when shots go up. Defensively, he is a good rim protector and post defender and has improved on the defensive glass since coming to Denver. He has bad footwork and bad hands, though, which can limit his effectiveness around the rim.

Robin Lopez, a decent comparable from last summer, signed a deal for $15 million over three years, and some feel that might have been a discount. Mozgov will probably command at least $6 million a year in the open market, so it would serve Ujiri well to proactively seek a trade partner.

Tony Allen | SG | 2013 UFA | 2012-13 salary: $3.3 million


Allen
Being a taxpayer in today's NBA is no longer a case of just paying a hefty check -- which in and of itself is no laughing matter for small-market Memphis -- and going about your business. The severe punitive measures in the collective bargaining agreement restrict taxpayers' ability to improve the team: a smaller midlevel exception (both in years and salary), loss of the biannual exception, a tighter window for salary-matching in trades and, perhaps most devastatingly of all starting in 2013-14, the inability to add talent via sign-and-trade. The Grizzlies are projected to be taxpayers, this season and next, and will probably flirt with the tax in 2014-15, so they are staring at an extremely untenable cap situation.

Since coming to Memphis, Allen has really elevated himself into the national consciousness as an elite perimeter defensive player. The Grizzlies gave up more than five extra points per 100 possessions on the defensive end without him on the floor. He routinely guards the best perimeter player and holds him to below average production. According to 82games.com, opposing shooting guards posted a 14.1 PER and opponent small forwards 11.4.

Offensively, however, if it's not a dunk or a layup, Allen is abysmal. His role is to provide energy, toughness, and defense and little else outside of that.

Still, he has created a brand name for himself, proved by his back-to-back appearances on the All-Defensive team, and he will be looking to capitalize on that with a larger salary. Allen's agent will likely point to players like Jared Dudley, Danny Green and Gerald Green, who all signed for $3.5-4.25M per year deals, and state that none of them bring the accolades Allen brings to the table. Chris Wallace will have to decide to move Allen or risk letting him walk for nothing.

Zach Randolph | PF/C | 2015 UFA | 2012-13 salary: $16.5 million, 2013-14 salary: $17.8 million, 2014-15 salary: $16.5 million


Randolph
If you look at the Grizzlies roster, you can see they have:

[QUOTE=Qwyjibo]Not an NBA story but would appreciate if posted:

[URL="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/law_keith/id/8629650/toronto-blue-jays-make-major-improvement-sending-much-miami-marlins-mlb"]http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/law_keith/id/8629650/toronto-blue-jays-make-major-improvement-sending-much-miami-marlins-mlb[/URL]

(about today's huge MLB trade)[/QUOTE]

Heh just read this one

[QUOTE]The Blue Jays-Marlins trade, pending physicals, is a five-for-seven swap that sees the Jays getting Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio and John Buck in exchange for prospects Jake Marisnick, Justin Nicolino and Anthony DeSclafani and big leaguers Henderson Alvarez, Jeff Mathis, Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria. It's a huge deal in numbers and in its potential to impact the standings of two divisions in 2013, with the Jays poised to be the most relevant they've been in 20 years while the Marlins live down to the reputation the franchise acquired in 1997-98 and has deserved ever since.

The Blue Jays get a lot of impact talent in this deal, making them contenders (at least for the moment) in 2013 without substantially damaging their chances to contend in future years. Johnson is an ace when healthy, which he seldom is; he finished the year looking strong, back to 93-97 with a plus curveball and above-average slider again, and if he looks like that all year he could be worth 5 wins above replacement to a Jays team that hasn't had that guy since it traded Roy Halladay.

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Jose Reyes is a major upgrade for the Jays.
Johnson tops the rotation ahead of Brandon Morrow, behind whom the Jays will slot Buehrle, a reliable innings-eater who reached 200 innings for the 12th straight season, but whose below-average fastball isn't an ideal fit for Toronto's homer-friendly home park. Even if he dips to just below league-average, the Jays desperately need the innings he'll provide, given the elbow plague that infected their rotation in 2012. If Johnson is healthy and Ricky Romero gets back to his old form, this will be one of the league's best rotations in 2013, although the probability of both of those things happening in one calendar year is not that high.

Reyes becomes the Jays' everyday shortstop, the best one they've had since Tony Fernandez left after the 1999 season. His 2011 walk year was built on a batting average he wasn't likely to see again, but the remainder of his skill set -- average defense at short, above-average running, good plate coverage, modest pop -- remains intact, and at shortstop that's going to be worth 4 to 6 wins over replacement, and a quick upgrade of about 3 over what the Jays got out of shortstop this past season.

They'll also get value from having Bonifacio as a supersub, a plus runner who can play six spots on the diamond, five of them well enough to handle on a part-time basis. Buck is a $6 million backup catcher, adding to Toronto's pile of catching while the Marlins get to dump a contract that was dumb the day that they gave it to him and looks just as bad now. He might be headed on to a third team, or could make it easier for the Jays to deal J.P. Arencibia and make room for catcher-of-the-future Travis d'Arnaud.

The lone negative for Jays fans is that the team has acquired a substantial amount of money owed, with Buehrle and Reyes both under contract beyond this year and possibly limiting the team's ability to make further moves this offseason or next. Buehrle is the biggest risk of the three major names coming back to fail to produce up to the level of his salary, although he happens to give the club the healthy/durable starter it desperately needed and might have had to overpay to get in free agency.

I'd offer my condolences to the Marlins' fans if only I could find them. Of all the players Miami got in return, only two stand out as guys the Blue Jays might someday miss, outfielder Marisnick and left-hander Nicolino.

Marisnick was the highest-rated Jays prospect coming into the 2012 season and had a solid first half in high Class A before struggling with his approach after a midseason promotion to Double-A. The tools are still there -- above-average runner, above-average arm, plenty of range for center, more raw power than in-game -- but that approach is becoming a greater concern as he gets older and it doesn't improve, especially when he's beatable both on breaking stuff and on hard stuff up or in. I also worry about the power not playing in games because he has virtually no load, so he doesn't get extended well enough before making contact, although that's something that could be tweaked. He's a strong prospect, but not as exciting as he looked 10 months ago.

[+] Enlarge

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Escobar's antics have now gotten him run out of Atlanta and Toronto.
Nicolino's stat line is a little misleading, as he's not a power pitcher but a finesse left-hander with an average fastball that touches 93 mph and a plus changeup. He can flat-out pitch, with poise and approach that belie his age, and an easy, repeatable delivery. He may not miss as many bats as he moves up the ladder and doesn't offer any projection, but lefties with feel and a good change can pitch toward the middle of a rotation for a long time.

Henderson Alvarez had a plus fastball and plus changeup when he was coming up in the Jays' system, but the fastball has backed off a little and he has been unable to keep his changeup down in the zone, while he has never developed an average breaking ball, all of which has dropped his outlook from potential No. 2 starter to probable reliever. The Marlins can and should give Alvarez another year or so in the rotation to see if any of those issues resolves with experience or a new coaching staff, but as it stands now he doesn't miss enough bats to be a major league starter.

Anthony DeSclafani is definitely a reliever, where he'll touch 95 but needs to get more consistent tilt on his slider; he's a strike-thrower who did get to refine his off-speed stuff somewhat this year as a starter in low-A.

Jeff Mathis has a career .256 OBP in more than1,500 plate appearances and is probably best not discussed any further.

Yunel Escobar is probably better known for his bad makeup than he is for his on-field skills and has now run himself out of two cities; he doesn't walk or hit for power and his only offensive production in Toronto came at home in the first half of 2011, but he makes enough contact and adds value with his glove to make him a 2-win player.

Adeiny Hechavarria is a 70 defender at shortstop (on the 20-80 scouting scale) both in glove and arm, and is never going to hit -- but replacement level at short right now is low enough that he could be a 2-win player, although one of these two guys has to move off short. Both were born in Cuba and may, in theory, appeal to Cuban-American Marlins fans who aren't thoroughly disgusted by the way the team's owners are running the franchise back into the subterranean hole out of which they originally crawled.

Those limicolous owners are the greatest joke of all in this deal, rooking Florida taxpayers for a publicly funded stadium, only to make one half-hearted attempt to fill it with a contending team, then surrendering after the season to return to their old business model, playing a skeleton-crew lineup while pocketing all of their revenue-sharing money. This isn't a bad baseball deal for Miami; it's not a baseball deal at all -- it's a boondoggle, perpetrated by owners who have pulled one stunt like this after another, with the implicit approval of the commissioner's office. It's time for baseball to rid itself of Jeff Loria and David Samson by any means possible. Miami, the state of Florida, and the sport in general will be better off without them.[/QUOTE]

[url]http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=8657315[/url]

could one of you guys post this david thorpe insider article?

thanks

will rep

[QUOTE=chips93][url]http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=8657315[/url]

could one of you guys post this david thorpe insider article?

thanks

will rep[/QUOTE]
You linked the mobile site. Grr.

In general, about 5-10 percent of NBA players would play productively for any coach, in any system. Another 5-10 percent will barely make an impact no matter where they are.

So that fat middle, maybe 80 percent of the league, is deeply impacted by variables such as coaching, system, teammates, etc. And the range of what those players can become is wide, as players can potentially move from "solid" to "spectacular" when everything clicks. And when these players finally fulfill their potential, spectacular can eventually mean perennial All-Star status.

Here are five guys who are proving this point this season by finally living up to the huge expectations heaped upon them when they first entered the league.

O.J. Mayo | 25 years old | SG | Dallas Mavericks Growing up, Mayo was the best player in the country for his age group. Think about that. To be widely considered the top player in America for a particular age is an incredible accomplishment. When that player also has the requisite size for the position he plays, it typically translates into an NBA career (as opposed to a 13-year-old who's simply tall for his age and stops growing).

Mayo

Mayo has been good in the NBA, and that's about it. Despite his stellar pedigree, he has proved to be willing to take fewer shots, run some point guard and become a grind-it-out kind of guy, and thus never elevated his game beyond "very solid" in Memphis.

However, Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has a long history of helping players reach their potential. In fact, that's a big reason why owner Mark Cuban hired Carlisle to coach his team. One thing Carlisle has done to help Mayo is let him have a full green light to shoot, especially early in possessions. Mayo has rewarded Carlisle's faith with a blistering start to the season, shooting a career-high 59 percent from 3-point range.

This is a direct reflection of his confidence to shoot the ball whenever he feels he can make the shot. Not second guessing what a good shot is helps a shooter immensely, and Mayo is taking more shots than he has since his rookie season in 2008-09. We shouldn't expect him to finish with a rate better than 50 percent from 3-point range, but he should end up in the mid-40 percent range while scoring more than 20 points a game (helped in no small part to his career-best four made free throws a game). That will put him among the top 8-10 shooting guards in the game.

Brook Lopez | 24 years old | C | Brooklyn Nets Over the years, I have placed a low Division I college player on the court with NBA players and seen that young college kid shine like never before. Then, with players his own age next to him, he goes back to looking like what he really is -- a young player who makes mistake after mistake. In a sense, we're seeing this now with Lopez.

Lopez

Always gifted as a scorer, but not always locked in the way his team would hope he would be game after game, Lopez is now playing next to real pros. Men. Veterans who have huge ambition, and expect to play for things like titles and rings for their new franchise.

The Nets don't need Lopez to accomplish anything special, and he is responding. He's getting far more shots inside than he did two seasons ago thanks to smarter teammates who are better passers and who know how to give him room to operate inside. He's getting more shots earlier in possessions instead of as the shot clock is expiring. So his looks are cleaner, and he is finishing them better than he ever has. This has inspired him on the defensive end, evidenced in part by his career-best 2.8 blocks per game, a full block more than his previous career high.

Nicolas Batum | 23 years old | SF | Portland Trail Blazers It's not my place to recommend holiday gift ideas to ballplayers, but there can be little doubt that Batum will be spending some serious time looking for the perfect present for his new coach, Terry Stotts.

Batum

Why? How about the fact Batum leads the NBA in 3-pointers made while shooting a career-high 7.6 per game, a full three more attempts per contest than his previous high set last season. And like Mayo, he's also getting them earlier in possessions due in part to the arrival of rookie point guard Damian Lillard. Indeed, 78 percent of Batum's looks are coming in the first 15 seconds of the shot clock. They are better looks, and Stotts wants him to fire away.

When a coach says "shoot," and a player gets open a lot, his confidence soars. Good results only deepen those feelings. Batum is basically Portland's best player thus far, and as Lillard matures, that combination next to LaMarcus Aldridge gives the Blazers a potential homegrown "Big 3" that can be very potent on both ends of the court, as Batum has the chance to be a special defensive player, too.

J.R. Smith | 27 years old | SG | New York Knicks Rebounds come in different categories. "In area, no contest"-type rebounds look good on the stat line, but they have no value in terms of helping to see how one player can help a team more than another. "In area-contested" rebounds, however, are tougher to come by, and when guards can come up with them it greatly helps out a team.

Smith

Naturally, "out-of-area" rebounds are in a class by themselves, as are "out-of-area-contested" rebounds, which is how the elite rebounders make their living.

But why are we mentioning rebounds with a previously shoot-happy guard such as J.R. Smith? Simply because he's finally focusing his immense talent and doing grunt work like he never has before. He has been the best defensive-rebounding shooting guard this season not named Andre Iguodala. And the only reason why Smith is second to Iguodala is because Iguodala defends small and power forwards far more often than Smith does, which means he's closer to the rim more often and thus is closer to more rebounding opportunities.

Smith has more or less stopped thinking about racing down the floor for an electrifying dunk after an opponent shoots the ball and instead flows nicely to smart rebounding zones, where he can pounce on the ball should it land nearby. This focus surely starts with his defense, and he might be New York's most effective perimeter defender -- heady stuff for a top-five defense. He has always been an amazing shooter and athlete, but the complete player he has become is a big reason why the Knicks are off to such a great start.

DeAndre Jordan | 24 years old | C | Los Angeles Clippers There is a simple reason why most athletes develop their craft -- whatever it is they are currently doing is just not good enough. Michael Jordan added an incredibly reliable jump shot because he had to in order to counter the kinds of defenses he faced nightly. Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant did the same, adding low-post games, just as Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook improved their outside shots.

Jordan

For DeAndre Jordan, who shares with Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee the title for "most athletic 7-footer in the NBA," developing a strong low-post game wasn't all that necessary to be an NBA player. Size alone was enough to do pedestrian work. But it is necessary to help anchor a contending team, and Jordan has answered the challenge this season.

He moves robotically down in the post, but he's pretty steady, too, looking to bang his man down for an easy jump hook that he can make with either hand. The Clippers don't need it much, at least not yet, but they are feeding their big man a few times per game and he is delivering at a solid rate, more than he has in previous seasons.

Incredibly, he is getting fewer dunks and yet has improved his shooting percentages thanks to making every dunk he has attempted this season (he made 73 percent last season). As a legitimate low-post threat, he is now an integral part of the Clippers' half-court sets. So when combined with his efforts in transition and on the glass, he is an active part of their entire offense for the first time in his career.

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8682663/nba-emeka-okafor-dominique-wilkins-league-least-productive-scorers-all-time[/url]

Could anyone post this Neil Paine ESPN insider article? Thank you and will rep.

david thorpe's articles on rookies

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/Rookies-121207/nba-rookie-watch-evaluating-talent[/url]

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/Rookies-121123/nba-rookie-watch-early-disappointments[/url]

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/Rookies-121129/nba-rookie-watch-best-first-month[/url]

will rep

Rookie Watch: Let's be real
Why Harrison Barnes, Dion Waiters haven't been as good as they may seem

Harrison Barnes and Dion Waiters fit the old star mold, but the advanced stats tell a different story.
Some readers have questioned why Harrison Barnes and Dion Waiters aren't higher in my rankings. So let me take this time to explain how I evaluate the rookie class and talent overall.

In the past, we would look at raw numbers and proclaim with some confidence that a particular player was playing effectively. If the player was putting up double-digit points and his team was not successful, then the blame was cast on his lower-scoring teammates, bad defense, poor rebounding, turnovers, etc.

But thanks to John Hollinger, Dean Oliver, Roland Beech and the huge assortment of advanced metrics they and others have made available online, we now have little excuse when it comes to evaluating a player's contributions on the court. For instance, we shouldn't rush to call Waiters and Barnes successes simply because they are high-scoring dynamic players.


We're keeping track of every NBA rook. Here are the latest Top 50 rankings.

Are these two rookies talented? Do they have a lot of upside? Are they capable of playing great for a game here and there? Yes, absolutely. But, while it's understandable to get excited about those things, it's not accurate to think that a few good games surrounded by a lot of poor ones is superior to playing more efficiently and consistently in fewer minutes. Just because a player scores more points does not mean he is playing well.

I've used Adam Morrison as an example before, but his story bears repeating. He exploded out of the blocks as a rookie, averaging over 15 points per game in November on 37.5 percent shooting from 3. This sounds promising, considering how well he had played in college -- he was no project. He then earned a spot in the Rookie Challenge at the All-Star break and started almost a third of his 77 games played, finishing the season with an impressive 11 points per game average while shooting better than 33 percent from 3.

But look closer and you'll find his advanced stats were scary bad, as was his overall field goal percentage (37.6 percent). So while fans were excited and the general consensus was that he was doing exactly what was expected of him, deeper analysis showed red flags everywhere. The truth was he was awful as a rookie, despite his solid raw stats. Then he got hurt, before basically losing his confidence that he could help an NBA team win games. And now he is out of the league and considered one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history.

Make no mistake, Barnes and Waiters are playing far better than how Morrison did in his rookie season, but their seasons thus far are similar. They have elite physical skills, so their margin for error is much greater than Morrison's was, but if they don't learn how to play with their minds, they won't be important pieces of solid winning teams.

Waiters' problems start with -- you guessed it -- shot selection. A true shooting percentage south of 47, which ranks very low on any scale you measure it with, drives down his player efficiency rating to 12.59. Too many step-back jumpers, too many contested long 2s with 10 seconds on the shot clock, and too many over-penetrations into the teeth of the defense, which forces difficult shots -- a big reason why he's making just over 40 percent of his shots at the rim. I worry about the latter problem the least, because players like Waiters often figure out how to finish once they become better at reading defenses. But the shot selection stuff can linger for years; that's a problem Waiters must address now.

Barnes has an issue with assertiveness, though in his defense, playing alongside quick triggers like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson does not give him ample opportunities to shine. His team is not strong at moving the ball. The Warriors like to isolate players (Barnes included sometimes) more than a lot of teams, which does not give Barnes the green light to attack his defender unless he's the one in isolation. Still, the bottom line for Barnes is that he looks special at times during games, yet ranks nowhere near the top 10 rookies in PER (11.33) and other metrics.

In many respects, analyzing a player requires the understanding of a basic principle -- if one player shoots, then no other player can shoot on that possession. So every time a player takes a poor shot, his team is less likely to score than when any player takes a good shot (no player makes a respectable percentage of bad shots). A good shot is defined as one that a player has a good chance of making within the constraints of time, score and rebounding/defensive balance.

It sounds simple, but if the goal is to help your team win -- and yes, that is the ultimate goal evaluators have to keep in mind -- then players who take bad shots often can be considered less valuable than other players who may be producing less in terms of raw numbers. Because the numbers those other players are producing are more conducive to winning plays.

CON''T

When analyzing a player, we also have to use care when using plus-minus, especially this early in the season (the same could be said about adjusted plus-minus, too). One player might have a far more impressive plus-minus than another, but only because one replacement player is much worse than the other.

So a trick evaluators use is to imagine how players would do if they were to simply switch teams. How would Hornets rookie Brian Roberts do in Cleveland? Would he help the Cavs win more? And would Waiters do more in New Orleans than Roberts? This is not based on projections, but strictly a subjective look at how each one is playing at this time.

No one would argue that Roberts will be better than Waiters once the latter matures -- which is likely but not assured. But right now, it's hard to argue that the already mature and crafty Roberts would not help Cleveland more today, while the Hornets would suffer with Waiters.(Thinking about Waiters and Austin Rivers playing together is a painful exercise.)

Highlights and exciting players are also obstacles for fans. Remember when everyone just knew that Kobe Bryant was the king of clutch? A deeper study of the data proved otherwise, for both him and the Lakers.

Similarly, a player who can grab 10 rebounds, all below the rim, in 30 minutes a game is still more valuable than the guy who flies all over the place for his seven rebounds in 36 minutes. It may not look as pretty, but the first player is obviously having a greater impact.

Waiters does indeed have some Dwyane Wade in him and a little Eric Gordon, too. And that screams DYNAMIC! Meanwhile, Barnes looks like the elite prep player he was -- he's longer, taller, smoother and more skilled and athletic than most small forwards we'll ever see. Those aspects of their games will sell tickets, sure, but they only matter to talent evaluators when they are used to administer efficient and productive punishments on their opponents.

Jarvis Hayes, a former lottery pick in 2003, was a big and strong wing player from an athletic college conference who stormed out of the gates for the Wizards as a rookie. He averaged better than 11 ppg his first two months and earned a spot next to the likes of LeBron, Melo, Bosh and Wade in the rookie-soph game. But Hayes was never even an average NBA player during his career because of poor shooting percentages and a lack of understanding of how to best utilize his strengths.

There is a stark difference between perception and reality, which objective stats show us more clearly. I believe that guys like Waiters and Barnes are fully capable of becoming long-term starters, and possibly stars -- something I have always projected for Barnes -- but it is not yet written in stone.

Until then, they will be highly marketed rookies, for sure, but only average in terms of production. Meanwhile, there will be other rookies (and veterans) helping their teams play better, only with less attention.


This week's rookie observations

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bobcats -- Dec. 6: There is a lot to love about MKG's consistent efforts every night. But there is one glaring consistency that he needs to improve over time to begin to reach his vast potential: his inability to get to the free throw line. Since Thanksgiving, he has played more than 175 minutes and has shot just four free throws.

More shot fakes, better attacking angles and simply just valuing the act of getting fouled will help him a great deal. This is not something to worry about, as rookies have such a steep learning curve, but it is something to keep an eye on.


Sullinger
Jared Sullinger, Celtics -- Dec. 6: The Celtics are not playing as well as they hoped to be, but as a veteran group, there is little sense of panic. For a youngster like Sullinger, it is important to develop some trust from his coach, a place where he can be counted on to produce most nights. Sullinger has quietly done that by dominating the defensive boards during his minutes.

If he can maintain this level on just this one part of the game, he will ensure more minutes for himself because Boston takes great pride in cleaning up missed shots. And more minutes will give him the chance to develop other parts of his game.

Tony Wroten, Grizzlies -- Dec. 6: The Grizzlies are possibly the top story in the West, maybe the whole league. But down the road, they could need a third point guard. Enter Wroten, who was recently sent to the D-League. Playing time is what he needs most right now if he's going to fill in when necessary for the contenders in Tennessee.


Drummond
Andre Drummond, Pistons -- Dec. 5: I can hear the criticism now. All he does is dunk! But it is never an opposing coach who utters that silly phrase, because they know a dunk is the highest percentage shot in basketball. Sure, Drummond has a few nifty moves in his still-in-training-wheels offensive game, as he showed against Golden State with a nice spin to the rim and 1. But his dunks are what make his coaches smile and his opponents sweat, because he is getting them the right way by hanging around the paint with his hands up, ready to catch and explode.

So many young athletes enter the NBA and don't play that way, instead choosing to show off their perimeter skills or finesse game in the paint. For example, DeMarcus Cousins took four shots per game inside (making 64 percent) and three per game from 16 to 23 feet (making 37 percent) as a rookie. Drummond, on the hand, takes almost four shots a game inside and less than a half a shot per game from the perimeter. With his size and agility, he won't need a perimeter game for years.

Will Barton, Trail Blazers -- Dec. 3: It hasn't been a good beginning for Barton, in part because few rooks are prepared for spot duty. But on Monday, Barton made 3 of 5 shots, nailing a corner 3 and racing the floor for two easy buckets. This is significant because it meant he had played solidly, scoring wise, in two consecutive games for the first time this season. (He scored seven points on 3-for-5 shooting on Saturday.)

His quickness and length are intriguing, but a few rookies have gone to Portland and disappeared the past few seasons, so Barton has his work cut out for him. The good news is that he made his first 3 in the first quarter of Monday's contest as his team was getting drilled, and it helped spark them back into the game. Coaches remember that kind of stuff.


Beal
Bradley Beal, Wizards -- Dec. 3: Unlike many rookies, Beal is not having a big problem with shot selection; he is just missing shot after shot. Remember, he did not shoot well for most of the college season, surprising everyone who had pegged him as the next Ray Allen. But he found his shot as the Gators ran to the Elite Eight, and Wizards fans hope that he can pull off something similar this season. Hopefully before March, of course.

Top disappointments

The list of All-Star players who didn't look anything close to an All-Star early in their careers is very long. No one could have projected Dirk Nowitzki's legendary talent when he first plodded up and down the courts in Dallas. Remember how lost Kevin Durant was as a rookie, jacking up shots and forgetting how to rebound after dominating the boards in college? Even great players struggle through the grind of NBA defenses before they figure things out.

With that in mind, let's examine a couple of players who have started out slowly, but could ultimately become solid players or more by the time their season ends.

Bradley Beal, Wizards
Beal leads all rookies in free throw percentage and is shooting a decent percentage from 3 ( .333). But those are about the only good things coming from the No. 3 overall pick thus far.

Measuring him against other rookies, however, can be a tricky thing. Imagine two guys rowing separate boats, both equal in their abilities. One guy is in a fast-moving stream, rowing his boat in the same direction as the current. Meanwhile, the other is rowing in a stream moving in the opposite direction of the rower. Who's the faster rower?

In other words, part of the reason Beal is struggling is because the Wizards, for reasons beyond their control and under their control, have been moving downward since day one this season. And while players such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose are so good that they can elevate a franchise almost on their own, Beal is not at their level.


Nonetheless, Beal is ultimately responsible for his game results, which include him taking four shots a game from 16 to 23 feet and making only 23 percent of them (long 2s are the lowest-percentage shots in the game). Many of these shots are coming off screens, which are difficult shots to make without being balanced on the release; Beal is working hard to get open but is not staying balanced on most of these shots.

His transition game is good, maybe even very good, where he can navigate the court and find open creases. But he's not having that same success in the halfcourt, appearing overwhelmed most of the time as he searches for open looks. The game is just too fast for him right now. It looks as though he thinks there are seven defenders on the court, especially when he's the primary ball handler in ball screen situations. He is not attacking angles properly and is making it easy for defenders to defend him and his teammates.

If John Wall, who is out with a knee injury, were playing next to Beal in the backcourt, things would surely get easier for Beal. It's a great thing to look forward to. Just as the game slows down for Beal, Wall should return, and that combination suggests Beal will have a big second half of the season.


Austin Rivers, Hornets
It's going to sound cold, but the one word to describe Rivers' start is "brick." As in, he's really struggling to make shots. Bad shots, good shots, any shots.

Rivers plays with a ton of confidence, which is typically a good thing, except when it isn't. Such as when the player keeps taking shots expecting them to fall. Unlike Beal, Rivers appears more comfortable moving around with the ball on offense -- he's actually finding some excellent looks. He's just not converting them.

The "short middle" of the court, the area between 3 to 9 feet from the rim, is really the place for guards to make their living. Last season, Tony Parker made 45.7 percent of such shots (in a down year for him), Derrick Rose made 43.7 percent and Chris Paul knocked in 49.7 percent of them. To date, Rivers has made only 12.5 percent -- basically just a few all season -- and that has impacted the rest of his game.

He has to be careful not to overpenetrate (he already gets a quarter of his drives blocked), so converting those short-middle drives is key to having some success as anything but a distance shooter. It also will help him get to the free throw line more. Making short shots and free throws will then likely help him convert more 3-point shots, where he's making less than one per game now.

General confidence in his game is one thing, but believing in himself to make shots consistently has to be earned with results, more or less.

On a positive note, Rivers has been better on offense in the past two weeks than he was at the start of the season. It would not be surprising to see him put together a strong month, as his craftiness and toughness with the ball is impressive. And if he'd start thinking defensive thoughts more often (he has been one of the weaker defenders on the team), he'd probably make his coach happier and earn even more minutes.


This week's rookie observations

John Henson, Bucks -- Nov. 21: Forget about his 17-point, 18-rebound effort against the world champs as being some kind of lucky game. A lucky game is when a guy makes a bunch of shots that he normally misses. Sure, Henson made a few pick-and-pop jumpers, but he looked good making them and should only improve that aspect of his game year after year.

Instead, focus on this: He may very well be the weakest player, pound for pound, in the NBA. But do you think this will always be the case? Of course not. We know he's going to only get stronger. Imagine the same long guy, in a stronger body, with a better jumper. Yep, this Miami game, where Henson dominated the paint for much of the night, was likely a glimpse at what's ahead for Henson in the coming months and years. He's going to be a problem for a lot of opponents.


Terrence Jones, Rockets -- Nov. 19: Jones finally got some run the past few days and looks sharp. I like how he is hanging around the rim waiting for the pass off a dribble-drive for a dunk; a lot of young power forwards tend to drift away from the paint and, thus, from contact.

Jones made a terrific catch on a low pass as he slid along the baseline at the closing of a quarter, and then finished it. He also looked comfortable beating Jazz defenders in isolations with a nice jab series that ended up in free throws.


Harrison Barnes, Warriors -- Nov. 19: Barnes continued his strong play with a 20-point, 12-rebound game that included a dagger 3 in overtime to help the Warriors pull off a big road win in Dallas. He started the game with a rebound and push-and-pull from 3 that swished, and just played locked-in all game.

Watching him and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist makes me think that the argument over who should have gone No. 2 in the draft could be a long one. Each guy has the potential to be special, but Barnes is likely to always be the superior perimeter shooter.

John Jenkins, Hawks -- Nov. 19: Jenkins got a five-minute run in the Hawks' blowout win, missing both shots he took. But they were good shots. He is someone who is used to shooting his way into a groove, and that is unlikely to happen for him this season as a reserve player.

But as long as he takes smart shots and plays the game the right way, he will still get chances here and there. Being aggressive but patient, like he was on this night, is the answer.

Jeffery Taylor, Bobcats -- Nov. 19: Taylor showed off a few solid talents on Monday. I liked how he was able to drive middle from the wing to create shots for himself or a teammate. He also crashed the glass from the corner and made plays, something most wings either can't or won't do. And his strong body and big hands help him to curl tight off the pinch post and not get knocked off line -- though he did get loose with the ball once and turned it over.

Taylor's shot is a bit flat right now. It's why he's been shooting so poorly this season. But it's something he can work on now and not have to wait until the offseason.

Bernard James, Mavericks -- Nov. 19: After blocking five shots in his previous two games combined, I wanted to watch James in his next game to see if opponents were going to pay attention to where he was, considering he's not a household name in the league. Stephen Curry will now remember him, as James cleanly blocked his floater -- a shot that was developed to help avoid blocks by bigs loitering inside.

Jarrett Jack was his next victim, as James came from the help side to block Jack after the point guard used a ball screen to get to the rim. Jack never saw him coming, which is when a shot-blocker is most dangerous.

James added one more block -- an impressive rejection of David Lee in transition, where James was able to get to the shot despite Lee reversing it to the other side of the rim. James looks to be a legit shot-blocking specialist.

Moe Harkless, Magic -- Nov. 19: Harkless did what he needs to do in blowout losses -- play the right way, as if the game was on the line. He has been excellent at slashing to the rim and not floating to the perimeter to shoot, which is a weakness in most young players.

But in blowouts, rookies tend to try to do too much. In this case, Harkless looked to cut to the rim or drive when he had the ball, and he made all four of his paint shots. His only miss was a weak attempt at a stepback jumper from 20 feet. For the most part, he looked to make plays inside of 15 feet on both ends of the court, and for that he is likely to be rewarded with more playing time.

CON'T

Jared Sullinger, Celtics -- Nov. 18: The Pistons blew out the Celtics, but Sullinger can learn a lot from his 16-point outing. He started out firing, and missing, from 18 feet. Later, as he slashed and flowed more to the paint, he started getting buckets inside and established a good rhythm. So when he took a 15-footer and an 18-footer at the end of the game, it was not surprising that he made both.

He has the body and the craft to get inside buckets. Now he has to have the mindset to do so nightly.

John Henson, Bucks -- Nov. 18: Henson is still recovering from a knee injury and thus is not able to play as athletically as he did in the past. On Sunday, he ran the floor fine but didn't bang for space and angles inside nearly as much as he could have. He also settled for a jumper and, unfortunately, a 3-pointer with 12 seconds on the shot clock. Perhaps he'll be a good shooter one day, but that day is not today, so knowing his role and his limitations is a wise move to earn more minutes.

Evan Fournier, Nuggets -- Nov. 17: Fournier does not play much at all thanks to Denver's deep bench of perimeter players. But he came in against the Spurs on Saturday and looked comfortable -- he hunted good shots and took them when he should have.

He has a smooth and compact shooting stroke and a feel for how to find open creases. Of course, that part of the game isn't hard when no defender is worried about him getting open. But being aggressive when you get your chances is a good place to start for a young player.

Rookie Watch: November's best

A month is a long time in the NBA. Guys such as Dion Waiters have already had time not only to explode up the charts but also to fall back down. Anthony Davis has been able to tease us as a "Tim Duncan 2.0," then disappear because of injury. And others, such as Kyle Singler, Andre Drummond and Damian Lillard, have provided a steady stream of strong play.

If the 2012-13 rookie class members can learn anything from their play in November, it's how quickly the NBA landscape, and their personal slice of it, can change for better or for worse. Take a good look at November's top 10 because it's likely to look far different by season's end.


1. Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers | Rookie card
He's been the best rookie who has played full time since Day 1. Sure, he was awful in a recent outing in Detroit in which he missed his first 11 shots. But those 11 attempts were mostly good or great looks that he just didn't finish.

Blazers fans and execs have to be smiling after watching him respond to such a poor start in that game. Lillard, who is making 56 percent of his driving shots when he ends up in the paint, kept attacking.

He also poured in a relatively quick seven points in the fourth quarter when the game was still in question. He did not let the bad start affect his future decisions, which is a very veteran thing to do.

Through 14 games, Lillard also has made 53 percent of his shots from 16-23 feet, making him one of the top midrange shooters this season. For comparison's sake, look at what some other point guards who were top-five draft picks did from that distance in their rookie seasons:

Derrick Rose made 43 percent, Russell Westbrook 38 percent, Tyreke Evans 32 percent and John Wall 30 percent. And, for good measure, here's what Portland's last All-Star guard, Brandon Roy, shot from this range in his best season, 2008-09: 43 percent.

Lillard is proving to be a very good drive-and-finish guy and an excellent mid- to long-range shooter. A bad game here and there is only par for the course, not something to be alarmed about.


2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bobcats | Rookie card
Going into the season, there were concerns that MKG could not shoot and therefore his upside was minimal. This November, Kidd-Gilchrist has proved his critics right -- it's true, he can't shoot. But he's also proving that it does not matter, at least not when you have his amazingly unique set of skills in a perfect body for today's NBA.

Ask Thabo Sefolosha about defending MKG in the post. The rookie attacked middle, then curled away from help for an easy 2. Kidd-Gilchrist is very comfortable down in the paint, which is why it is so great to see him grab a rebound and start his own fast break. Unlike a more traditional big such as Al Horford, who can start the break with a hard ball push, MKG can maneuver through traffic and find the perfect angle for a layup, dunk or foul.

Speaking of Horford, one of the league's top defenders, ask him about defending MKG in space at the top of the key. He'll tell you how he was flat whipped off the dribble by Kidd-Gilchrist for an impressive lay-in.

Kidd-Gilchrist can't shoot, but he sure can face-cut; he slashes by his defenders down the lane to draw fouls or get buckets. Even if he never learns to correct his shot, Kidd-Gilchrist will still be a borderline star for the Bobcats. But if his range grows out to 18 feet -- shooting is the one skill almost all players improve on in their careers -- he clearly will be ranked with Lillard and Anthony Davis as the cream of this rookie crop.

3. Jonas Valanciunas, Raptors
As November closes, the Raptors have to be pleased with their young big man. Averaging 10 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block in just 24 minutes per game is a good start, to say the least. And he's been even better than that lately.

Valanciunas showed an excellent offensive arsenal against Tim Duncan on Sunday, pouring in nine made shots in 13 attempts. He displayed baseline hooks with the left hand, baseline counters using a high-release jumper and beautifully soft touch shots from inside 12 feet. He is going to be a solid offensive player for many years, with the potential to be even better than that. Now, if he can just get to work on the backboards, he would be a cinch to be a long-term starter.



Davis
4. Anthony Davis, Hornets | Rookie card
At least when Blake Griffin got hurt, he had not played a real game yet, so fans didn't really know what they were missing. Davis, however, has been a revelation in the few games he has played, making NBA fans anxious to see whether he can keep it up.

Do-it-all performers at his age and size are rare. They capture the imagination of a fan base and let them dream of titles.

5. Andre Drummond, Pistons
Drummond continues to impress. The key, though, is for him to understand why he has been able to do what he is doing, with a PER just shy of 20, one of the best offensive rebound rates in the league and a high field goal percentage thanks to his getting so many paint touches.

So how is he getting those touches? Just look at his play late in the third quarter against the Blazers on Monday. As Rodney Stuckey worked in the midpost, Drummond was running down the baseline when Stuckey suddenly settled for a step-back jumper (and answered the question "Why is Stuckey's PER south of 10?). Drummond was literally out of bounds as the shot was taken.

With Drummond matched with much stronger LaMarcus Aldridge and his team up by nine points, Lawrence Frank would have understood if Drummond had simply ignored the bad shot and run back on defense. That's what most players would have done. Instead, Drummond quickly used his feet to jump back into the paint and his arms to gain a space advantage against Aldridge.

As a rebounder, the goal is to put yourself in the best position possible for the ball -- if the ball bounces the wrong way, you still have done your job. In this case, the ball caromed high and agile and long Drummond was able to come down with it. It does not matter that he went right back up (also the right play) and Aldridge stripped him. Drummond is going to get stronger and craftier with the ball, that much we know. If he continues to make the high-motor plays he is making now, his ceiling is going to be very high.



Singler
6. Kyle Singler, Pistons | Rookie card
Yes, Detroit is bad. Consider that Rodney Stuckey, who has played 57 percent of the minutes available for the Pistons, was a combined minus-80 points in raw plus/minus entering the week. Meanwhile, the team's other core guys -- Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight and Tayshaun Prince -- all played more than 65 percent of the time and were minus-37 to minus-41.

Singler, who has played in a little more than half of the overall minutes on his team, was minus-1 for the season. It's early, and adjusted plus/minus over time will tell us more than just the raw numbers, but it is not a stat to be ignored. He is quickly becoming recognized as a sweet-shooting glue guy.

7. Brian Roberts, Hornets
Roberts continues to impress despite his team's struggles. He was by far the Hornets' best guard in their blowout loss in Denver on Sunday. The Nuggets force guards to match their pace, but Roberts refused to run his team off its rails. Instead, he smartly probed the defense and took what was there at the right times. His teammate Austin Rivers, a fellow rookie, was not as adept at reading this game.

You can tell Roberts had a good deal of strong coaching overseas, and, as with Singler, the experience in Europe has eased his transition into the NBA. He's reading the game instead of merely playing it.

8. John Henson, Bucks
Being tall, long and coordinated is obviously a great place to start for an NBA player. Basketball IQ, though, is what carries a player with good physical measurements into becoming a strong rotation player. Henson is that and possibly more.

Henson flows into the game with ease and very often is in the right place at the right time. His upper body is clearly weak, but so is his lower body. And when he strengthens that area, his game is going to improve rapidly, as he'll be able to hold the space he's flowing to much bett

9. Moe Harkless, Magic
The season is just a month old, but we shouldn't be surprised if Harkless ends up being the top wing defender of this class by year's end. He's already effective for an underrated defensive team that is rebuilding its identity on that side of the floor sans Dwight Howard.

Harkless extends his long arms fully when contesting jumpers. He leaves a hand in the passing lane to the rim when helping dribble drives up the floor. And he's been sharp so far in understanding his responsibilities in the Magic's full pick-and-roll defensive schemes, sagging on the post diver before recovering quickly to his man on the perimeter. This alertness, in terms of executing their schemes and when he occasionally has to scramble and find someone to check, is not often found in young players.

10. Alexey Shved, Timberwolves
Shved has managed his team well when he has had the chance and, now that Roy is out with knee problems, will have a strong chance to make himself a permanent part of the rotation. To do that, though, he'll need to be able to knock down shots. Or better yet, not take them from the perimeter until he can make more of them. He has been dynamite in the paint and solid from midrange, but woeful beyond 16 feet.

Using his 6-6 frame to score over smaller guards off drives or cuts in Minnesota's offense is preferable to clanging long jumpers. However, if he puts a lot of time into shooting better each day now, he won't be the first guy to see his shooting percentages improve during the

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PERDiem-121213/new-york-knicks-legit-threat-east[/url]

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/Rookies-121213/nba-rookie-watch-turnaround-time[/url]

ill rep when i can

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8743093/nba-lakers-keep-losing-where-dwight-land-leaves-los-angeles[/url]

What do Broussard's sauces say?

Can't access my Insider account anymore.

Good to see others are helping.

Baseball: Keith Law on the RA Dickey Trade

[URL="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/law_keith/id/8756674/toronto-pays-high-cost-dickey-gain-playoffs-return-mlb"]http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/law_keith/id/8756674/toronto-pays-high-cost-dickey-gain-playoffs-return-mlb[/URL]

Please?

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PerDiem-121219/kevin-durant-not-carmelo-anthony-better-choice-early-season-mvp[/url]

:cheers:

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8779257/nba-why-kyrie-irving-league-best-point-guard-2015[/url]

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PerDiem-121226/nba-austin-rivers-having-worst-season-ever[/url]

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8778847/nba-losing-james-harden-oklahoma-city-thunder-better-offense[/url]

ill rep

[B][COLOR="Red"][SIZE="5"]View ESPN Insider articles, no account necessary.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

[url]http://tinyns.com/insider.php[/url]


'Note: I'll be prettying it up sooner or later. But it works for now. Just make sure that [url]http://insider.espn.go.com[/url] is the first bit of the URL. I don't think there will be any www action going on in there.
If there are any errors you come across or articles not showing up, PM me the article you're trying to browse and I'll take a look at it.
Another note: I'll be making it so that you can browse ESPN insider from within this script sometime in the future. But I just wanted a quick and dirty proof of concept before I went to that point.'

kk it works thanks fap

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PerDiem-130115/nba-los-angeles-lakers-racing-time[/url]

Nice thread:applause:

[QUOTE=Faptastrophe][B][COLOR="Red"][SIZE="5"]View ESPN Insider articles, no account necessary.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

[url]http://tinyns.com/insider.php[/url]


'Note: I'll be prettying it up sooner or later. But it works for now. Just make sure that [url]http://insider.espn.go.com[/url] is the first bit of the URL. I don't think there will be any www action going on in there.
If there are any errors you come across or articles not showing up, PM me the article you're trying to browse and I'll take a look at it.
Another note: I'll be making it so that you can browse ESPN insider from within this script sometime in the future. But I just wanted a quick and dirty proof of concept before I went to that point.'[/QUOTE]

:(

somebody took it down

could an insiders post this?

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/id/8846794/2013-nba-draft-chad-ford-big-board-ranking-top-30-nba-prospects[/url]

thanks

Baseball article, but I'm interested in reading:

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/olney_buster/id/8880086/1998-new-york-yankees-top-list-top-10-teams-all-time-mlb[/url]

:cheers:

Could someone please post this? [url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PerDiem-130128/nba-boston-celtics-trade-scenarios[/url]

Thanks

[QUOTE=BlackWhiteGreen]Could someone please post this? [url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PerDiem-130128/nba-boston-celtics-trade-scenarios[/url]

Thanks[/QUOTE]
OK, now what?

The Boston Celtics' gutsy win over the Miami Heat on Sunday goes down as one of the most memorable and uplifting January games in recent NBA history -- not just for the Beantown franchise. But there's a fair chance that the good times may not be rolling for much longer. Rajon Rondo's season-ending ACL injury to his right knee could lead to the painful break-up of the Celtics' famed championship core.

Rest assured, the Celtics are not your typical NBA team. In the latest Forbes magazine, the Celtics franchise was valued at $730 million, which marks a 51 percent growth from last season alone due to a monster local TV deal kicking in. Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck, a private-equity businessman and the focus of Forbes' profile, has watched his team's revenue double over the past 10 years, growing into the fourth most valuable franchise in the league and one of the winningest teams around.

But the stakes are clear. Regarding the expensive contracts given to older players, Grousbeck told the magazine, "If it works, it's a championship. If it doesn't, it's a financial burden."

NBA Trade Machine
Put on your GM hat and make your own trades and deals.
Trade Machine

With Rondo sidelined into next season, those championship aspirations are all but gone this season. And the financials aren't looking pretty. In an effort to chase the 2012-13 title, the Celtics reloaded in the offseason, handing out nearly $130 million in contracts to Kevin Garnett, Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee and Jason Terry. The latter four haven't nearly lived up to their lofty contracts and the Celtics still have to pay them through the 2014-15 season (and 2015-16 in the cases of Lee and Green).

The financially bloated roster has underperformed and that's before we consider the Rondo injury, a blow that could cost the Celtics about 14 percent in playoff odds, according to analysis by ESPN Insider Kevin Pelton. The team's books look like those of a championship contender, but the reality is as cold as the New England outdoors these days. Boston is two games under .500, trailing the Milwaukee Bucks by three games and holding on to the 8-seed with white knuckles.

As is, the Celtics are looking at the ceiling of a .500 team for this season if they maintain the status quo, and that ceiling may shrink as Garnett and Paul Pierce age into their late 30s. If this is a .500 team at best, is it really worth paying $75 million to pretend like it's a championship contender?

That's the essential question. And there are no easy answers. They could ride this season out and then waive Pierce over the summer, since he's guaranteed only $5 million of his $15.3 million next season. But Boston fans may prefer to see the Red Sox sign Babe Ruth from the grave than for the Celtics to cut Pierce at this stage in his career.

But there's a reason the Celtics guaranteed Pierce only $5 million for 2013-14; it was an emergency valve in case he, or the Celtics' season, went south. Teams may not be willing to absorb Pierce's contract at $15 million next season, but if they could trim $10 million off the top? That's more appetizing for a player who just missed the All-Star Game, even at age 35.

Garnett is a trickier situation since he has a no-trade clause, one of four players, including Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan, to hold that in his back pocket. Presumably, the ultra-competitive Garnett wouldn't sign off on a deal unless it meant he was going to a contender and the Celtics weren't looking like one themselves.

So, what can the Celtics do now? Holding on to their aging stars could lead to a slow and painful death. The most likely scenario is that the Celtics look to shed salary and get under the luxury-tax line by jettisoning one of the contracts of Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee, Jason Terry or Jeff Green. But finding takers for those deals will be difficult. The "blow it up" scenario may be a popular one on Twitter, but that rarely happens in the NBA and it's much easier said than done.

With that said, here are some potential trade partners and deals for the Celtics.



Toronto Raptors
Celtics receive: Kyle Lowry and Linas Kleiza

Raptors receive: Jared Sullinger, Avery Bradley, Jeff Green and Boston's 2013 first-round pick


This is the non-blow-it-up move for Boston to stay relevant this season. Everyone wants to know: Are the Raptors going to choose to keep longtime point guard Jose Calderon or the younger, more volatile Kyle Lowry? Whispers around the league suggest that the Toronto front office is divided on the issue and the Celtics could swoop in and take advantage of that possible dissension.

Lowry remains one of the most efficient point guards in the league (21.3 PER), but his uneven effort on the defensive end has reduced him to a 20-minute role off the bench for defensive-minded coach Dwane Casey. The Celtics could take on Linas Kleiza's contract that pays him $4.6 million this season and possibly next season, though the Celtics would probably hope he turns down his 2013-14 player option to go back overseas.

In order to give up Lowry and his tidy contract, the Raptors would likely need to receive young assets in return. Such a deal would likely require involving Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger and a future first-rounder. But that would also necessitate the Raptors absorbing Green's undesirable four-year deal to make the money work. Would Toronto decision-maker Bryan Colangelo do that? We didn't think he'd give five years and $53 million to a then-30-year-old Hedo Turkoglu, either.



Los Angeles Lakers
Celtics receive: Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace and Chris Duhon

Lakers receive: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Collins


The blockbuster of all blockbuster deals. The Celtics would never send Pierce and Garnett to their once-hated rival, right? Stranger things have happened in this league. (Remember when Cleveland agreed to sign-and-trade LeBron James, or the time Phoenix gift-wrapped Steve Nash to the Lakers?) Obviously, the Celtics make this move to mold their next championship core around a healthy Rondo and Dwight Howard, but such a package is risky considering that Howard could walk at the end of this season.

But that's a risk the Celtics can take with a player like Howard, especially because they could offer a five-year deal to Howard in free agency when all other competitors could offer only four, thanks to the new CBA. For a guy recovering from back surgery, five years of security could be worth more than the extra money itself.

The Lakers would presumably only do this deal under three conditions: (1) The season goes back into the tank again; (2) Howard makes it clear that he's not signing long-term to be Kobe Bryant's sidekick; (3) Pau Gasol's trade stock continues to plummet. The Lakers would start five future Hall of Famers, but at the cost of kissing good-bye any hope of signing LeBron James in the summer of 2014 sweepstakes, if the reigning MVP is available.

part 2



Memphis Grizzlies
Celtics receive: Rudy Gay and Tony Wroten

Grizzlies receive: Paul Pierce and Chris Wilcox

This trade makes sense from the perspective that the Celtics would exchange Pierce for a younger, higher-upside talent in Gay. Additionally, rookie Tony Wroten could take over the point guard duties as a poor man's Tyreke Evans (remember, the Celtics don't have a pure point guard right now) and serve as Rondo's backup long-term.

On the Memphis side of things, the small-market club wouldn't have to look at Gay's swollen contract that pays him $17.8 million next season and $19 million after that if he enacts his player option in 2014-15. There's a chance that Pierce could sour upon arrival in Memphis, but those odds might be mitigated by the presence of former teammate and fellow "grit-and-grind" aficionado Tony Allen as well as the fact the Grizzlies have a better shot at a title than the Rondo-less Celtics.

But there are serious obstacles here. For one, the Celtics may not be enthused with Gay's good-but-not-great production and unpredictable future at that price tag. And yes, waiving Pierce in the offseason could shed $31 million off Memphis' books compared to keeping Gay, but Memphis would still have to find a small forward in addition to bringing back Allen, who is a free agent this summer. But Pierce is a superior floor-spacer and much more dependable defender than Gay. Could that put the Grizzlies over the top in the West?



Utah Jazz
Celtics receive: Derrick Favors, Marvin Williams, Jamaal Tinsley and Raja Bell

Jazz receive: Paul Pierce, Avery Bradley, Chris Wilcox and Boston's 2013 first-rounder

Utah possesses a boatload of bigs and the Celtics could use one. Believe it or not, Garnett won't be around forever and this deal would give the Celtics their next big man to solidify their long-term foundation next to Rondo. It would also give the Celtics a pass-first (pass-only?) point guard in Jamaal Tinsley, which is kind of a big deal considering the C's don't have a pure point guard on the roster without Rondo.

Favors remains one of the most promising young bigs in the game, averaging 15-and-10 every 36 minutes along with high-impact defense. But he's struggling to find 20 minutes a night with three other productive players in the Jazz frontcourt. By sending Pierce to Utah, this would be a cold move by the Boston front office, but the Celtics should have an eye on the future given Rondo's injury and this could save them about $1.5 million if they want to eventually get under the tax.

The only way the Jazz think about this deal is if they are big on Bradley's potential ahead of Gordon Hayward and they believe that Enes Kanter has a brighter future than Favors. Though Pierce would be reunited with former teammate Al Jefferson in this scenario, it may not offset the lifestyle change of moving from Boston to Salt Lake. But would a healthy Mo Williams, Randy Foye, Pierce, Paul Millsap and Jefferson make some noise in the West? Maybe, but it's hard to justify Utah going all-in this season without a backcourt player to build around; Bradley is probably not that guy.



Minnesota Timberwolves
Celtics receive: Kevin Love, Andrei Kirilenko, Brandon Roy, Luke Ridnour and Greg Stiemsma

Timberwolves receive: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry and Jared Sullinger


The only thing that might top a Lakers deal? If KG goes back to Minnesota to finish out his career right where it started. Again, Garnett holds a no-trade clause and could nix this deal on the spot. But the only place that might be more sentimental than Boston for Garnett's swan song is Minnesota, the team that selected him fifth overall in the 1995 draft.

For Boston, you do this deal under the buy-low, sell-high rule in Business 101. It's hard to imagine a worse season for Kevin Love, who is shooting a paltry 21.7 percent from downtown this season and currently sitting on the sidelines with a re-fractured shooting hand. But he's one of the best handful of young players in the league (currently No. 8 on Insider's top 25 under 25 rankings and an unprecedented rebounder/sharpshooter talent). If healthy, a Rondo-Love connection is easily one of the most tantalizing tandems in the East. And Ridnour and Kirilenko give them help right away.

Now, would Minnesota do the deal? Depends on how much it wants to win now. Since 2008, no team has won fewer games than the Timberwolves (121). Believe it or not, this would be the eighth straight losing season in Minnesota if it keeps up. It's not hard to imagine why GM David Kahn may be ready to exchange Love, who has had an icy relationship with the front office, for a package that could give them star power on both ends of the floor. It's a long shot, but mixed emotions aside, this monster deal makes some sense.



Atlanta Hawks
Celtics receive: Josh Smith, Lou Williams, Devin Harris, Zaza Pachulia, Ivan Johnson

Hawks receive: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry and Jared Sullinger

If Danny Ainge is looking at a blow-it-up scenario, it's easy to see why Atlanta GM Danny Ferry would be willing to talk. The Hawks are an obvious trade partner because of the ongoing disruptive behavior of their star-and-free-agent-to-be Josh Smith, but also because of their high-performing veterans on one-year deals, something the Celtics could covet. It's hard to find a highly productive player with more upside and more in need of a change of scenery than Smith.

To be clear, Smith is no spring chicken at age 27 and that's not the best time to hand out a max deal. But look around and you'll find that there's just not another player of Smith's caliber on the market. Elsewhere, the 26-year-old Williams would be a perfect platoon mate in the backcourt next to Bradley for the long-term and the Harris-Pachulia combo could fill out the Celtics' playoff-ready rotation for the rest of the season. Worst-case scenario is that Smith doesn't pan out and the Celtics shed gobs of money when Smith, Pachulia, Harris and Johnson's deals expire at the end of the season, which would fully engage them into rebuild mode for the 2013-14 season.

The upshot from Atlanta's perspective is it can flip its expiring contracts into a borderline contender in the East, but the Hawks would first need Garnett to waive his no-trade clause. Working in Atlanta's favor in such a scenario is that Garnett grew up two hours outside of Atlanta in Greenville, S.C. Not working in Atlanta's favor is that Garnett famously called out Atlanta co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. in the playoffs last season. Still, can't count out an Atlanta-Boston hookup, even though it seems Ferry's No. 1 priority is to maintain flexibility for a potential Dwight Howard chase.

Other teams to watch

Sacramento Kings
Tyreke Evans has long been the apple of Ainge's eye, dating back to the 2009 draft. But considering that the Kings are currently in the midst of a sale, a shake-up doesn't sound likely. DeMarcus Cousins is another name to watch, but it's unlikely for the same reason that Evans might be staying put. The Kings aren't looking to win now so it makes little sense for them to take on Pierce or Garnett at the moment unless a third team is involved.


Houston Rockets
The Rockets are always looking to find a star player to pair with James Harden and they have a crater at the power forward position, so a deal for Garnett's services is interesting on the surface. However, two things: Garnett would have to agree to the deal and, more importantly, is 37 years old with about $24 million left on his deal through age 39. Houston remains a possibility in trade talks simply because it can take on salary and wields attractive trade assets for a rebuilding team, but the Rockets are more likely to participate in a three-team deal, not a straight-up one. But don't count out a Kevin McHale-Garnett reunion.

:cheers: future repped.

Who stole this:

[QUOTE]Celtics receive: Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace and Chris Duhon

Lakers receive: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Collins


The blockbuster of all blockbuster deals. The Celtics would never send Pierce and Garnett to their once-hated rival, right? Stranger things have happened in this league. (Remember when Cleveland agreed to sign-and-trade LeBron James, or the time Phoenix gift-wrapped Steve Nash to the Lakers?) Obviously, the Celtics make this move to mold their next championship core around a healthy Rondo and Dwight Howard, but such a package is risky considering that Howard could walk at the end of this season.

But that's a risk the Celtics can take with a player like Howard, especially because they could offer a five-year deal to Howard in free agency when all other competitors could offer only four, thanks to the new CBA. For a guy recovering from back surgery, five years of security could be worth more than the extra money itself.

The Lakers would presumably only do this deal under three conditions: (1) The season goes back into the tank again; (2) Howard makes it clear that he's not signing long-term to be Kobe Bryant's sidekick; (3) Pau Gasol's trade stock continues to plummet. The Lakers would start five future Hall of Famers, but at the cost of kissing good-bye any hope of signing LeBron James in the summer of 2014 sweepstakes, if the reigning MVP is available.[/QUOTE]

And used it in a thread earlier? :oldlol:

Oh right, he referenced it. cool

could anybody post these?

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8889413/jay-bilas-chad-ford-cody-zeller-victor-oladipo-indiana-best-player[/url]

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/id/8894753/2013-nba-draft-ben-mclemore-rising-list-top-30-nba-prospects[/url]

id really appreciate it.

Anyway somebody could post this article on Andre Drummond?

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/Rookies-130201/detroit-pistons-andre-drummond-path-greatness[/url]

that would be great!

[QUOTE=embersyc]Anyway somebody could post this article on Andre Drummond?

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/Rookies-130201/detroit-pistons-andre-drummond-path-greatness[/url][/QUOTE]

Nevermind on this request, somebody posted it on another site.

[url]http://pistons.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/951103441/m/7532907827[/url]

[QUOTE=chips93]could anybody post these?

[url]http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8889413/jay-bilas-chad-ford-cody-zeller-victor-oladipo-indiana-best-player[/url]
.[/QUOTE]
The discussion: Who is Indiana's best player: Cody Zeller or Victor Oladipo?
Jay Bilas: To some, this may be a distinction without a difference and doesn't matter at all in a team game. And this is the perfect time to have this discussion, because we are coming off of a two-game stretch in which Zeller had his two worst games of the season while Oladipo has been at his best. In the past two months, I have been struck by how many basketball commentators seem to revel in saying that Oladipo is Indiana's best player. He is not.

I have heard several commentators, a couple of whom are respected voices who have been in the game for a long time, state that Oladipo is Indiana's best player "by far" and that "it's not even close." Reasonable minds can differ on such matters, but I do not agree. In fact, I disagree entirely.

Don't get me wrong. Oladipo, out of DeMatha (Md.), is a terrific player and is having a great season. He is among the best and most versatile defenders in the country who can guard multiple positions and get steals and deflections at a high rate. On the offensive end, Oladipo is much improved and has been hitting open shots, driving and getting to the foul line. He is a high-energy player who affects the game at both ends, and he has proved to be among the top 30 most effective players in the nation, in my judgment. I believe he is a first-round NBA draft pick.

However, he is not Indiana's best player. Cody Zeller is.


Zeller is Indiana's top scorer, averaging 16.0 points on just nine shots per game (Oladipo averages 13.9 points on eight shots per game). Zeller is also the Hoosiers' top rebounder, averaging 8.1 -- including 2.7 offensively -- a game. Oladipo is third on the team in rebounding, averaging 6.0 -- and also 2.7 offensively -- a game.

Both Zeller and Oladipo shoot high percentages, with Oladipo shooting 66 percent from the field and 55 percent from 3-point range, while Zeller shoots 60 percent from the field. Zeller is more productive from the free throw line, shooting twice as many free throws and hitting a better percentage. Oladipo has twice the number of steals as Zeller, and Zeller has twice the number of blocked shots. Oladipo can guard more positions than can Zeller, but Zeller guards the post, the one position that Oladipo can't guard. Zeller is the guy whom opposing defenses double, and he is the first player on the opponent's scouting report.

The only thing that suggests Oladipo is Indiana's best player is surprise. Few expected Oladipo, a career 49 percent shooter (and 25 percent 3-point shooter), to have the season he is having. Oladipo already has managed as many steals this season as he had all of last season, and as many 3-point field goals this season as he has in his career. It's fair to state that Oladipo is Indiana's "heart and soul" or "most complete player" -- or Indiana's "best leader" -- but I think the label of Indiana's best player belongs to Zeller, and only Zeller. Zeller is a team player who is not a volume shooter and does not require touches to keep playing and to be a great teammate.

I believe most NBA personnel would agree that Zeller is Indiana's best player and prospect, despite the legitimate questions about his NBA future. There is disagreement as to just how effective Zeller will be in the NBA in the long run, but it is clear that he is a surefire lottery selection. With his ability to run the floor, face up and drive -- and with his skill level -- Zeller has value in the NBA. He needs to be a higher volume rebounder and to be more assertive, and he needs to be able to consistently hit a face-up jumper to range. Plus, he is not a shot-blocker. However, he can be a starter in the NBA, and he does not need the ball to play.

Chad Ford: A little more than a month ago, I had Zeller atop our list of the best college players in the country and had him ranked as a top-three prospect in the NBA draft.

Oladipo's shooting percentages -- and NBA draft stock -- have risen dramatically this season.
A month later, it's harder for me to argue for either ranking. As far as top college players go, his production simply doesn't quite reach the level of some of his competition. In fact, I think it's fair to argue that teammate Oladipo actually might be more valuable to the Hoosiers right now.

I know Jay disagrees and makes the statistical argument for Zeller. But after watching Indiana the past month, I understand those who side with Oladipo as well. He plays so hard, is so disruptive on the defensive end and sets the tone for this Indiana team. It certainly feels as if it's Oladipo, not Zeller, who sets the pace for the Hoosiers.

And if you want advanced stats for support, Ken Pomeroy's Offensive Rating has Oladipo slightly ahead of Zeller. Yes, Zeller rebounds slightly more than Oladipo, but Zeller is 6-foot-11 and Oladipo just 6-5. Zeller's rebounding rate for a big man is very average. Oladipo's rebounding rate is excellent for a guard. Oladipo shoots a higher percentage than Zeller despite the fact Zeller's shots are much closer to the basket. Oladipo's shooting percentages as a guard are ridiculously good.

Oladipo certainly was the best player on the floor Sunday against Michigan State. His 21 points (on 8-of-12 shooting), 7 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 blocks terrorized Michigan State on both ends of the floor. Once again, he was the engine that made Indiana run.

Zeller, matched up against the Spartans' big, athletic front line, struggled. He ended the game with just nine points on 2-of-7 shooting and seemed to shrink a bit from the physical play in the paint. Meanwhile, the Spartans' big man, Adreian Payne, produced against Zeller what might have been his best game of the season, with 18 points, nine rebounds and three 3-pointers.

As far as best college players go, Oladipo, Michigan's Trey Burke, Creighton's Doug McDermott, Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk and my personal favorite, Kansas' Ben McLemore, all would get the nod over Zeller at the moment.

NBA scouts are having an even harder time with Zeller right now. Teams are struggling to get their arms around what position he'll guard at the next level. He's not big or strong enough to be an NBA center. But the Michigan State game highlighted some of the issues with Zeller playing the 4.

More and more NBA big men can take it out past the 3-point line to stretch the floor. Zeller struggled all day guarding that shot from Payne, who made Zeller and Indiana pay. Offensively, while Zeller is incredibly efficient, his best skill is his ability to run the floor and get out ahead on the break. He's truly spectacular in the open floor in college. But at the NBA level? Can you name one NBA team that consistently leads the break with its big man? It's a skill that's unlikely to be particularly helpful in the NBA. Zeller's biggest NBA fans remain the stat heads; his high-efficiency game measures out nicely on a number of different metrics.

Don't get me wrong. I still think Zeller is an elite college basketball player and has enough skills/intangibles to be a good NBA player. But right now it's hard to justify him potentially being the No. 1 pick in the draft or the college basketball player of the year. In the past month, Zeller has dropped to No. 7 on my Top 100 and is in danger of dropping several more spots if his production doesn't rise in the last month of the season.

Oladipo's draft stock? He's steadily risen on draft boards all season. He's currently sitting at No. 17 on our Top 100 and, given his trajectory and Zeller's fall, I don't think it's out of the question that Oladipo goes ahead of Zeller on draft night.

Prospect on the rise

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Anderson is averaging 9.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for UCLA.
Ford: Kyle Anderson, F, UCLA Bruins

I think it's fair to argue that Anderson may be the most difficult prospect in the NCAA to scout. His game is as unique as any I've seen in college basketball. He doesn't have a real comparison at the NBA level.

His nickname is "Slo-mo" and it's well deserved. In a game of speed and athleticism, Anderson's game is deliberate and measured. He never appears rushed or in a hurry. But despite his plodding game, he has proved to be a remarkable player.

CON'T

His basketball IQ for a freshman is outstanding. Anderson is a special passer who can run the break and handle like a point guard. In virtually every game, he makes at least one Ricky Rubio-esque pass that puts your head on a swivel. He's also proved to be a terrific rebounder and really racks up the steals on the defensive end. Shooting is still his biggest weakness, and I have no idea where a coach will play him at the next level.

I have no idea if Anderson is a one-and-done player or where he'll land on draft night. However, I've had an increasing number of NBA GMs and scouts tell me that his game is growing on them and that they see a future for him at the next level.

Bilas: Kelly Olynyk, F, Gonzaga Bulldogs

Olynyk is a legit 7-footer who is physically mature, has a big, strong body and is skilled with a deft shooting touch around the basket and from range. Olynyk is not a great athlete, opposing offenses like to involve him in ball-screen action and he is not a high-volume shot-blocker. But he understands the game and knows how to play.

A face-up player when he first arrived at Gonzaga, Olynyk is now a low-post threat who can step away. Plus, he is able to use his size and skill to make smart moves and counters in the post and score with tremendous efficiency. In fact, there is not a more efficient big man in the nation than Olynyk. He turns the ball over at too high of a rate, but Olynyk has shown that he can play in both physical and fast-paced games.

What to watch for this week
Bilas: The best game of the week will be between Michigan and Indiana at Assembly Hall ). Michigan has the best offense in the country, and Indiana isn't far behind. Both teams are more athletic and have better defenses this season than last, and the atmosphere should be magnificent in Bloomington.

There are some other really good games this week, but I will be looking to the SEC to see if Mississippi is for real, taking on Kentucky and Florida back to back, and if Kentucky can move toward higher-level consistency. Kentucky's struggles don't indicate a problem as much as it underscores what an amazing job John Calipari has done in Lexington since his arrival. To reach an Elite Eight, Final Four and win a national championship in three seasons of "freshman orientation" is remarkable. What is happening now is normal. The past three seasons were extraordinary.

[+] Enlarge
Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports
Glenn Robinson III and the Wolverines have a tough test this week against the Hoosiers.
Ford: Obviously the game of the week is Michigan-Indiana. I wrote earlier about the draft prospects of Indiana's two stars, Zeller and Oladipo. Michigan doesn't have a player rated in the lottery, but the Wolverines have a number of intriguing draft prospects, led by sophomore point guard Trey Burke and freshman forward Glenn Robinson III.

Burke is making a strong case to be the national player of the year. His college stats are stellar: 17.8 points and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range. Additionally, 30 percent of Burke's possessions end in an assist, compared to just 7 percent of his possessions ending in a turnover. That's remarkable. He's got the perfect balance between scoring and helping others, and he plays almost mistake-free basketball. If he were a little taller (he's 6-foot) or more of an explosive athlete, he'd be ranked even higher. However, Burke is slowly creeping up to the lottery range in this year's draft and current sits at No. 16 in our Top 100.

Robinson isn't far behind at No. 18. His ridiculous athleticism combined with an efficient game has really impressed scouts. The fact that he's shooting 41 percent from 3-point range, 58 percent from the field, runs the floor like a guard and can jump out of the gym have a number of scouts predicting that by June, he'll be a lottery pick.

Junior wing Tim Hardaway Jr. is also having the best season of his career. He's dramatically improved his 3-point shooting, picked up his rebounding and is scoring at a much more efficient rate. Many scouts consider him a potential second-round pick.

Freshman sharpshooter Nik Stauskas (shooting nearly 50 percent from 3) and big man Mitch McGary (averaging 5.6 rpg in just 16 mpg) also are considered potential first-round picks in either the 2014 or 2015 NBA drafts.