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Rookie Watch: Turnaround time

The fifth pick in the draft, Thomas Robinson is averaging only 16.1 minutes per game for the Kings. Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images

College basketball can be easily divided into three parts: the pre-conference schedule, the conference schedule and the postseason. This helps young players survive some weakness in their games, as they can see opportunities to change their course coming just ahead.

The NBA is just so different, with nothing but three or four games a week and no end in sight. Mid-April, which is when the regular season ends, seems like it won't be coming for a long time to many young players. For them, it's not about hitting a wall, but more about finding a way to catch their breath and make necessary corrections.