I see him making the 3 PT contest, but I'd have to say no on the rookie game. Too many better players this year
Who does he deserve it over? Westbrook B. Lopez Love Fernandez Rose Mayo Oden Beasley Gasol Gordon Chalmers Thompson Augustin these guys all probably deserve it over Morrow. The rookie team only has 9 guys, so there are probably 4 guys ahead of Morrow who won't even be on the team
The rookie squad doesn't have a swingman type small forward except for Beasley who is more of an Antoine Walker type position.
Well, only 9 were selected. And out of that 9, I can try to make a case that Morrow deserved it over Rudy Fernandez. Fernandez: 10.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.1 apg Morrow: 9.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.0 apg These stats are basically a wash, with the slight advantage going to Fernandez. On paper, it goes to Fernandez. My case, though, rests on two things: minutes and percentages. First minutes: Fernandez averages 26.2 mpg, and Morrow only 20.3 mpg. The reason is that Morrow is only now starting to emerge and get more minutes, combined with Nellie's inconsistent rotations. So I go to stats per 48 minutes. My reasoning goes that "if these two players spent the same amount of time on the floor, which one would be more productive?" Obviously, there are contingencies to this: someone who has played 1 game all year, and scored 6 points in 8 minutes of garbage time, would have an average of 36 points per 48 minutes. So that would be skewed. But when talking about players who have played the majority of the season, per 48 is a good indicator of what they've done with their minutes; how they've taken advantage of playing time when they get it. Per 48 minutes, the stats are: Morrow: 22.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists Fernandez: 19.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists So here, it's generally even, but Morrow does have a small advantage overall. So then I look at percentages. Fernandez shoots 41.8% FG and 38.8% from three Morrow shoots 47.5% FG and 50.6% from three Morrow is the clear winner there. He puts the ball in the basket better than anyone else in the NBA from the three point line. He just doesn't miss. But what's also impressive is his overall FG% -- his mid-range jumper is lights out, and he's starting to finish around the basket with finger rolls, floaters and put backs. Because the stats are basically even, I think Morrow deserves the nod here simply for his flame-torching shooting accuracy, and his sudden emergence as a crowd favorite and the most exiting shooter on the Warriors.
What about defense? I have only seen Morrow play once and I thought in that game Rudy played better defense
Good question. I honestly haven't seen much of Fernandez's defense -- he may be a lock-down defender, and if so, that might give him the nod. But Morrow is one of the more energetic defenders on the team. He's not that quick, though. But he makes up for it with hustle. He gives twice as much effort as Maggette (which isn't saying much, lol). Morrow holds his own, scraps for loose balls and rebounds well for his position. He's just not naturally quick and doesn't move laterally as well as some. He won't get benched for lack of effort, though.
Fernandez isn't really a lockdown defender, he takes charges well, has flopped a little, is great at getting steals, pretty good as staying in front of his man, and is very scrappy.
LOL Don Nelson is funny! "He is leading the league in 3-point shooting and he is having an awful good year for a rookie," Nelson said Monday. "Especially when you (media) guys say I don't play rookies. So he must be unbelievable."
