NBA Preseason 2014: Schedule and Updated Predictions for Top Rookies
The NBA preseason may not count in the standings, but it is particularly important for rookies as they grow accustomed to the speed and physicality of the NBA game.
Sure, players like LeBron James and Tim Duncan may not need a full month of exhibition games, but try telling that to Jabari Parker. Life will be much more difficult for the Duke product against the defenses of the Chicago Bulls or San Antonio Spurs this season than it was against the Wake Forests of the world.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some preseason predictions for some of the top rookies across the league. Remember, the preseason kicked off on Oct. 4, while the regular season begins on Oct. 28. The entire preseason schedule can be seen at NBA.com.
Rookie Predictions
Jabari Parker Struggles from the Field all Preseason
First things first. Parker is going to have a tremendous season in Milwaukee and is arguably the most NBA-ready rookie. Just because we predict here that he is going to struggle from the field during the preseason doesn’t mean he will struggle during the actual season.
In fact, ESPN’s Chris Broussard thinks Parker is in store for a big year:
However, the Bucks also understand that Parker is the franchise cornerstone for years to come. The faster he adjusts to the NBA game, the better it will be for the Bucks in the long-term. With that in mind, Milwaukee will be more than comfortable with Parker forcing the issue a bit on offense when the games don’t even count.
It is far more important that Parker develops his mindset as a go-to offensive weapon by shooting early and often in the preseason than what his actual field-goal percentage is at this point.
Through the first three preseason games, Parker has shot 15-of-40 from the field, which is a whopping 37.5 percent. That number will improve as he grows accustomed to the NBA game, which is all that really matters for the Bucks.
Andrew Wiggins Turns Heads by Stuffing Stat Sheet
There is no better way for a rookie to ultimately prove his value than by stuffing the stat sheet in a number of different statistical categories, and that is exactly what Andrew Wiggins has done thus far.
It will continue throughout the preseason.
Wiggins scored 18 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out three assists, blocked three shots and tallied a steal in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ preseason opener against the Indiana Pacers. He also was 8-of-10 from the free-throw line and hit both his three-point attempts.
Wiggins followed that up with 11 points, three rebounds, an assist and two steals against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Wiggins’ athleticism and length mean he will be an elite defender almost right away. He thrived on that end of the court in college at Kansas, and that was one of the major reasons there was any hesitation from Cleveland’s perspective in the trade that landed Kevin Love.
What the early preseason has proved is that Wiggins is more than capable of contributing across the stat sheet on offense as well. He didn’t even miss a three-pointer in his first two games.
This is clearly a very small sample size, but these are the things that caught people’s eye in the first place with Wiggins. The fact that we are seeing statistical production already is certainly encouraging, especially since he should continue to rebound at 6’8” and score plenty of points simply by getting to the free-throw line with his quickness.
Doug McDermott Emphasizes Defense
This prediction doesn’t necessarily mean that Doug McDermott will play effectively on the defensive end, but he will put increased focus on it during the preseason.
We know McDermott can shoot. After all, the guy averaged 26.7 points a game in his final year at Creighton and shot 45.8 percent from behind the three-point line in his college career. The main reason the Chicago Bulls even drafted him was to give the offense a much-needed spark.
Still, the only way to realistically crack Tom Thibodeau’s rotation is with defense and a willingness to mix it up on the glass and in the physicality department. The Bulls are known as a hard-nosed defense that rattles opponents, and Thibodeau stresses that end of the floor more so than the offense.
McDermott already understood how important his defense and overall game would be for the Bulls back in summer league in comments, via Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com:
"I feel like I'm going to have to gain his respect, definitely. I'm going to have to work my tail off to get to that point, and I definitely will. I'll be in Chicago all summer up 'til training camp, working on my game, getting back in shape, and we'll see what happens."
McDermott is a coach’s son and will do everything necessary to make his way on the floor. In Chicago, that means focusing on the defensive end in preseason.
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