Revisting The 2012 NBA Draft Class

With the NBA Draft coming up in a few weeks I thought this would be a great time to revist the 2012 draft class and how the Rookie seasons went for a few players from that class. So lets get to it.

#1 Pick Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)

As the New Orleans franchise looks towards the future they have a lot to be excited about with the name change to the Pelicans and Anthony Davis to build a whole franchise around. Davis didn't put up gaudy numbers but he definitely showed flashes of what he could be through out the season on the defensive side of the floor. Davis is surely a conerstone for the young franchise and Tom Benson has a lot to look forward to moving ahead. Davis just needs to make sure he stays healthy.

Stats: 14 PPG 8 Rebounds 2 Blocks

#2 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte Bobcats)

When the Charlotte Bobcats drafted MKG at number two overall they knew they were getting a guy who had a high motor, was very durable and has some upside. In the Early part of the year he was showing people the type of player he could player he could be on a regular bases when he put up 25 points and 12 rebounds in a win over the Dallas Mavericks. The season was very up and down for Gilchrist and he had a hard time getting into rhythm at times due to Coach Mike Dunlap being inconsistent with his minutes. MKG still has to fine tune that horrendous jumper but in time he should become a very productive NBA player, maybe even an All-Star.

Stats: 9 PPG 2 Assists 6 Rebounds

#3 Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)

Bradley Beal when playing for the Gators was known as a perimeter shooter so to put that ability with John Wall's explosiveness in the back court was a big deal for the Wizards organization. The only problem was John wall didn't return from injury till January so people had to wait to see the tandem play. When they did play the Wizards played near 500 basketball. Beal shot 38% from the perimeter during his rookie season and played a big role for the Wizards over the in wins over the Heat and Thunder. Beal can only get better from here as he adjusts to the NBA game.

Stats: 14 PPG 2 Assists 4 Rebounds

#4 Dion Waiters (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Last season the Cavs were looking for someone who was going to be a great back court partner with franchise guard Kyrie Irving and while on the court near Kyrie, Dion Waiter was just that. He showed people throughout the course of the year that he can score the basketball consistently. The only problem with him shooting the ball so much is that he is a volume scorer and needs to work on being more efficient. In his rookie season though Dion Waiters has shown the Cavs that he can be a reliable back court partner for Kyrie Irving.

Stats: 15PPG 3 Assists 2 Rebounds

#5 Thomas Robinson (Sacramento Kings/Houston Rockets)

Of all the players in this draft class nobody was more unlucky then Thomas Robinson. He spent time Sacramento and Houston this season and couldn't find minutes anywhere consistently. Now he will probably be leaving Houston as the Rockets make their push for Dwight Howard. Robinson has all the tools to make him a productive player in a rotation he is tough,Strong and can guard multiple positions. Wherever he gets a fair shot T-Rob will make the most of it and that team will get a solid player.

Stats: 5 PPG 5 Rebounds

#6 Damian Lillard (Portland Trailblazers)

This was considered a reach at the time Blazers made the pick but once all the media hype faded and the games began Lillard quickly put the doubters to rest and ran away with the Rookie of the Year award. He has franchise player written all over him and the Blazers management has to feel good about having someone to build around for years to come. Lillard can still improve but he had as good as rookie season as I've ever seen breaking Stephen Curry's rookie three point record.

Stats: 19 PPG 7 Assists 3 Rebounds

#7 Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors)

Not going to lie coming out of UNC I was never high on Harrison Barnes but many people were coming into this season. As the season went on he got better and pretty much proved everybody right and served as the backbone for a Warrior team that made the Playoffs this year for the 1^st time since 2007. Barnes has range,explosiveness and a high basketball IQ he will definitely be an All-Star one day he converted me into a fan this season after contributing in the postseason.

Stats: 9 PPG 4 Rebounds 1 Assist

#8 Terrence Ross (Toronto Raptors)

Terence Ross is very athletic and can shoot from outside in his 1^st season with the Raptors he saw an adequate amount of minutes. He can be a solid bench player and still has some upside but I don't seem as a starter in Toronto especially with Derozen at the 2.

Stats: 7 PPG 2 Rebounds

#9 Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)

10 years down the road when people look at this draft Andre Drummond could be the best player in it he has that potential. The #1 pick in this draft Anthony Davis has a player efficiency rating of 21.80. Andre Drummond has a Player Efficiency rating of 21.69 while playing 8 minutes less then Davis. He is listed a 6'10 270 pounds at the age of 19 which means that as I’m typing this post Drummond is growing into a 7 footer. Early in his rookie season Drummond sat on the bench but as he got minutes he showed the NBA what he was about like when he dropped 18 points and 18 Rebounds on the Milwaukee Bucks.He certainly has all the tools in the world to be one of the best centers in the league and with a front court partner like Greg Monroe Detroit Basketball can be happy about the days ahead.

Stats: 8 PPG 8 Rebounds 2 Blocks

So the 2012 draft class brought some pretty solid players. It will be interesting to see what these young talented players do going forward.

Pay Attention People

In the State of California as it pertains to basketball we tend to think Lakers, Clippers first before anything
but few are paying attention to that team by the bay known as the Golden State Warriors. At 11-7 they rank 5th in the gantlet  known as the western conference but very few people outside the bay seem to be giving them any love so I thought I would. I don’t understand why people aren’t paying attention to them, they are an exciting, young up tempo team who play great team Basketball.

With Wins over the Clippers, Hawks and Brooklyn Nets I think its time for more people to open they’re eyes This team can play. When you look at the reason this team has been playing well It all Starts with the elevation of play at the Point Guard position from Stephen Curry who is playing big time basketball right now. He is healthy for the 1st time maybe since his rookie year and is playing the best basketball since that time. With 11 games of 20 points or more. He has 4 straight double-doubles coming into tonight’s match up with Brooklyn. He is playing like the guy Golden State drafted and the player the whole country fell in love with at Davidson.

There is more to Curry’s success though then people realize. Jarret Jack who the Warriors picked up in the off-season has given Steph something he has never had before and that’s a back up point guard who can facilitate an offense and give Curry the freedom to move off the ball and be the Perimeter nightmare that he is. Jarret Jack is one of the most undervalued players we have in the league today he always played solid basketball facilitating and scoring and the fact that the Warriors have a guy like this who can come off the bench give Curry some freedom in the flow of the offense as well as get buckets for himself is big. If people Steph give credit I think Jarret Jack deserves some to.

Then you have the young Rookie Harrison Barnes from UNC who honestly I wasn’t high on like most people coming into this years draft but  to get him at 7 I thought was a steal for them. I can see why people were high on him this kid knows how to play basketball and has a good head on his shoulders and you can’t say that about a lot of Rookies. He has shown flashes of brilliance with performances like 19 points 13 rebounds and 20 points 12 rebounds in wins against the Hawks and Mavs. I think as long as he keeps working this guy can be an All-Star in this league.

David Lee is one of those players in sports that never gets talked about enough he goes out plays the game right and produces at a high level year in and year out usually in top 5 in Double-doubles. He is up to his old tricks again Averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds for Golden State. If he keeps playing like this along with the team winning he may finally get some of the recognition he deserves in this league.

Golden States Bench is dangerous guys like Jarret Jack and Carl Landry will do that for you. As important as I said Jarret Jack was earlier Carl Landry is just as if not more important to the Warriors success as he is. Carl Landry is a low post presence that you can play next to Lee if you go small or Spell David Lee if you want to give him some rest. On most team in the League Landry is starting so having a guy with 15-10 capabilities to come off your bench and give you 13 and 6 is huge. He is Efficient smart and plays the game right. Add Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush, and Draymond Green along With Jack and Landry and you have a deep bench.

This team has Shooters, Big men, a solid bench and a good mix of young players and veterans who play the game right.The scary part is they don’t even have Andrew Bogut who when healthy  is a very productive basketball player.
Marc Jackson has a lot to be proud of as coach of this basketball team and with a core of young guys like Curry, Klay Thompson ,Harrison Barnes the future of Basketball looks bright in the Bay area.