http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-rookiechallenge&prov=ap&type=lgns NEW YORK (AP) -- San Antonio Spurs guard Emanuel Ginobili will replace Houston Rockets center Yao Ming in the Rookie Challenge game Feb. 8 during NBA All-Star weekend. Yao won't play in the rookie game because he was chosen in fan voting to start for the Western Conference in the All-Star game Feb. 9 in Atlanta. Ginobili, originally drafted by the Spurs in 1999, played the last four seasons in the Italian League. This season, he is averaging 5.1 points and 3.11 steals (which ranks fourth in the NBA). The Rookie Challenge features the last two classes of rookies. Nine of the best second-year players will square off against the top rookies from this season. This is the fourth year of the rookie vs. sophomore format. The game is known as the 2003 got milk? Rookie Challenge.
Ginobili? He hasn't done jack all season. That article is wrong in Ginobili's steals totals. 3.11 is per 48 minutes. Marko Jaric got robbed. Check the numbers: Jaric: 33 games, 7.6 points/game, 3.0 assists per, 2.6 boards per, 1.61 steals per, FG % .382, FT % .824, 1.61 TO per Ginobili: 32 games, 5.1 points/game, 1.4 assists per, 2.18 boards per, 1.31 steals per, FG % .404, FT % .636, 1.22 TO per Jaric wasn't the only one robbed. I would have picked Junior Harington, Smush Parker, Jauquin Hawkins, and Dan Gadzuric all over Ginobili. Sometimes the NBA baffles me on some of its selections for events such as these.
Yao Ming = class act. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/rox/1757293 Rookie spirit Center Yao Ming was replaced on the rookie All-Star team on Wednesday by Spurs guard Manu Ginobili. But Yao said he would be there with the rookie team anyway. "Because I am a rookie," Yao said of his interest in being with the Western Conference rookies the day before he starts for the Western Conference All-Stars. "I think to stay in my room and be bored, it would be better to go watch the game. I think I would rather sit with my fellow rookies." Yao said he had even thought playing in the game would be nice. That option is not available, but he thought better of it anyway. "I think that would be like a back-to-back," he said. "I don't think so."
It AINT all about the stats. Here are some highlights from last nights game. DUDE is a stud, and has serious skill and court sense. Now that his ankle is coming around; us Spurs fans are just kind of kicked back thinking the future might be kind of bright. http://nbabasketball.isCool.net/Spurs_Pacers 008.wmv (Manu Drive) http://nbabasketball.isCool.net/Spurs_Pacers 014.wmv (Manu 2 David) http://nbabasketball.isCool.net/betweenthelegs.wmv http://nbabasketball.isCool.net/Spurs_Pacers 010.wmv (Manu 2 Duncan) http://nbabasketball.isCool.net/Spurs_Pacers 013.wmv (Manu Drives) http://nbabasketball.isCool.net/Spurs_Pacers 023.wmv (Manu Jumpshot)
