Slept-On Young Gun Of The Week...3/27-4/3

LaMarcus Aldridge has the makings to be one of the top 4 or 5 bigs in The L in the next few years: 6-11, long, can run, and his midrange/fadeaway game is so sweet. While Greg Oden's been the focus of all the hype in Portland, LaMarcus may be the real post star. Aldridge has been consistent all season, averaging 18.6 in December and January, 18.7 in February, and 19.8 in March. He's been going insane over his last five though. Including Friday night's explosion for 35 and 18, he's put up 20+ four times, grabbed 12+ boards 3 times, and averaged 26.4 points and 10.8 rebounds. All while shooting 54%. He's gotten Rasheed Wallace comparisons, which may be warranted because of his long frame and the high release on his shot, but he's certainly got the potential to go far above and beyond what Sheed's done. Props to LaMarcus Aldridge.

Via: ESPN

Slept-On Young Gun Of The Week...3/20-2/27

CHI-TOWN STAND UP!!! Just cause the Pistons suck, doesn't mean Will Bynum shouldn't get some love for goin' hard all week. Although Detroit, who has been without A.I., Rip, and Sheed, is just 1-3 dating back to last Friday, don't point the finger at Will Bynum. After making a name for himself during G-Tech's National Championship run in 2004, Bynum had a stint with Golden St. and spent some time overseas before finally landing in The D. He's gotten inconsistent clock this season, but in the past week in roles as a starter and as a 6th man, Bynum's been good for 19 points and 7 dimes. Big ups to Will Bynum.

Via: ESPN

Slept-On Young Gun Of The Week...3/6-3/13

Devin Harris has been playing out of his mind since Dallas did the dumby and traded him last season, but he's gone especially hard this season. This week he came with more of the same. In the Nets 1-2 week dating back to last Friday, Harris has averaged just over 30 points, 10.3 dimes, 4.6 boards, and 2.3 steals. All well up from his season averages of 22 points, 7 assists, 3 boards, and a steal. Real talk, Devin Harris is up there Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Tony Parker as far as elite young PGs. Of those guards, he may be the best all-around scorer, plus he can distribute, has great hands, and is arguably the fastest PG in The League, save Tony Parker. 

Way to go Mark Cuban...

Slept-On Young Gun(s) Of The Week...2/27-3/6

Jarrett Jack...

Jarrett Jack was the man at G-Tech (i.e. their '04 run to the National Championship), and while he wasn't getting splinters out in Portland for his first three seasons, he was certainly under the radar. This season, though, since being traded to Indy over the summer, Jack's really gotten a chance to do his thing, especially in recent weeks. As opposed to running point solo, he's the second member in the Pacers' two-PG starting lineup, with T.J. Ford being the other half. In the Pacers' 4 games since last Thursday, Jack's averaged just over 21 a game, to go along with 4.5 assists. And he's done it on 48% shooting. Indy's gone 2-2 in that period. Moreover, while's been good for 12.5 points on the season, Jack's stepped that up to 20.4 since the All-Star break. Big ups to Jarrett Jack.

Via: ESPN

Slept-On Young Gun(s) Of The Week...2/6-2/13

It's all about the rookie guards this week. YG's of the week: Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, and Eric Gordon.

Russell Westbrook's had a nice week for the Thunder, who have gone 2-2 over the past 7 days. Russy's been filling up the stat sheet all week, averaging about 15 points, 8 boards, and 5 dimes. It's gonna be nice to see Westbrook develop over the next few years, as he may be the best all-around guard of the '08-'09 class. Those are pretty consistent with his numbers on the season, but the 8 boards is close to double his usual, 4.7.

Derrick Rose has had an outstanding week, too. Though the Bulls are just 1-2 this past week, D. Rose has been doing his thing, averaging 21 points, 6 dimes, 3 boards. The dimes and boards are what's been going on all season, but the 21 points is 5 up from his season average of 17.

Eric Gordon and the Clippers have been having a terrible season, but are 3-1 dating back to last Friday, and Gordon's been going off. In that time, he's been good for just over 20 points a night, 6 up from his season average, including 30 against NY. Even better, it's been done on 56% shooting. 

Big ups to these rooks. It should be a great Rookie/Sophomore Challenge. 

Via: ESPN

Slept-On Young Gun Of The Week...1/30-2/6

Jerryd Bayless has finally been gettin some burn. After his killer pre-season, in which he averaged damn near 30 points and won MVP of the Vegas Summer League. However, he started the season at the end of the Blazers bench - with DNP's for much of the season's first two months. His minutes increased in December, but lately, with Steve Blake injured, among others, Bayless has started getting some consistent tick. In the past week, in 3 games, Bayless has averaged 27 minutes and 13 points. Certainly not all-star numbers, but there huge improvements on his season averages of 14 minutes and 6 points per game. Big Ups To J. Bayless.

Slept-On Young Gun Of The Week...1/23-1/30

Don't get it twisted, Al Jefferson's been a monster in The League since '06, when he averaged 16 and 11 boards in Boston. Last year, he stepped his game up to 21 and 11 in Minnesota. And this year has called for more of the same: 23 and 11. The difference over this past month, and this past week in particular, has been the results in the Win/Loss columns. In each of those previous seasons, and the first 3 months of this current season, it's been mostly L's for Jefferson. However, in January, the Timberwolves have the best record in the league, at 10-3. Over the past week, Jefferson's led them to 3-2, including a win over New Orleans. In a win over the Bulls, Jefferson went off for 39 and 9. Jefferson, who's just 25, but already in his 5th season, has averaged nearly 28 and 10 dating back to last Friday, Jan. 23. And he gets the official "Slept On" title after being left off the All-Star team. Big ups To Al J.

Slept-On Young Gun Of The Week...1/15-1/22

Kevin Durant is this week's Slept-on Young Gun of the Week. Durant led the improving Thunder to a 2-1 record dating back to last Thursday, Jan. 15, logging 45+ minutes in every game. And despite having a bruised shoulder, KD's put up 32, 31, and 27, in games against Detroit, Miami, and Golden State, respectively. In addition, Durant's averaged 8 boards and 4 assists over that same time span. Most importantly, though, Durant has the Thunder playing far better than they earlier in the season. Granted, their just 9-34, 6 of those wins have come in the past 30 days. Big ups to KD.

Slept-On Young Gun Of The Week...

We always hear about Kobe, LeBron, D. Wade, Amare, etc. but there's a lot of Young Guns in The League who get slept-on daily, even though they put up NUMBERS. This award is for them...

Brandon Roy is this week's "Slept On Young Gun" of the week after averaging 22, 7, and 5 assists in his first week back after missing the previous four games due to injury. He's led the Blazers to a 3-1 record dating back to last Thursday, including wins over Golden St., Chicago, and New Jersey.

 

In just his 3rd season out of Washington, Roy has become one of the NBA's elite Point Forwards, and resembled Grant Hill prior to his downfall. Big ups to B Roy.