Court Awareness: Thursday Review 2009-01-16 News New Jersey Nets

Last year the undisputed weakness for the Chicago Bulls was the lack of a low-post threat. So with Michael Beasley available for the taking on Draft Day 2008, I thought it a forgone conclusion the Bulls would take the Kansas State product after landing the No. 1 pick.

Bleacher Report

Friday's action

LeBron leads Cavs past Paul, Hornets
Sixers smoke Spurs for 6th straight win
Wizards end skid by rallying past Knicks
Pacers hold off Raptors' rally
Durant, Thunder dump slumping Pistons
Jazz end road woes in Memphis
Foye, T-Wolves get past Suns on road
Redd drops 44 as Bucks edge Kings
Crawford, Warriors down Hawks
Howard lifts Magic over Lakers

FOXSports.com analysis

Hill: LeBron's game still growing
Rosen: Why Spurs are unappreciated
Hill: NBA's six most improved players
Galinsky: NBA Power Rankings

Video

Hill: Lakers win in defeat
Hill: What's T-Mac's future?
Hill: Boston's offensive issues
One-on-one with Rashard Lewis

Photos

LeBron, Cavs crush Celtics
2008 year in the NBA

Compared to today's elite point guards, Rose is on par to join their status sooner than later. His stats thus far (16.9 ppg and 6.3 apg) compare favorably with the rookie stats of Chris Paul (16.1 ppg and 7.8 ppg), Deron Williams (10.8 ppg and 4.5 apg), Jason Kidd (11.7 ppg and 7.7 apg), late-bloomer Steve Nash (3.3 ppg and 2.1 apg) and Tony Parker (9.2 ppg and 4.3 apg).

So while the Bulls' lack of scoring on the block is still an issue, it's no longer a question of if they made the right pick last June; it's whether they knew Rose would be this good, this soon.

Other Notes

Did the crab dribble controversy intimidate LeBron James into shooting a contested jumper at the end of regulation Thursday night? Doubtful. James confessed to being slowed down by a cold on his way to a frigid 8-for-28 shooting night. The sick superstar also coughed up eight turnovers.

Will Tyrus Thomas turn into one of those guys whose production never equals his talent? 15 points and seven rebounds is decent enough, until you see he played 37 minutes.

The Suns are unable to get a crunch-time break. Tie game with five seconds on the clock, Grant Hill crosses up Anthony Carter like it's 1996 only to get tripped by Carter while simultaneously getting hit by Nene Hilario. No whistle. Then in overtime, Kenyon Martin pulls a Tim Duncan on Phoenix, nailing the game-clinching three. Nuggets win 119-113.

As recently as last summer pundits still ridiculed Denver for taking Nene with the seventh pick over Amare Stoudemire. He made a nice retort Thursday night with 17 points and 14 rebounds, not to mention being relevant down the stretch, while Stoudemire was nowhere to be found.

The Nets' Bobby Simmons suffered the wrath of a bench-warmed Jerryd Bayless Thursday night. With Steve Blake out injured, Bayless got off the pine and into the scoring column, netting 23 points on 6-for-9 shooting, a pristine 11-for-11 free throw shooting, and a nasty cram on Simmons' dome late in the fourth. Portland won 105-99.

If the coaches care more about team success than individual production, the Nets' Devin Harris may not make the cut for All-Star Weekend. The Nets (19-21) have lost three of their last four and their next three games are against Boston, New Orleans and San Antonio.

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