Bill Walker doesn't get any respect! (David Thorpe reaction)

[indeedproceed]

David Thorpe just listed his top 50 rookies. Some surprises in there, y'all can check it out but the biggest surprise for me, Bill Walker is not listed.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/rookies/rankings

Guy who ARE listed:

Nathan Jawal
Semih Erden
Tadija Dragicevic
Darnell Jackson

JR Giddens is ranked number 26

Thorpe, drop the bias against the green.

[wdleehi]

Greg Oden is number 2?  (based on two healthy legs)


Is Beasley training with him?

[D Dub]

I have got a good feeling about this Walker kid...

[Roy Hobbs]

I'm shocked Giddens made his list at all, much less at #26.  Thorpe has had a pretty clear anti-Celtics bias for the last several years, which I attribute to the team cutting Thorpe-client Orien Greene.

I'm not sure what the rankings are supposed to be measuring:  talent?  Future potential?  This year's impact?

Regardless of which of the above it is, Sasha Kaun doesn't belong anywhere near the list.  If he's considering future potential, where is Pekovic?

[indeedproceed]

I'm shocked Giddens made his list at all, much less at #26.  Thorpe has had a pretty clear anti-Celtics bias for the last several years, which I attribute to the team cutting Thorpe-client Orien Greene.

I'm not sure what the rankings are supposed to be measuring:  talent?  Future potential?  This year's impact?

Regardless of which of the above it is, Sasha Kaun doesn't belong anywhere near the list.  If he's considering future potential, where is Pekovic?

It seems like bossman at espn told him "Hey, Thorpedo, make a crappy list of 50 rookies without doing any real research or knowledge. Thanks"

[Roy Hobbs]

I'm shocked Giddens made his list at all, much less at #26.  Thorpe has had a pretty clear anti-Celtics bias for the last several years, which I attribute to the team cutting Thorpe-client Orien Greene.

I'm not sure what the rankings are supposed to be measuring:  talent?  Future potential?  This year's impact?

Regardless of which of the above it is, Sasha Kaun doesn't belong anywhere near the list.  If he's considering future potential, where is Pekovic?

It seems like bossman at espn told him "Hey, Thorpedo, make a crappy list of 50 rookies without doing any real research or knowledge. Thanks"

If I was looking something done sloppily, quickly, and without any real thought or effort, David Thorpe would definitely be the man for the job.  His chat sessions are legend.

I'm disappointed he couldn't work some condescension into his list somehow, though.  He must get paid extra for that.

[Brendan]

Linking to Thorpe is a waste of cyberspace - it just gets his articles CBlog traffic. I follow that as much as a Danny Boy link from BSMW - i.e. not at all.

[Brickowski]

If the folks on this forum were to start a thread every time someone on ESPN did something stupid, we'd be posting 24x7 and would have no time for anything else.

[johnnyrondo]

If the folks on this forum were to start a thread every time someone on ESPN did something stupid, we'd be posting 24x7 and would have no time for anything else.

Anyone know if Jemele has written anything recently. Maybe an article comparing rooting for the Celtics to rooting for a hurricane? Link please.

[fairweatherfan]

I'm shocked Giddens made his list at all, much less at #26.  Thorpe has had a pretty clear anti-Celtics bias for the last several years, which I attribute to the team cutting Thorpe-client Orien Greene.

I'm not sure what the rankings are supposed to be measuring:  talent?  Future potential?  This year's impact?

Regardless of which of the above it is, Sasha Kaun doesn't belong anywhere near the list.  If he's considering future potential, where is Pekovic?

It seems like bossman at espn told him "Hey, Thorpedo, make a crappy list of 50 rookies without doing any real research or knowledge. Thanks"

If I was looking something done sloppily, quickly, and without any real thought or effort, David Thorpe would definitely be the man for the job.  His chat sessions are legend.

I'm disappointed he couldn't work some condescension into his list somehow, though.  He must get paid extra for that.

There's a saying I'm fond of that says roughly "Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity."  I agree with Roy's second post more than his first - I don't think Thorpe is intentionally biased against Boston, I just think he's intellectually lazy and much more ignorant than he believes he is.  Hence, the dump-in-a-box we all just clicked on.

[Chris]

Greg Oden is number 2?  (based on two healthy legs)


Is Beasley training with him?

I actually agree with having Beasley #1.  He is going to put up some gaudy numbers, and Miami is going to be very much improved.  I think Oden is going to be good as well, but he will still be developing...Beasley is going to be an absolute monster right away.  I would not be the least bit surprised if Beasley averaged 22 and 11 next year.  Yeah, the defense makes a difference...but its tough to argue about a dominant player like Beasley.

In general though, I think this list is garbage.  Eric Gordon at 22?  How is Sasha Kaun even on the list?

I lost all respect for this guy, when he spent half of his chats for a while talking up Orien Greene a couple of years ago.

[guava_wrench]

He did put Erden at 42, so I don't see the anti-Celtic claim. Maybe he just doesn't think Walker will be healthy enough to play, though it is silly to include Erden who is under contract in Turkey.

He also ranked Giddens above Giddens draft position, despite having Oden and Fernandez pushing people lower. That is not an anti-Celtic move.

[cordobes]

Well, I think it's acceptable making a top-50 list without Walker. A matter of opinion and emphasis.

On the other hand, the absence of Pekovic in a list that includes guys like Ibaka, Ajinca, Erden, Jawai, Kaun, Dragicevic, every other non-lotto rookie center and Rudy Fernandez in the 3rd place, is absolutely laughable.

[quikblink]

The list ranks rookies impact on that years team.  BBD was in and out of the top 10 all last year.  It makes sense that Walker isnt on the list considering he will probably not get any PT this year.

[cordobes]

The list ranks rookies impact on that years team.  BBD was in and out of the top 10 all last year.  It makes sense that Walker isnt on the list considering he will probably not get any PT this year.

Ah, that explains how Erden ranked so well.