Let's be honest, the race for 2010-2011 Rookie of The Year is a race between two players, John Wall (above) and Blake Griffin (below). For a second let's pretend that the NBA doesn't keep track of stats and the award is given to the person who's play is the best, who do you give the award to? Here's my argument for both players...
John Wall: Watching John Wall it's easy to see why he is considered to be arguably the best rookie in the NBA right now. No one can catch him in the open court, he gets to the rim whenever he pleases, but more importantly he's making his teammates around him better. By being an effective Point Guard he's taking the load of Gilbert Arenas (he could use the lack of attention this season) on the offensive end, and he's making the Washington Wizard bigs actually have to roll to the hoop LOOKING for the ball. He has improved the Wizards with his play so far this season. The only thing hurting him would be is current injury which has sidelined him for a couple games, but those games that he has sat out it is apparent that the Wizards need him on the floor. Wall for R.O.Y
Blake Griffin: If you had to ask anyone if Blake Griffin should be the Rookie of The Year, ask the rim at the Staples Center. Blake Griffin this season as beat up the rim the same way Ike used to beat Tina, the only difference is that people like it when Griffin beats up on the rim. Clippers fans worried about Griffin after losing him for his first season (Griffin sat out all of last season due to knee surgery), perhaps thinking that when he came back he wouldn't be as explosive as he was at Oklahoma University...boy were they wrong. All Griffin has been doing this season is dunking, and if you just so happen to be under, around, or in front of the rim you're just there to be a part of a Sportcenter highlight. Griffin has added a midrange shot to his game, and you can see that through his play so far this season. Teams are gonna try to give him a step but with that square-up-knock-down off the glass shot a part of his game, he's going to be an even bigger problem from the defense. Griffin is giving fans a reason to go to the Staples Center to watch Los Angeles play...that are NOT the Lakers. Griffin for R.O.Y
With that being said, who do you pick? Wall is going to have the ball in his hands more than Griffin which could contribute to Wall having better numbers at the end of the season than Griffin. Griffin though is going to dunk his way into your memory, trying to make the decision purely based on the excitement level of his play, not to mention his nearly double-double numbers. Could it come down to which team makes the playoffs? If that's the case the Clippers could be in trouble living in the West where let's be honest the better teams exist. The Wizards have a pretty good chance of getting the 7th or 8th spot in the East but can the Clippers do the same out in the West? Or could we have a repeat of the 1995 season where Grant Hill and Jason Kidd split the trophy? All I know is that both young men are fantastic players, and if you get a chance to watch them play jump at the opportunity.
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