By Ryan Dennis
The Sports Lovers
2010-10-27
John Wall
Without even touching NBA paint yet, Wall is already one of the five most devastating transition players in the league, and he might be ahead of everyone in this category except LeBron James. He’ll have his 6-of-20 shooting nights and six turnover games, but he’s going to be fun to watch every night. If you haven’t seen this guy play, when you do, you’ll believe me when I say he might just change the game altogether.
Blake Griffin
Griffin has a chance to be the most destructive roll man since Amar’e Stoudemire. He’ll have a highlight dunk almost every night, but it’s his subtler skills — the quickly developing jumper and the better than advertised passing — that’s going to make Griffin exciting on every level. Love the way he plays, the way he dunks, and his upside on a team previously headed downhill. He’ll make a massive impact alongside FIBA world champion Eric Gordon.
DeMarcus Cousins
Cousins is part throw-back, part modern big man. And I don’t mean that in a lazy style of play sense like Paul Piece. He’s a back to the basket force but he also has range to 20 feet. He is also a good ball handler and passer for his size. There will be some yelling, probably some technicals and even a couple of disputes with 2009 NBA rookie of the year Tyreke Evans, but the baseline spin-dunk move is going to make it all worth it. For us and the previously woeful Kings.
Jrue Holiday
Holiday is already a handful on defense, and now he’s going to be the undisputed point guard in Philadelphia. Holiday, the youngest player i the league last season (he turned 20 on June 12), averaged double digits over the last three months of 2009-10 and flashed a reliable three-point shot I didn’t know he had. I expect his stat sheet to look like 14-7-5. Not bad for a 15th grader.
