NBA Rookie Rankings: Starting New Season With Big Injury

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At the beginning of the preseason, Blake Griffin had already had one injury, and it wasn't any question that he was still No. 1 in the Rookie Rankings.

Now that each team has played a game, and we've seen everybody but Griffin, not so much.

Blake has given us writers a reason to actually make Rookie Rankings.

1. Jonny Flynn - It's so tempting not to put him at No. 1 because he missed the game winning shot (though the Wolves won anyway). It's so tempting not to put him at No. 1 because I'm biased.

But the sixth overall pick showed up late in the fourth quarter to give the Wolves the push to even come close to a "W." Leadership is definitely a factor in these rankings.

2. Terrence Williams  - Man on fire. Seemed unstoppable to the Wolves as he found a way to earn a double-double in the opener on the road. Keep it up, and he'll be in some serious consideration for the top spot, even when Blake gets back.

3. DeJuan Blair - A double-double off the bench? Sounds pretty dang good to me. Enough to keep him at the two spot for now. In San Antonio, he's not going to get too many starting minutes, but the late steal in Texas has proved that he can put his name up there. He's got a shot at the Sixth man of the Year slot though.

4. Stephen Curry  - Hitting over half of his shots, giving him a 14 point, seven assist night, is a very good start for the rookie. Bravo, Stephen Curry, on your one-point loss against a T-Mac and Yao-less Rockets.

5. Ty Lawson - Because who you are accounts for some of opening night, Ty Lawson isn't higher. He dropped 17 against the Jazz, but points aren't everything. A backup to Chauncey Billups isn't the best possible scenerio for him. If he improves his position on the team, maybe start in tandem with Billups, he's in great shape.

6. Blake Griffin - Down, but not out. Not the greatest number of rookies stepped it up on opening night, and so Blake can still show what he's got in 20 fewer games than the other guys. No one is counting him out, but other players are suddenly being counted in.

7. Tyreke Evans  - Couldn't make a third of his shots, and only made double figures by a point, Tyreke seems like he's slipping. Remember he was rated No. 1 after Blake went down. On the Kings, it should be pretty easy to shine.

8. Omri Casspi - If Evans wasn't taken so much higher than Casspi, he'd be beating him by a lot. When you have a point for almost every minute you play, you know you're doing alright, and Omri, is doing all right. Best foreign rookie so far.

9. Wayne Ellington - The tall guard drafted late for the Wolves played some solid minutes off the bench. The seventh most efficient rookie in the openers, he showed the Wolves some quality time on the floor grabbing six rebounds and eight points. Solid.

10. Theeverybodyelserookie - Let's face it, not too many rookies showed off all of their quality stuff on opening night. Hasheem Thabeet didn't score a point, James Harden didn't make three baskets, and Brandon Jennings hasn't played yet.

So to make quality predictions, we still have to wait a few more weeks. But one game down, and those are your top rookies.

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