Griffin says slow start cost him rookie nod By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle SALT LAKE CITY -- For weeks, friends have been telling Eddie Griffin that he just had to make the rookie team in the All-Star Weekend's Rookie Challenge game in his hometown of Philadelphia. But Griffin didn't make the team, which was announced Wednesday, and his friends likely are hardly more upset than Rockets teammates who are "furious" at a "ridiculous" oversight. Griffin was more diplomatic, citing his late start. "It's disappointing because it's in Philly," Griffin said. "I was looking forward to it. I started playing good too late. That's probably what it was. Other guys in my position were going good the whole season. I'm disappointed, but I'm still going to keep working hard." Teammates said Griffin had done enough lately to have made the team. "It is ridiculous, ridiculous," Rockets forward Maurice Taylor said. "There is not a better rookie forward in the league. How can you dispute that? He's the best shot-blocking rookie that a lot of people have seen in a long time. He's the best rookie in the league. He deserves to be in the game." Griffin has been moving up the statistical charts but still has a long way to go to catch Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol, the rookie leader in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. Griffin is averaging 7.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots in 32 games this season. In the past seven games, beginning with a breakout game against the Lakers, Griffin has averaged 15.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.43 blocked shots. He ranks fourth among rookies in blocked shots, rebounds and 3-point percentage and is the only rookie in the top five in those three categories. "I just couldn't believe it," Rockets guard Cuttino Mobley said. "I don't know what it is. I told him all he can do is go out and play. ... I'm upset for him. Of all the rookies, he's been playing the best the last month." Gasol, his teammate Shane Battier, Boston's Joe Johnson, Detroit Zeljko Rebraca, Indiana's Jamaal Tinsley, Golden State's Jason Richardson, San Antonio's Tony Parker, Utah's Andrei Kirilenko and Washington's Brendan Haywood were named to the rookie team. Chicago's Marcus Fizer, New Jersey's Kenyon Martin, Seattle's Desmond Mason, Cleveland's Chris Mihm, Orlando's Mike Miller, Charlotte's Lee Nailon, Toronto's Morris Peterson, the Clippers' Quentin Richardson, Memphis' Stromile Swift and Sacramento's Hedo Turkoglu are on the team of second-year players. "I'm furious," Rockets guard Steve Francis said. "I don't see how the NBA could leave him off the team." Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich was not as angry as his players but had expected Griffin to make the rookie team. He said the decision may motivate Griffin to play even better. "I definitely think the guy is one of the best rookies in the league," Tomjanovich said. "These things happen. They happen in All-Star games and things like that. Watching how Eddie's playing, I didn't have a doubt that he would be in the game. ... But there are other guys. I haven't seen everybody play." http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sportsbk/bkn/1205536 What about Langhi and Collier, they got completely shafted!!!
Dammit, how the hell can they leave Dan Langhi off the sophmore list. It must be a conspiracy!!! Dan Langhi Conspiracy Victim
seriously...if the rookie game required one player from each team represent the team, who would be our sophmore pick, collier or Danny boy?
I guess the NBA knows that last year's rookies, one of the worst rookie classes I can remember, will get beat down by this year's rookies like they were beaten by the Sophmores last year, led by Francis, Brand, Odom, and co. The NBA doesn't want to stack this year's rooks TOO much...
The one thing that sticks out to me is the way Eddies teammates are sticking up for him. That has got to make Eddie feel good.
Yeah, Interesting that Mo is standing up for him the most, and they may be each other's comp next season. I like that though.
