Derrick Rose. He's on a team that might actually make the playoffs and is probably the biggest reason for it.
It'll be Rose. When they look at it between Rose/Westbrook, they will realize that Rose has a higher PPG, a much higher FG%, and more assists. O.J. Mayo might garner some big votes, but if Rose makes the playoffs I think there is no chance for either of the other two. Plus, Mayo/Westbrook are in smaller markets. The sportswriters vote on this, and as Sam Smith has pointed out, Chicago has a really big share of the people who vote on this, and they will all vote for Rose. Rose will be first, followed by Mayo, followed by Westbrook in the voting.
Lopez has just won 2 straight ROM, as a THIRD OPTION, and he hasn't even been mentioned in this thread. Not saying he should win it, but he's doing extremely well.
It's amazing how he slipped down to #10. Bulls fans, had their consensus top 3 being Rose if we got the first pick, Beasley if we got the second pick, and Lopez if we got the third pick. He obviously had a lot of talent, and is big, so you would think he would have went earlier. Lopez actually is the best rookie so far this season, but he doesn't have the hype like Rose, Mayo, and Westbrook to win the award.
Oden will likely make 2nd team because there isn't really another good center in this rookie class, aside from him and Lopez.
Marc Gasol, and they don't really do it by position. First Team: Derrick Rose OJ Mayo Russell Westbrook Eric Gordon Brook Lopez Second Team: Michael Beasley Kevin Love Rudy Fernandez Marc Gasol Oden can definitely make hte team, but D.J. Augustin, Mario Chalmers, and Jason Thompson all could take a claim of that 10th spot.
I'd have to go with Derrick Rose too. I'd list it as: Rose Mayo Lopez Westbrook Beasley at this point. If Oden comes back before the playoffs (he said in an interview he was hoping to be playing by the end of this week but isn't positive it will hapen) and puts up his season averages or more he'll make second team. I am not sure what will happen if he doesn't. He does make a bigger impact than his numbers suggest though and I think some of the voters would realize that.
Westbrook not getting nearly enough love here. Two ROM awards, a triple double and on track to join Grant Hill, Penny, LeBron, Steve Francis and Chris Paul as the only rookies to average 15/5/5 in the last two decades. Is Mayo in front of him purely because he scores two more baskets a game?
It'll be interesting to see how this goes. I think Rose still probably gets it because the Bulls will make the playoffs, and he has comparable stats to Mayo/Westbrook. But he has been playing shitty for the entire of 2009.
It if wasn't for fucking Lionel Hollins Mayo would be in the lead right now. Hollins system sucks for Mayo and is amazing for Conley. Mayo needs to start being more aggressive too. Takes way to many jumpers when he could easily drive to the basket.
I know . Mayo is on my fantasy team and I just cut ties with him (and ironically kept Conley) this week because he has been sucking up a storm. So being this is our 2nd week in the playoffs, I picked up Wilson Chandler (4 games next week compared to Mayo's 3 in the championship round) in case I make it to the finals