NBA Power Rankings: 2nd Half Rookie Rankings

OK guys, we're about halfway (and in some cases, three-quarters of the way) through the 2011-2012 NBA season.

Kyrie Irving has clearly established himself as the front-running candidate for Rookie of the Year, but there have also been some quiet storms that could develop into quite the talents down the road.

So let's take a tour through the NBA and see who's leading the way in this week's rookie power rankings.

Rookies 25-20

25. Lavoy Allen: PF, Philadelphia 76ers 17.6 MPG, 5.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG

With Spencer Hawes out, Lavoy Allen has seen an increase in playing time and has done a lot with it. Getting quite a few starts as of late, expect Allen's production to see a slight increase over the next few games. 

24. Alec Burks: SG, Utah Jazz 12.5 MPG, 6.0 PPG 

Alec Burks is averaging less minutes than any other rookie drafted in the first round not named Shelvin Mack, excluding, of course, those overseas who did not travel. 

C.J. Miles and Raja Bell are putting up solid numbers in solid minutes, and until the Jazz start losing games, that's not going to change.

Alec Burks is a prolific scorer, but there's not much room in the rotation for him because of the stability of the Jazz rotation.

23. Klay Thompson: G, Golden State Warriors 16.7 MPG, 7.3 PPG, 44.3% 3PT

Like Alec Burks, Klay Thompson hasn't found much playing time behind Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, but he's doing what he can in the minutes he's been given: knocking down open shots.

22. Ivan Johnson: F, Atlanta Hawks 13.2 MPG, 4.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG

At first, I was enamored at how one player could invigorate a team with toughness and energy. But now that we all know Ivan Johnson is a tough cookie, we realize that he's not the greatest at doing much else. 

21. Andrew Goudelock: G, Los Angeles Lakers 11.5 MPG, 4.6 PPG

 "Mini Mamba," as Kobe Bryant likes to call him, Andrew Goudelock can flat-out ball. Of course, he's not going to see much time playing behind the Black Mamba, but if he can learn from one of the greatest, the Lakers could be fostering a monster in the future. 

20. Tobias Harris: F, Milwaukee Bucks 11.7 MPG, 5.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG

Tobias Harris returned from a shoulder injury, dropping 11 points and seven rebounds on the Wizards. While everything done to the Wizards defense should be taken with a grain of salt, Harris has a decent skill set that can develop into something very nice.

Rookies 19-13

19. Jon Leuer: F, Milwaukee Bucks 13.4 MPG, 5.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG

Jon Leuer is falling in and out of the rotation in Milwaukee more than the Denver crowd was falling in and out of love with J.R. Smith.

One week, he's playing minutes in the 20s, and the next week, he's barely coming off the bench.

If he doesn't get minutes again, he'll fall completely off the radar. 

18. Bismack Biyombo: C, Charlotte Bobcats 16.5 MPG, 3.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.7 BLKPG

Check this: Bismack Biyombo is second behind Serge Ibaka with 4.8 blocks per 48 minutes versus Ibaka's 5.58. To put it in perspective, the reigning three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard only averages 2.76 blocks per 48 minutes, and Marcus Camby, 2.98.

Biyombo is very raw offensively with a limited post game and little to no range on the jumper. He does, however, have great athleticism and a high motor, but it will continue to be his effort on the defensive end that will get him PT. 

17. Kenneth Faried: PF, Denver Nuggets 17.0 MPG, 7.6 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.1 BLKPG

Kenneth Faried had his best game against Portland on Wednesday, dropping 13 points and 10 rebounds in only 17 minutes of play. Not to mention he shot a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and helped get Denver a win over one of their many Northwest rivals.

Faried has no defined skill set, but he plays with his energy and athleticism and gets his buckets off the glass and in transition. He should continue to see decent minutes in Denver. 

16. Norris Cole: PG, Miami Heat 21.7 MPG, 8.7 PPG, 2.5 APG

 Norris Cole has found his niche in Miami. LeBron and D-Wade run the show, and it's his job to knock down the open looks that they get him, which he's been doing.

I don't think playing in Miami next to such talent is a true showing of one's abilities (see Mario Chalmers when both James and Wade were out), so I'd really like to see more of Cole in different scenarios. 

15. Tristan Thompson: PF, Cleveland Cavaliers 19.3 MPG, 7.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.2 BLKPG

As Thompson's begun to get more minutes alongside Kyrie Irving, his numbers have jumped up as well. In his last five games, the fourth-overall pick has posted three double-doubles and a near double-double in the Cavs' loss to the Knicks on Wednesday.

I think it's about time they relegate Omri Casspi to the bench, Antawn Jamison to the three and insert Tristan Thompson as the starting power forward in Cleveland. 

14. Iman Shumpert: G, New York Knicks 29.9 MPG, 10.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.0 STLPG

With Jeremy Lin's biggest weakness coming on the defensive end, Shump's been establishing his role on the Knicks as the primary perimeter defensive stopper. We saw it in Toronto when Jose Calderon was scorching Lin; Shumpert came through to save the day with a key steal leading to a go ahead dunk.

What worries me most is that he's going to have to look over his shoulder from this point on. The Knicks are stacked with guards (Lin, Fields, Davis, Smith, Shumpert, Walker, Douglass). While signing J.R. Smith has proven to be a nice addition, it might stunt the development of the Knicks' young stud. 

13. Markieff Morris: PF, Phoenix Suns 20.5 MPG, 7.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 40.3% 3PT

Markieff Morris has cooled off a bit after getting off to that hot start earlier in the season. I'm still not too sure how high his ceiling is in the NBA. He's an Al Harrington-type player, but I don't see him getting better than a role player/sixth man.

Rookies 12-6

12. Brandon Knight: G, Detroit Pistons 31.8 MPG, 12.9 PPG, 3.5 APG, 3.4 RPG

The fact that Brandon Knight is still averaging less than 13 points per game is a testament to just how inconsistent the young man is.

We know that on any given night, Knight can explode for an easy 25 points, but he's easily followed those great games with forgettable ones.

On the flip side, though, Knight has been able to tune his turnovers down now, at only 2.5 per game. I'd still like to see him get the ball to his teammates more effectively, but as for now, Brandon Knight is progressing just fine.

11.  Gustavo Ayon: PF, New Orleans Hornets 18.5 MPG, 6.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.0 BLKPG, 1.0 STLPG

You know, about a month ago Gustavo Ayon was a nobody. He was riding the bench just waiting for his opportunity to show what he could do. And just like Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow, once he got that opportunity, he made the most of it.

Ayon is a smart player and uses that basketball IQ to get the best available shot. He'll read the defense before he rolls or pops off of the pick and has a sort of patience to him that helps him decipher the situation.

I don't know exactly how good he'll be down the road, but he's definitely one of the building blocks of this New Orleans Hornets squad.

10. Derrick Williams: F, Minnesota T'Wolves 18.9 MPG, 7.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG  

Three consecutive double-digit scoring games while shooting 50 percent or better from both the field and three-point land tells me that Derrick Williams has finally found his role in the offense (or that Rick Adelman finally trusts the rookie).

He just had a monster game against the Clippers with 27 points in 27 minutes on a whopping 9-for-10 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from downtown and followed that up with a pretty decent night against the Lakers.

If Williams can continue to put up 10-15 points on a consistent basis, I think the Minnesota Timberwolves now at .500 might be able to make a push for the eighth seed in the West. 

9. Enes Kanter: C, Utah Jazz 14.4 MPG, 4.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG

So far, Enes Kanter has been the best rookie thrown into the worst situation. On any other team not named Los Angeles, his numbers would be doubled across the board by now. But because he's the fourth big man in the rotation behind big Al Jefferson, Paul Milsap and Derrick Favors, play time has come sparingly for the rookie.

However, Kanter has already made a name for himself as a dominant rebounder on both sides of the glass. He's also got a touch around the rim that we don't see from many rookies this early. If the situation arises where Kanter gets 25 or more minutes on a consistent basis, his production would skyrocket. 

8. Nikola Vucevic: C, Philadelphia 76ers 17.2 MPG, 6.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG

One plus in Nikola Vucevic's column is that he's incredibly fundamentally sound. Philly's rookie big man rarely makes mistakes and shoots a pretty decent 53.3 percent from the field.

With Spencer Hawes expected to miss another two weeks because of a strained left Achilles, Vucevic could take a chance to earn more minutes.  

7. Chandler Parsons: F, Houston Rockets 26.1 MPG, 7.6 PPG, 4.8 RPB

I still have yet to watch Chandler Parsons in action, but from what I'm hearing, he's a very solid rookie who plays within the Houston offense and rarely turns the ball over.

Since he's taken the starting role from Chase Budinger, I'm assuming he's doing something right. 

6. Isaiah Thomas: G, Sacramento Kings 20.2 MPG, 9.0 PPG, 3.1 APG

 In his last four games dating back to Feb. 19, Isaiah Thomas has averaged 20.8 points, 7.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting exactly 50 percent in three of the four games and going 10-for-24 (41.7 percent) from downtown.

At first, I thought he was all flash, just another guard with ridiculous handles who couldn't put the ball in the basket or make a play. But as he's gotten more minutes, Thomas has shown his ability create for, if not himself, then another teammate.

If he continues to produce the way he has been, there might just be a trade in Sacramento.

Top 5 Rookies of the 2011-2012 NBA Season

5. Kawhi Leonard: F, San Antonio Spurs 23.3 MPG, 7.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 STLPG

While Kawhi Leonard's numbers have been inconsistent, so have his minutes. When he played 43 minutes against Portland before the All-Star Break, Leonard had his best game, putting up 24 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Still, he brings energy and youth to a quickly aging San Antonio Spurs rotation and has proven to be a valuable piece in Greg Popovich's puzzle. 

4. Kemba Walker: G, Charlotte Bobcats 28.9 MPG, 13.0 PPG, 3.8 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.1 STLPG

My biggest bone to pick with Kemba Walker is shot selection and efficiency. It's OK that he can score 14 points, but the fact that it takes him 15 shot attempts to do so must be unsettling to "His Airness."

We all know Walker can put the ball in the basket; he's a crafty scorer and sometimes an even craftier ball handler. But when he starts learning which shots to and not to take, he'll be an even bigger threat for the Bobcats. 

3. MarShon Brooks: SG, New Jersey Nets 30.6 MPG, 14.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG

I really think MarShon Brooks has the potential to turn into the closest thing to the next Kobe Bryant. (Hear me out first, guys.) Now, I'm as big of a Mamba fan as you'll find, but this rookie out of Providence is already showing the poise and touch that embodies an all-around scorer.

Before he went down with that nasty toe injury, Brooks showed off his high IQ by taking advantage of the smaller Kemba Walker in the post to score 20 on the Charlotte Bobcats in mid December. As he continues to work on all aspects of his game, I think we could be looking at the NBA's next deadly scorer.

2. Ricky Rubio: PG, Minnesota T'Wolves 34.4 MPG, 10.8 PPG, 8.4 APG, 4.3 RPG, 2.3 STLPG 

Ricky Rubio's a once-in-a-lifetime caliber Point Guard. Think Steve Nash, think Pistol Pete. The way he handles the ball and operates an offense is just so fluid, and his intensity on the defensive end, coupled with his Euro swagger, nearly complete the package.

But if there's one knock on Rubio, it's got to be on the offensive end of the ball. He finds his teammates easily, and his assist-to-turnover ratio is pretty solid for a rookie, but he's having trouble putting the ball in the basket. 

It's harder to notice than, say Kemba Walker, because Rubio fills up the stat sheets in so many other columns, but the Spaniard's only shooting 36.9 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from downtown.

To put it into perspective, Rubio's made only 16 of his last 56 attempts over the past five games, including back-to-back 1-for-8 nights and a 2-for-7 outing. 

Still, I believe down the line, Rubio will turn out to be the better all-around PG.

1. Kyrie Irving: G, Cleveland Cavaliers 30.9 MPG, 18.3 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.5 RPG

I was so upset when I missed my chance to watch Kyrie Irving play against the New York Knicks on Wednesday. As you can imagine, the Cleveland Cavaliers don't get much air time over here in Brooklyn. I should probably invest in NBA League Pass.

But I digress.

Irving is the clear-cut winner of the NBA Rookie of the Year Award at this point. He's crafty, quick and has a knack for putting the ball in the basket.

While Rubio bests him on the defensive end and at distributing the ball, Irving does what the Cavaliers need him to do: score.

Undoubtedly a future multiple All-Star selection, Irving has already established himself as a dangerous slasher-scorer with above average athleticism, a streaky jump shot and handles that'll put some of the stickiest defenders to sleep.

The Chris Paul comparison is a bit much, but Kyrie Irving has the potential to develop into a very, very good point guard in the NBA

Disappointments

1. Jimmer Fredette: G, Saramento Kings 20.3 MPG, 7.9 PPG, 37.6% FG, 37.7% 3PT

With all the hype Jimmer came in with after winning the College Basketball Player of the Year Award, I figured he would come out firing. Unfortunately for him, he did.

Fredette's been shooting every available shot and missing the vast majority of them. He's still an outstanding shooter, but he's been rushing instead of letting the game come to him.

I still think Jimmer's got the ability to become a Gilbert Arenas in his prime kind of player, but he needs to be reigned in before it's too late.

He's already lost the back-up PG slot to Isaiah Thomas. Maybe a team change is necessary for BYU's superstar?

2. Jan Vesely: F, Washington Wizards 14.9 MPG, 2.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG

Both Ricky Rubio and Jan Vesely came over from Europe this year. Vesely was having a grander season on paper in the Euroleague, but Rubio came over to the NBA and was able to translate his abilities into the new game.

Vesely has not.

I don't know if it's a matter of situation or if he's just a bust, but Vesely is faltering in Washington.

3. Josh Selby: G, Memphis Grizzlies 10.1 MPG, 2.9 PPG, 1.4 APG

If you watched or followed any of the summer leagues that took place during the lockout, you know why Josh Selby is a disappointment.

Over the summer, Selby got into a heated rivalry with Milwaukee's own Brandon Jennings. Selby won the battle by dropping a ridiculous 48 points on Jennings' head in the Drew League.

Josh Selby has barely scored 48 points so far this season.

He's not getting much time with Mike Conley running the show, but even when Conley was out with that ankle injury, Selby wasn't doing much.

Kristian Winfield is a Featured Columnist for the Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @BriscoXCI.