Taylor Rochestie: Best Point Guard in the NBA Draft (or at least the second round)

The truest of any point guard available Taylor Rochestie should be drafted on Thursday. Just ask Bob Smith, the dim coach of UCSB who didn't offer the Santa Barbara HS all-star guard a scholarship. Ooops. He is a closer, has averaged more minutes than almost anyone else out there, makes FT's, has a great outside shot, plays lock down defense (even when undersized) and can hit the shots down the stretch. He's accomplished all of the below while playing with Washington State which runs the slowest offense on the planet and compared to the rest of the Pac-10 had extremely limited "talent". Put him on in the NBA with pro ballers that can cut, catch and shoot and you're looking at a great choice for any NBA team looking for a great pick in the second round. He's played on the same level or better than Darren Collison, Gabe Pruit, Jrue Holiday, OJ Mayo, Jarryd Bayless, Jeremy Pargo, Russel Westbrook, Daniel Hackett, etc. The object here isn't to propose that Rochestie is better than these guys just that he deserves a shot or at least a mention because he can play at their level.

Washington State ● Senior ● Guard ● 6-1 ● 193 ● 7/1/85

Highlights: Ranks on WSU all-time list in free throw percentage (first – .835), 3-point field goal percentage (fifth – .401), assists average (sixth – 3.74), assists (sixth – 381), 3-point field goals made (10th – 132), 3-point field goal attempts (12th – 329) and minutes played (17th – 3,009)

2008-09 (RS Senior): Started all 33 of WSU’s games…became the fourth Cougar in the last decade to earn First Team All-Pacific-10 Conference honors…led Cougars in points (13.2 ppg), minutes (36.8 mpg), assists (150), and steals (31)…ranked second on the team in free throw percentage (.891)…led the team in scoring 11 times, assists 25 times and steals nine times …had 19 double-figure scoring games, three 20-plus point games, including two 30-plus point games (the only two of his career)…recorded the first and only double-double of his WSU career with 17 points and 10 assists against Sacramento State (Nov. 21)…set career highs in both free throws made and attempted going 16-for-16, while recording 30 points and seven assists at Oregon (Jan.17)…tied WSU single-game free throw percentage record going 16-for-16 from the line against the Ducks…was instrumental in the Cougars’ upset victory at No. 20 UCLA, scoring a career-high 33 points shooting 9-for-16 from the field and 5-for-7 from beyond the 3-point arc (Feb. 22)…logged a season high 45 minutes, making the game-winning three-point shot against No. 14 Arizona State on ‘Senior Day’ (Feb. 28)… named U.S. Bank Pacific-10 Player of the Week (Feb. 16-22)…set Cougar single season record in free throw percentage (.891), ranks second in minutes played (1215), sixth in assists (150), and 10th in assist average (4.55 per apg)…ranks on WSU’s senior single season list in minutes (first - 1,215), free throw percentage (first - .891), assists (second - 150), assist average (fourth - 4.55 apg), 3-point field goals (T-seventh - 61), three-point attempts (seventh - 161), and three-point field goal percentage (ninth - .379) …became the second Cougar in as many years to be named Pacific-10 Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year…named to the Pacific-10 All-Academic First Team for second-consecutive season…earned ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District VIII All-Academic First Team accolades…Portsmouth Invitational participant…WSU Big Ten Senior award recipient.

2007-08 (RS Junior): Appeared in all 35 of WSU’s games, including 34 starts…led WSU, the Pac-10 and ranked 10th in the nation with a 2.81 assists/turnover ratio (165 assists to 56 turnovers)…led WSU, was second in the Pac-10 and ranked 69th nationally in assists (4.71 per game)…first on team and fourth in Pac-10 in 3-point percentage (.434)… played most minutes of any player in the Pac-10…scored in double figures 17 times…dished out four or more assists in 28 games…had 12 points, seven assists and seven rebounds against Boise State (Nov. 13)…scored 22 points including 9-for-10 from the free throw line against Air Force (Nov. 25)…scored career-high 24 points against Oregon State (Feb. 14)… dished out a WSU-high 10 assists in first round of NCAA tournament against Winthrop (March 20)… followed with seven assists in WSU’s second round victory over Notre Dame (March 22)…set Cougar single-season record with 1,223 minutes played, had the second-best single season assists mark (165), ranks sixth in assists average (4.71) and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (.434)… earned Pacific-10 All-Academic First Team honors.

2006-07 (RS Sophomore): Appeared in all 34 games, including six starts…ranked third on the team in assists (66, 1.9 apg)…led the team in scoring twice…finished season with 1.9 assist/turnover ratio…scored first points as a Cougar against Radford (Nov. 12), finishing with nine…added nine points in an upset of then-No.18 Gonzaga (Dec. 5)…dished out a season-high six assists at Idaho, Dec. 9…also recorded nine points in a 75-47 win over Washington (Jan. 20) including a three in the first half to help spark a 15-3 Cougar run…first double-digit game at WSU came at Washington (Feb. 14) with 16 points behind 6-for-9 shooting from the field…came on strong late in the season, scoring 11 or more points in four of the Cougars’ final five games…went 5-for-9 from the field to register season-high 21 points vs. USC (March 3)… scored in double figures in both Pac-10 Tournament games…led all scorers with 20 points in 74-64 win over Washington (March 8)…recorded 11 points in 70-61 loss to USC (March 9)…tallied 15 points, five rebounds and four assists in 70-54 NCAA Tournament First Round victory over Oral Roberts (March 15).

2005-06 (Sophomore): Transferred to WSU in Jan. 2006 and sat out spring semester per NCAA rules.

2004-05 (Freshman; Tulane University): Named to the 2005 Conference USA All-Freshman Team…ranked second on team in steals (35)…was second on the team and 11th in C-USA in assists (103, 3.69 apg)…recorded 15 double-figure scoring games…played 28 or more minutes in 15 of 16 C-USA games…scored a season-high (then-career high) 22 points in a comeback win over VMI (Dec. 31)…recorded the lone double-double of his career with 14 points (all in the second half) and a career high 10 rebounds against No. 22 Cincinnati (March 2).

Told You So....

Next stop on the road to glory is down the street at Dodger Stadium. Title town, USA aka Los Angeles should put a quick stop to the idea that Pittsburgh!?!?! is the best sports town! What a joke that is....

What To Make of the Bizarre Game 1's

Hallelujah! The Lakers are back! After two great days of basketball the Lakers and the Magic win two very close games and lead their respective opponents 1-0. Make no mistake about it, these decisions were huge and speak volumes about where things go from here.


For the Lakers loosing game one against Houston at Staples resulted in a confident Rockets team and a long hard faught series that many did not expect, especially with Yao, Tracy and Mutumbo sitting on the bench. The Lakers would advance of course but throughout the series revealed some blantant weaknesses. Volatile play from the big men who despite their size and talent allowed Louey Scola, Hayes, and whoever else offered to play big. To me the Lakers even when dominant didn't display a hunger and sense of urgency while the Cavs were demonstrating to the world why they were the team to beat this year.

Until Game 1 against the Magic the Cavs were on fire and seemed almost invincible even if they were playing the hawks and pistons. Although strong in my conviction that the Lakers will win the championship this year I started to fear playing Lebron & Co. in a 2-3-2 Finals format that demands the visitors win one out of the first two to have a chance. The Lakers indiffernce to getting embarrassed by Houston and poor production from it's bigs and bench I began to think could again sabatoge another season. "Thank god we don't have to play Dwight" I said to myself.

Ah but playoff basketball happened and the tables have turned. The unstoppable Cavs were beaten AT HOME despite controlling the game early on and Lebron running train on various "defenders" that looked like guards from an Austin Powers movie. Stan van the Man never gave up though and outcoached his opposite and took away the Cavs home court advantage and a piece of their swagger and confidence.

The Lakers began game one flat, uninspired and down early but this series would be different than the humiliation they allowed days earlier. Lingering frontcourt shortcomings didn't matter in this one and with NO answer for Kobe Bryant and a couple of big plays from the likes of Fish and Trevor the Lakers displayed a bit of a Laker pride. They didn't let Denver blow them out early, got control of the game, kept it close and let Kobe do his thing in the 4th. They retained home court and took a little wind out of the Nuggets sails who had a brilliant performance from Melo (at least offensively) go to waste.

So the Cavs are now looking at a long series or at least their longest on of this post-season and Laker fans although happy to be in the drivers seat against Denver are now faced with evidence that there are two very talented and capable teams to be scared of should we squeeze out another series in the west. Don't know who I want to face.

Cavs are still tough at home and have the 3-2-3 advantage which is huge even with the Laker win in Cleveland this year. They also are hungry as hell if able to hold the first two home games the Lakers would face a challenging road they didn't do so well with last year. Then there is the Magic who we had all written off until now. Stan Vans team has had success against the lakers, can obviously win a big game on the road and have a weapon the Lake Show wants no part of in Dwight Howard. So pick your poisen, either way it's going to be a great few weeks of basketball.