ROY Watch in Full Swing

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Glenn Rogers: The battle for rookie of the year will be fun to watch, with several top candidates</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=211&xlc=901580" target="top">The Express-News</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> <br>
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Web Posted : 12/22/2002 12:00 AM <br>
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Memphis president Jerry West was feeling pretty good about his rookie forward earlier this year.<br>
Said West, a keen judge of basketball skills: "I've got the rookie of the year."<br>
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West was referring to 6-foot-9 Drew Gooden, a formidable package of basketball talent. West's new team, the Memphis Grizzlies, had snatched the former Kansas star with the No. 4 pick in the June draft.<br>
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Gooden, a strong addition to the front line, averages 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds. But he has serious NBA Rookie of the Year competition from a couple of guys who heated up after West's statement.<br>
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Cleveland's Dajuan Wagner is back from a bladder infection that sidelined him for 14 games. Observers figure the Cavaliers wouldn't have landed in the East's dumpster if he had played from the get-go. Wagner is a sparkplug scorer, averaging 18.2 points a game.<br>
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"With all due respect to Jerry West, I have the two best rookies," Cavaliers coach John Lucas said. "I love what both of them are doing for us."<br>
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Lucas speaks of Wagner and Carlos Boozer.<br>
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"I'm not necessarily trying to win rookie of the year. I'm just going out trying to play my best every game to help us win," said Wagner, adding that he felt great to be on the floor and not lying in a hospital bed. <br>
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He spends the most time on the floor of any top rookie, putting in a starter's average of 36.8 minutes per game.<br>
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Boozer won't be in the running for top honors, but he's a candidate for the NBA rookie All-Star team with his 8.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. <br>
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While Wagner would more than give Gooden a run for the money for top rookie honors, he's not the main threat.<br>
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That person stands about 7-5 and wears a Rockets' jersey. He was the No. 1 pick who has allowed Coach Rudy Tomjanovich to stop worrying and announce that Yao is now.<br>
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Yao Ming has more than that solid-pick, strong-piece look about him. He has the smell of franchise player.<br>
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He will force foes to alter their offensive and defensive structures. He's only playing about 25 minutes a game, yet he averages nearly 12 points, hauls down 7.7 rebounds and blocks 1.9 shots.<br>
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There are more rookie hits.<br>
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Miami's Caron Butler drew plenty of preseason attention as a top prospect and hasn't disappointed. Butler averages 12.3 points and 6.0 boards.<br>
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Butler also plays starter minutes — about 35 a game.<br>
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West loves Gooden, but he certainly hasn't failed to notice his teammate, Gordon Giricek. The Spurs liked Giricek enough to pick him up in a 1999 draft-night deal with Dallas.<br>
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Thus far, the 6-6 Croatian guard, who played overseas until this season, is averaging 10.4 points during his 25 minutes a game.<br>
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More than a few pundits said Phoenix drew the best bet for top rookie when it grabbed high school star Amare Stoudemire at No. 9. He's an athletic banger, and he's making noise with 10.4 points, 1.2 blocks and 8.3 rebounds per game.<br>
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No one has given up on the No. 2 pick by Chicago — Jay Williams. But it's tough to make an impact on a team struggling to stay out of the league's basement.<br>
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Maybe a recent string of Bulls' wins will turn a few cameras on Williams. As of Friday, the little guy was averaging 10.8 points and a rookie-leading 5.6 assists.<br>
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"When it's all said and done, Jay Williams may end up coming out on top," Scoop Jackson, talent scout and pro basketball magazine editor told the Chicago Sun-Times. <br>
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Denver is content with its neophyte — Nene Hilario, a No. 7 pick by the Knicks and moved to the Nuggets along with Marcus Camby for Antonio McDyess. Hilario, a 6-11 Brazilian, averages 5.5 rebounds and 7.9 points in 25 minutes of action.<br>
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On the other hand, Denver may be concerned about its No. 5 choice, 7-foot Nikoloz Tskitishvili, who is averaging about 12 minutes a game. <br>
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And thus far, the Golden State Warriors must be worrying about the No. 3 pick — Mike Dunleavy. The Duke star, bothered by aching knees through the early weeks of the season, is mustering a disappointing 4.5 points and 2.1 rebounds a game. <br>
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grogers@express-news.net<br>
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12/22/2002 <br>
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It is so sad that Manu isn't even mentioned due to his injury and the over-hype of others <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

I think mostly because of his injury. He wasn't able toplay to his potential because of the injury and then he had to be benched because of it. That's okay, at least he is with us.<br>
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Also, one thing I have been waiting for cane up in half time lastnight. Manu actually said his last name. That's the first time for me. There has been a lot of talk as to how to say it. He pronounced it Gen-ob-lee instead of Gee-no-be-lee.<br>
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<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :whip --><img src=http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/spursdominion/images/whip.gif ALT=":whip"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.sahoops.net/SCsigAlamoBlack.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--> </p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub61.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=spursman>Spursman</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.ezboard.com/ezgfx/gicons/anim_1.gif" BORDER=0> at: 12/22/02 7:07:00 am<br></i>

I hear ya. I really want Manu back in full force and I want him to get some isolation plays to show his stuff. He's a fearless rim attacker...well, I hope he still is after the multiple-ankle sprains. I'm sure he'll be fine. ROY ain't nuttin'. Him coming back and giving us around 9 or 10 points a game in his rookie season, and timely points at that, plus some good D should help the Spurs tremendously come playoff time. <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RwC7BM4UPN4vSzvW7PLtkWgZAuhj38V0TWfeUgTe5oMC4wVam*gsnDSWBHC8gBmc*VJHFg2ilkI*7kxgMXbp5uqYP9JIkWMH8B4h4FlPcaI/GD-final.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--> </p><i></i>

Also, the question is when he will come back? Last time he had about a month and it was too soon. Then he tweaked it a few more times. He should stay out till at least the All Star Break, although I would be surprised if he did.<br>
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<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :whip --><img src=http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/spursdominion/images/whip.gif ALT=":whip"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.sahoops.net/SCsigAlamoBlack.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--> </p><i></i>

I think they should leave Manu on IR until his ankle feels 100%. What would be the use of bringing him back to early if he tweaks his ankle again and is of little use to the Spurs in the most important part of the year - the second season.<br>
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I would think a more realistic timeline would be until sometime after the All-Star break at least, but that may not jive with what Coach POP and the Spurs want. <p></p><i></i>

How badly does Manu want to play against Jordan? <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RQDqBOQUv96Q*aAyXJvhC4PpiqY5aClJPVxG2NkCtZhZohfA18sp9cB0Mm2RXo3eDH31HP7*AzJAdc6m90L45YCEuPWDr1AM8aLtyvld1AI/SAmikeyp.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--> </p><i></i>

Nbadan, this is you an I:<br>
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Know what that means? We are on the same wavelength<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rock --><img src=http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/spursdominion/images/rock.gif ALT=":rock"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/image/emoticons_classic/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :whip --><img src=http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/spursdominion/images/whip.gif ALT=":whip"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.sahoops.net/SCsigAlamoBlack.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--> </p><i></i>

Would Manu be happier with a healthy ankle and help the team get to/win the finals or winning the ROY / playing against Jordan? <p></p><i></i>

Manu should take his time.As much as i'm a Manu fan and i'd really like seing him play this season,i think Manu should take it easy and play when he is ready... <p> <br>
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