Ben Mclemore wins Western Conference Rookie of The Month

I don't, necessarily, know that it says anything negative about this season's rookies, so much as it does that most of the rookies worth anything are playing in the eastern conference. Which is, all things considered, probably better for the long-term health of the league. Quiet as its kept, McLemore is one of only three rookies in the western conference (Trey Burke, Steven Adams) getting at least fifteen minutes a game, and one of only two getting 20+. And the other one (Burke) only played seven games in the month of November. Three teams in the western conference (Nuggets, Rockets, Spurs) don't have any rookies at all.

McLemore is probably only the 8-10th best rookie in the NBA, but he's the second-best rookie in the west.
 
Mr. S£im Citrus said:
I don't, necessarily, know that it says anything negative about this season's rookies, so much as it does that most of the rookies worth anything are playing in the eastern conference. Which is, all things considered, probably better for the long-term health of the league. Quiet as its kept, McLemore is one of only three rookies in the western conference (Trey Burke, Steven Adams) getting at least fifteen minutes a game, and one of only two getting 20+. And the other one (Burke) only played seven games in the month of November. Three teams in the western conference (Nuggets, Rockets, Spurs) don't have any rookies at all.

McLemore is probably only the 8-10th best rookie in the NBA, but he's the second-best rookie in the west.
Click to expand...

Hey, there are a few guys like Adams I still like, and I really wanted Noel and he's yet to play, but at this point this has been a 2-rookie class, and even those two guys (MCW and Oladipo) are shooting .393 and .415. Ben is actually the third leading scoring rook in the league at 8.8ppg on .371 shooting. The #1 pick could turn out to be an all time bust on the LaRue Martin scale. Its pretty dire.
 
Meanwhile in the Magic/Sixers game, two rookies are showing McLemore what a typical rookie of the month might look like

Dipo - 26/9/10
Carter-Williams 24/11/8

and the game isn't over and looks like its going to OT.

If Ben had a game that even resembled something like this he would have this forum eating out of his hand. Those two rookies are definitely head and shoulders above the rest of the rather weak class as of right now
 
He, who? McLemore hasn't hit eleven shots in a game all year. Hell, he's only attempted more than eight five times.
 
Sorry thought we were talking about carter-Williams , although now that I look back I was wrong.

Mclemore has never shot 11-19.
 
Burke is playing better and better after recovering from a broken hand in training camp. He make a huge difference to the Jazz who have won 3 out their last 4.
 
Kingsfan23 said:
Meanwhile in the Magic/Sixers game, two rookies are showing McLemore what a typical rookie of the month might look like

Dipo - 26/9/10
Carter-Williams 24/11/8

and the game isn't over and looks like its going to OT.

If Ben had a game that even resembled something like this he would have this forum eating out of his hand. Those two rookies are definitely head and shoulders above the rest of the rather weak class as of right now
Click to expand...
True, but if Ben was playing in the NBA's 2nd Division, the Eastern Conf, he'd probably have better numbers as well against the inferior competition.
 
rainmaker said:
True, but if Ben was playing in the NBA's 2nd Division, the Eastern Conf, he'd probably have better numbers as well against the inferior competition.
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure ... MCW and Oladipo have become the main guns for their teams. Defenses pay far more attention to them than they do to McLemore.
 
Oladipo and Burke at least have more college experience though and were expected to get up to speed quicker. Carter-Williams is a bit of a surprise, but he's doing to same things he did at Syracuse and I don't think he would be getting either the minutes or the opportunity to dominate the ball that he's getting in Philly anywhere else. I'm happy for him though, he was one of my favorites last year. We just have to continue to be patient with McLemore. The experience he's getting now is really going to pay off in a couple years when the team is ready to take the next step and he's ready to play like a veteran.
 
Good for McLemore. This kid is going to be extremely good in a couple of years. He's going to have some some awesome games for the Kings. It's just a question of time.
 
Shooters usually take some time in the NBA to get their feet under them. Curry had a relatively weak first half of his rookie season before catching fire the second half. Ditto Klay Thompson who I remember looking like a bust his first month at Golden State. I'm giving Ben a couple of years before I start to get worried.
 
Hadlowe said:
Shooters usually take some time in the NBA to get their feet under them. Curry had a relatively weak first half of his rookie season before catching fire the second half. Ditto Klay Thompson who I remember looking like a bust his first month at Golden State. I'm giving Ben a couple of years before I start to get worried.
Click to expand...

Bradley Beal just last year struggled a lot I think he shot like 33% from 3 and wizards forums were going crazy with the bust nonsense. He picked up his play by mid January now look at him.
 
Bricklayer said:
Hey, there are a few guys like Adams I still like, and I really wanted Noel and he's yet to play, but at this point this has been a 2-rookie class, and even those two guys (MCW and Oladipo) are shooting .393 and .415. Ben is actually the third leading scoring rook in the league at 8.8ppg on .371 shooting. The #1 pick could turn out to be an all time bust on the LaRue Martin scale. Its pretty dire.
Click to expand...

None of this stuff really matters very much in the grand scheme of things. Kobe Bryant didn't exactly tear it up his first year in the NBA. He didn't even start. Not saying that the outcome is going to be the same, but that is way to early to decide who's the best rookie in this current class. The only guy in the class that I was extremely high on was Oladipo. I'll admit that I wasn't a fan of Carter-Williams, and he's been a very nice surprise, but its still early, so we'll see. McLemore is another that came late to the game of basketball, so he has a lot to learn. That can be a good thing and a bad thing. The bad thing is that it will take him more time than usual, but the good thing is that you'll have the advantage of being able to mold him into your system. He's like an open book waiting for the pages to be written.
 
Oladipo and MCW really aren't playing that well... They both just essentially have total control of their teams. Im not worried about Ben at all. We've seen growth in the short time he's been a starter. His D on Westbrook was pretty damn good and gave us just a little taste of the kind of defender he can be.
 
I do feel that at a certain point in the second half of the season they will change the offense to get McLemore more shots. They need to figure out how both Ben and Derrick will play out for them. Cousins has already established himself.
 
The_Jamal said:
Oladipo and MCW really aren't playing that well... They both just essentially have total control of their teams. Im not worried about Ben at all. We've seen growth in the short time he's been a starter. His D on Westbrook was pretty damn good and gave us just a little taste of the kind of defender he can be.
Click to expand...

consistency is tough for rookies, particularly once opposing defenses take notice. the difference is that MCW has shown flashes of true franchise cornerstone potential already. i'm not too worried about ben, either, because i think he'll settle into his role with the kings just fine as he continues to develop, but it's unlikely that he'll have the impact that MCW and/or oladipo will have on their respective teams...
 
I see that Malone will experiment with Ben covering pgs. I don't have the link but it's in the Bee. I think it's a good idea AND it might take his mind off offense and hopefully offense will then come easier. Twisted logic I suppose. I think he's anxious and when he calms down the shots will fall. Man, he's quick.
 
Ben Mc is going to be good. he needs the ball more he needs to be more aggressive going to the rim
 
swisshh said:
I do feel that at a certain point in the second half of the season they will change the offense to get McLemore more shots. They need to figure out how both Ben and Derrick will play out for them. Cousins has already established himself.
Click to expand...

You gotta shoot better than .368 for that to happen.
 
The reality is that no-one who saw Ben play these opening games could have walked away saying, "Yep, there's your Western Conference Rookie of the Month."
It's all been about potential upside, hope of becoming a defender some day, hope that the shot will become consistent, and pleasant surprise at the consistent level of energy, effort, and hustle.

He had a bad Summer League and he's shown flashes of being a productive player, but his play has not translated into what we expect when you look at an honor such as Rookie of the Month'.

I personally hope that later in the season he wins the honor again, but with consistency and efficiency that better merits the honor bestowed.
 
Uncia03 said:
The reality is that no-one who saw Ben play these opening games could have walked away saying, "Yep, there's your Western Conference Rookie of the Month."
It's all been about potential upside, hope of becoming a defender some day, hope that the shot will become consistent, and pleasant surprise at the consistent level of energy, effort, and hustle.

He had a bad Summer League and he's shown flashes of being a productive player, but his play has not translated into what we expect when you look at an honor such as Rookie of the Month'.

I personally hope that later in the season he wins the honor again, but with consistency and efficiency that better merits the honor bestowed.
Click to expand...

Well to be fair to Ben, he was the most consistent and efficient ... out of well ... him and Steven Adams. I easily see him winning 2-3 more West Rookie of the Months. Who else in the West is really going to put up any competition other than Burke? But he's not and shouldn't be anywhere close in the discussion for ROY. That belongs to MCW/Oladipo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ockingsfan
Keegan Wins 2nd Rookie of the Month in a Row!!!
Replies
18
Views
1K
midtowner
M
King Baller
Buddy Hield - Western Conference Rookie of the Month
Replies
12
Views
766
ppine
P
E
Should Vlade At Least Be In The Conversation For Executive Of The Year?
Replies
24
Views
2K
pdxKingsFan
pdxKingsFan
Team_Dime
The Curious Case of Ben McLemore: A Forgotten King
2
Replies
33
Views
5K
lawlman91
lawlman91
Y
Carter-Williams, McLemore win rookie awards (The SportsXchange)
Replies
0
Views
504
Yahoo! Sports - NBA -
Y
Back
Top