Flagg, don’t think the Rookie of the Year award is guaranteed, there are more than one contenders

It is said that this year is a big year for the NBA draft, and it seems to be true. After two or three rounds of the regular season, 8 of the top 10 picks this year have averaged more than 10 points per game; only the 5th pick, Asberry, and the 10th pick, Maluachi, have less than 10 points. Maluachi is the buddy who sent blessings to Yang Hansen and said safe journey in Chinese; his poor data in the first few games is understandable. Playing center in the Suns does have a lot of competition and pressure, and he won't get much playing time for the time being.

However, Esberry was a bit disappointing. He was originally expected to be the top three picks in the draft, but due to his arrogant personality and other reasons, he eventually fell to the fifth pick and was selected by the Jazz. Bailey performed well in the preseason, averaging 16 points per game, but his true colors were revealed once the regular season came.

In two regular season games, Esberry averaged only 1 point and 3 rebounds in 17 minutes per game, and shot 10% from the field. It was a bit too terrible, and arrogance must have the qualifications to be arrogant. Let's see if Bailey can adjust his condition in time. Flagg, this year's much-anticipated No. 1 pick, is as popular as Zion and Wenban, and has the upper limit of Larry Bird and James. In the first two regular seasons, he averaged 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, and shot 37% from the field. This data can only be said to be adequate, and the efficiency is a bit low.

It may be the coach of the Mavericks. He has not found the best way to use Flagg yet and needs training and training. In Kidd's words, until the team recovers, Flagg will continue to serve as the starting point guard and develop his ball-holding ability.

This is understandable. If you want to become an all-around striker, the ability to hold the ball is the first step.

Other rookies who performed better, VJ Edgecombe, the 76ers' third overall pick, averaged 24.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2 steals in two games, shooting 46.3% from the field. He played so well in the opening game that he scored 34 points in his NBA debut. In other words, VJ is definitely one of the candidates for next year's best rookie, with a mature style of play and comprehensive skills.

Of course, VJ Edgecombe debuted as the third overall pick after all, and there is another rookie this year; based on his performance in the previous games and his draft pick, it is even more shocking. That is Cedric Coward, the Grizzlies' No. 11 pick, who can definitely compete for the Rookie of the Year. To put it less strictly, Coward actually has something to do with Yang Hansen, because the Trail Blazers selected him with the 11th pick, but then sent him to the Grizzlies for the 16th pick (Yang Hansen) + 3 draft picks.

At that time, many people thought the Grizzlies were crazy. After all, Coward only played 6 games at Washington State University before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. In order to get him, the Grizzlies also used 3 draft picks. However, from the limited samples in college, Coward has attracted the attention of scouts with his physical talent and 3D potential; especially his shooting, with smooth movements and high release point, he feels a bit like Leonard.

In the most recent game between the Grizzlies and the Pacers, Coward scored a team-high 27 points on 9 of 13 shots, as well as 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. What he shows on the court is not only his shooting talent and shooting ability, but also his excellent basketball intelligence and all-round offensive weapon arsenal. In the first three regular season games, Coward averaged 19.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

The key is its exaggerated shooting rate. The three shooting rates are 70.4/72.7/91.7%, and the shooting rate is 70% in 3 games. It is really scary. Grizzlies star Morant commented on this: "Cedric Coward's performance is something I have been witnessing, whether it is in training camp or in other games, I have been used to it. I just have been waiting for Cedric Coward Ward's explosion."

In the words of Yahoo Sports reporter Kroll: "The Grizzlies' selection of Cedric Coward was simply a robbing operation in this draft. In the third game of his career, Coward scored 27 points, 6 rebounds and 4 rebounds. Assist data. Three-pointers, pull-up jumpers and skillful breakthroughs, he showed such comprehensive skills. He was a Division III basketball player just a few years ago and then had a dramatic rise to become a lottery pick for the Grizzlies. "

The Grizzlies' selection of Coward is a double win, not only because Coward surprises everyone, performs beyond expectations, and the Grizzlies successfully pick up the slack; but also because Coward's personal attributes are a perfect fit for the Grizzlies. This offseason, the Grizzlies gave away Bane, the team's second-leading scorer; Bane has one of the best shooting attributes in the league, and Coward not only made up for Bane's loss, but also has a much higher defensive ceiling than Bane.

We can really look forward to the Grizzlies in the new season. Three or four years ago they were the strongest dark horse in the Western Conference, ranking among the top three in the Western Conference all year round. They beat the Thunder with 73 points to set the record for the largest point difference in NBA history. However, they have been quiet in the past two years. Now the Grizzlies have an opportunity to make a comeback. As long as Morant doesn't cause trouble, Jackson can maintain his DPOY dominance. Coupled with Coward's growth, he is still very competitive. What do you think?