I'll admit it -- I've ignored Sean Williams far too long. I don't feel too bad, though. Nets coach Lawrence Frank had been ignoring his big man, too. Heading into last week, the lanky center had been getting 11.8 minutes per game and never saw more than 21. With the Nets struggling, though, Frank took a chance on the high-energy kid from Boston College. And it's paid off. In four games last week, Williams saw his playing time jump to 25.5 minutes per game and got his first career start. In that game, an 81-77 loss to the Heat, Williams played 36 minutes, scoring a career-high 22 points, grabbing eight rebounds, blocking two shots, and basically supplying a shot of adrenaline to a lackadaisical Nets team. "I wanted to show the coach I was worthy of starting," Williams said. "I just tried to have fun out there." After this week's play, Williams should have his coach's attention. He's certainly got mine. You can send comments, complaints, or hype for your favorite rookie to Drew Packham at drew.packham@turner.com.
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For my money, the most consistent player this season has been Horford. His offensive numbers aren't blowing anyone away (with the Hawks' scorers they don't need to), but what he's doing on the boards and on defense needs to be rewarded. Horford is 12th in the league in rebounding with 10.6 per game (tops for rookies) and capped off the week with a five-block game against the Sonics. Even with the return of Zaza Pachulia, Horford is still getting big minutes and doing the dirty work for Atlanta.
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Let's see, what did Kevin Durant do right this week? Other than that unbelievable game-winning 3-pointer in Atlanta, not much. Sure, Durant averaged 14.8 points in five games, but he did it while going 28-for-79 from the field (.354 percent) and hitting just 5 of 20 treys (.250 percent). Well, at least he can shoot free throws (23-for-25), so maybe he's not that bad.
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Early in the week, I was all set to reward Yi with the top spot. So what does the Bucks' big man do? He closes out the week by going 3-for-15 in his final two games, the last game a five-point dud in which he played just 17 minutes. At least I'm not the only one snubbing Yi -- the NBA left him off the All-Star ballot, which won't sit well with his fans in China.
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With Tracy McGrady out of the lineup, Scola showed why the Rockets are so high on his future. Scola finished the week with back-to-back 20-point games while going 20-for-30 from the field. "I try to play the same every game," Scola said. "Sometimes I play good. Sometimes I play bad. Usually, it's been playing very bad. But finally, I hit my shots." If T-Mac doesn't return soon, the Rockets better hope Scola can 'hit his shots.'
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Moon has quickly become the feel-good story of the season, and what's not to love? He's a 27-year-old rookie who's paid his dues in the CBA, USBL and NBDL and now flourishing as the Raptors' energizing force. "I still don't know [why it took so long to make the NBA]," Moon said in a feature story in the Globe and Mail. "The point I'm at now, I don't even think about it. It's in the past; it's in the wind now. I'm focused on my future." Get to know the Raptors' rookie.
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Green's drop in the rankings isn't necessarily due to his play, but the guys' above him. Green had a solid week, averaging 10 points in five games, with 5.6 rebounds and a .465 shooting percentage, but coach P.J. Carlesimo isn't ready to put him in the starting lineup. "He's pushing for more minutes, which I think is more significant," Carlesimo said in The Seattle Times. "It's nice to start, but it would be better for him to keep playing productive minutes."
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After the rookie blocked four shots against the Celtics, Boston coach Doc Rivers said Williams' "athletic ability is scary." Wanna see just how scary? Check out this alley-oop dunk against the Celtics and this block on the Celtics' Rajon Rondo. One thing is for sure: Williams' highlight reel is growing faster than any other rookie's.
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With Darko Milicic hurt, the Grizzlies have gone small. That's good news for Navarro, who had a breakout week. Navarro hit eight 3-pointers and scored 28 points in Friday's loss to the Hornets and had 14 a night later against Dallas. The bad news? In the loss to the Mavs, he missed two open threes to tie the game. The good news: the Grizzlies trust him with the ball with the game on the line.
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The return of Dwyane Wade hurt Cook's playing time initially, but Cook has earned Pat Riley's trust. The rookie out of Ohio State saw his PT increase this week, and was on the floor at the end of several close games, including the Heat's loss to Miami in which he had one of the best dunks of the season. This week's numbers: 4 games, 13.2 mpg, 8.25 ppg.
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The 7-footer out of Colorado State has been on the radar early in the season, but with so many other players struggling (Acie Law, Mike Conley, Al Thornton), this is the week Smith cracks the Top 10. Smith had his two best games of the season to cap off the week. He had seven points and five boards Wednesday, then a 12-point, four-board performance in Friday's win over the Blazers.
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Honorable mention: Nick Young (17-point game in first real minutes); Spencer Hawes (4 G, 6 ppg, 2.0 rbg); Acie Law (dropped out after spraining ankle); Corey Brewer (scoring numbers down, but still getting PT)
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