NBA Links: Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond making people take notice

NBA Rookie Power Rankings -- CBS Sports

Still waiting for Stanley to put together three or four games in a row where we can say he has really found a groove and a comfort level. Though, all in all, he's been superb for a 19-year-old.

Promising

6. Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons (#5) -- Johnson continues to be a solid player off the bench for the Pistons. He had an excellent game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, scoring 10 points and followed that up with an all-around performances of six points, six rebounds and two assists against the Lakers on Sunday. Johnson just continues to be a grinder for the Pistons, playing tough defense and crashing the boards.

7. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (#15) -- Given more of an opportunity, Booker is showing that he can be an important player for the Suns. Booker is just an incredible shooter and is shooting 53.2 percent and 71.4 percent (on 21 attempts) from 3-point range. Against the Pistons last Wednesday, Booker dropped 18 points (3-3 from beyond the arc) and in a big win for Phoenix, he scored 14 points (6-10 FG, 2-2 3-point range) against the Bulls on Monday.

25 things we learned through the first quarter of the 2015-16 NBA season -- CBS Sports

22. Andre Drummond is a bad man: The Pistons center can only be stopped by the giant robots from "Pacific Rim" or free throws.

10. The rookie class is phenomenal: Karl-Anthony Towns is a playmaking, floor-stretching, inside-beasting, rim-protecting, super perfectionist who plays with passion, focus, and makes huge plays every night. Kristaps Porzingis is a 7-3 unicorn with range and athleticism, who blocks big shots and throws down massive dunks. Justise Winslow is a possession-devouring, take-it-and-run, versatile off-ball cutter who's just soaking up everything the veteran Heat are teaching him.

Stanley Johnson, Willie Cauley-Stein, Myles Turner, Trey Lyles, Emmanuel Mudiay, Jerian Grant, Devin Booker, Rondae-Hollis Jefferson, Larry Nance, Montrezl Harrell, Richaun Holmes all look like good players. You can't point to any player, even Russell, and say that a rookie looks like he doesn't belong in the league.

NBA PM: The Emergence of Reggie Jackson -- Basketball Insiders

However, Jackson's huge deal may soon look like a bargain. For starters, contracts are about to get ridiculously large due to the NBA's new television deal increasing the salary cap. But another reason the contract could soon look very good for Detroit is because Jackson has stepped up his game this season and seems to be on an All-Star trajectory.

Through 22 games, Jackson has averaged 19.3 points, 6.3 assists, four rebounds and 1.1 steals. His 21.4 PER is 26th among all NBA players and eighth among point guards. He's also seventh in the NBA in assist percentage (38.3 percent), 12th in usage percentage (29.5) and 16th in box plus-minus (4.1).

Wolstat's stars of NBA season a quarter of the way in -- Toronto Sun

CREME DE LA CREME

One-man's opinion of the 15 best individual performers so far, regardless of position in the NBA:

2nd TEAM

Kyle Lowry — Not much separating his year and Westbrook's. Leader in steals (NBA) and threes (East).

Kevin Durant — How good is first team to leave him off? Expect him to be there by season's end.

Draymond Green — Curry gets the press, but Green allows Warriors to play unique style and is defensive monster too.

Blake Griffin — Not the reason Clippers sagging. Eighth in value over replacement player, ninth in win shares.

Andre Drummond — Making 20/20 games look easy in break-out season to lead Pistons back to respectability

Super thing is, Andre's just getting started.

Close, but ...

Dirk Nowitzki ... Damian Lillard ... Tim Duncan ... Derrick Favors ... Reggie Jackson ... Chris Bosh ... Al Horford.

Reggie needs another couple Eastern Conference Player of the Week's to move up and catch a few guys listed for the 3rd TEAM.

The NBA's other great team: why the Spurs are happy to fly under the radar -- The Guardian

This may be the best Spurs team in many, many years.

If Golden State weren't currently aiming for an all-time record, San Antonio would be receiving more attention. By compiling an 18-4 record, the Spurs have secured the second-best start in team history, a notable achievement for the most accomplished basketball franchise of the last 20 years. They also pulled off their franchise's biggest win (on paper, at least) after trouncing the Philadelphia 76ers by 51 on Monday.

Granted, that 119-68 win looks less impressive given that the opponent was the one-win 76ers. Still, San Antonio was playing without their best player in Kawhi Leonard (sickness) and two future Hall of Famers in Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili (oldness). It was as if they were trying to make it something close to a fair fight, as if following through with the "with one hand tied behind its back" boast, but it was obvious from the start the game was not going to be on equal terms, or anything other than utter destruction.

NBA Trade Rumors: Carmelo Anthony To Detroit Pistons To Chase A Title With Andre Drummond Proposed -- iSchoolGuide (yes, seriously)

I saved it for last, and yes, please do check the link to behold the goodness it provides. Warning -- YIBADA makes another appearance.

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Think positive thoughts today, folks. Especially today.