From David Thorpe, ESPN:
Anthony Davis: Joakim NoahEach season, we pair the top rookies with veterans they should study to help them grow their games. Often, this exercise is mistaken as an effort to suggest how the rookie compares to the veteran. But that is not the point.
The way to look at it is like this: Modeling behavior is typically considered one of the top ways to teach. So in each of these pairings, the rookie would be well-served by developing the specific skill or behavior demonstrated by the veteran.
Austin Rivers: Tony Parker
Despite being small (by NBA standards) and slight, few players over the past decade have made more paint shots than Parker. His strong hands and incredible burst at the point of attack make him unguardable in isolation. It is the opposite with Rivers, who just could not finish most of the paint shots he took this season.
Thorpe is the one guy on ESPN who didn't write Rivers off after 10 games and has constantly said Rivers has a lot of positives and has shown improvement over the season. He also typically knows what he's talking about and to me, these explanations make a lot of sense. Good on ya, Thorpe.
{Mod edit-Please do not post ESPN Insider articles.}