Tagged with: Mid Range Jumpers
Kevin Durant: 31 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists. You could say that Durant has slowed down over his past five games, however, in his past five games he still averages 28 points, which is by the way still more than any other player in the NBA. Durant continues to improve his overall game increasing his rebound and assist numbers.
Kevin Durant: 31.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists. Kevin Durant has been getting better and better throughout the month of January, averaging 37.8 points over the last ten games. Durant hasn’t been playing against just below .500 teams either stepping up against top teams such as the Heat, Spurs, Warriors and Trail Blazers. Durant has truly stated his claim for MVP and if he keeps this up he will be a sure pick to win it.
Fresh Prince
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder31.0ppg, 7.7rpg, 5.1apg)
LeBron James (Miami Heat, 26.2ppg, 6.7rpg, 6.5apg)
LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trailblazers, 24.2ppg, 11.2rpg),g
Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 23.3ppg, 6.2rpg)
Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs 18.4ppg, 6.3apg)
Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 19.6ppg, 11.2apg)
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors, 23.5ppg, 9.2apg, 4.6rpg)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.0ppg, 13.0rpg, 4.1apg)
Beautiful
It’s been a while since my last entry but not much has changed atop the MVP watch. Kevin Durant has been sublime averaging 31.0 points per game and nearly averaging 50-40-90 (percentages for field goals, 3 pointers and free throws). It would also be rude not to mention his ridiculous form, scoring 30+ in his past nine games including a NBA season high 54 point game against the Warriors. The best player in the world continues to get better however I think we are still yet too see the best out of LeBron this year. LaMarcus Aldridge has led the Trailblazers to a 31-11 record, sitting 3rd in the Western Conference. There is no doubt the all star has been imperative to their success and rightfully a MVP contender. Paul George is a strong candidate for MVP and his continued improvement on offense and stout defense has led the Pacers to a league leading 33-8 record.
His Airness
Kevin Durant: 31 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists. Durant has to be the leading candidate for MVP this season; his recent outburst over the month of January has been simply remarkable. From his pull-up three pointers to his impressive finishes in traffic he is showing us why he is the best offensive player in the game at the moment. He’s been averaging an unbelievable 37 points over the last ten games.
LeBron James: 26.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists. After revealing his jealously over Durant’s amount of shot attempts LeBron has increased his averaging shot attempts to 19 over the last five games. This however, has had almost no impact on his average points per game and makes you wonder if he really can shoot the ball more while still making over 50% of his shots.
Stephen Curry: 23.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 9.2 assists. Curry continues to be impressive this season nearly averaging a double-double. Curry places third on the MVP ladder because he is such a vital part of his team. Curry has one of the biggest on-off court differentials meaning that without him on the court the Warriors turn the ball over more, score less points and simply are not a team that looks like it could challenge for a title. Miami have the big three, the Thunder have Durant and Westbrook (when healthy) and the Warriors have Curry.
Not so beautiful
FP -Oklahoma City Thunder + Kevin Durant
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won five games straight, one would assume Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook must both be playing well. However the Thunder are without their standout point guard and the ‘Durantula’ has been in ominous form. Nine straight 30+ point performances includingthree 40 point games and one 54 point performance. Durant has been playing at an MVP level and leading the Thunder who are now atop the western conference.
Brooklyn Nets
Finally Brooklyn are starting to play some good basketball going 8-2 in their past 10 games. Due to the mediocrity of the eastern conference, their 18-22 record is good for 7th in the East. Jason Kidd is finally getting a handle on his role as head coach and with the experience of Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce this could be one dangerous team come playoff time.
FP - Brooklyn Nets
Oklahoma City Thunder
Houston Rockets
Chicago Bulls
HA - Oklahoma City Thunder. You can’t go past the Thunder this week, over the last week they have beat four of the top eight teams in the Western Conference putting them back on top of the West. When Westbrook whet down things did not look good for the Thunder but with Durant leading the way they are looking better than ever.
Phoenix Suns. With injuries to Eric Bledsoe and Emeka Okafor you wouldn’t expect much out of the Suns, however, it has been the complete opposite. They dominated the Pacers today and with a current record over .500 (24-17) the Suns could well be a contender to make the post season in the West.
FP - New York Knicks
New Orleans Pelicans
Orlando Magic
Milwaukee Bucks
HA- New York Knicks. The Knicks looked like they were getting back on track a week ago, however, this has all changed with a shocking five loss streak. This was capped off by a dismal performance against one of the worst teams in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Durant vs Warriors (54pts, 6ast, 19-28 FG, 5-9 3PT, 11-13FT)
I know I’ve already mentioned this man a few times already this week but his performance against the Golden State Warriors was a memorable one. 54 points while matched up against one of the best perimeter defenders in the game in Andre Igoudala. Durant has been fun to watch and doesn’t look like slowly up anytime soon.
Play of the week this week goes to Paul George for his 360 windmill dunk versus the Clippers. There have been many impressive dunks this year but in my mind this is the best one so far.
FP - DeMarDeRozan
If you asked most basketball pundits who the top five scoring guards are in the NBA very few would mention DeMarDeRozan. The shooting guard from the Raptors is playing well for Toronto averaging 21.3 points per game. The Raptors are often overlooked and although their 21-20 record sounds ordinary it is good enough for 4th in the Eastern Conference. DeRozan is still very young and the highflyer is certainly one to watch!
HA - LaMarcus Aldridge
If you didn’t follow the NBA closely you probably wouldn’t know much about Aldridge. He’s averaging 24.2 points and 11.6 rebounds he has earned his place on many MVP watch lists. Despite this he is still my undercover brother.
There are plenty of things to watch for in the upcoming weeks as we approach All-Star weekend (February 14-16) and also the trade deadline (February 21). Trade rumors are starting to pop up and often become hard to follow but I expect a few big trades as playoff contenders look to fill holes in their roster and non-playoff contenders either look to reload to make a run for the playoffs or cut their losses and unload salaries or acquire draft picks. In terms of All-Star weekend, fringe all-stars will be looking to make their case for selection. In case you hadn’t heard Rajon Rondo is being bled back into action for the Boston Celtics after he tore his ACL nearly a year ago now.
Spurs @ Hawks on Saturday
Clippers @ Raptors on Sunday
Spurs @ Heat on Monday
Trailblazers @ Warriors on Monday
Spurs @ Rockets on Wednesday
Thunder @ Heat on Thursday
A number of games to watch in this upcoming week, but there are three in particular to add to your schedule.
The San Antonio Spurs travel to Miami on Monday to take on LeBron James and the Heat. This will be a good indicator of how good each squad as, being after mid-season both teams will want too get a win over the other before all-star break.
LaMarcus Aldridge and the Portland Trailblazers meet their Western Conference rival the Golden State Warriors on Monday. I’m looking forward to the point guard matchup in this one with both Damian Lillard and Steph Curry capable of lighting it up as well as pushing for an All-Star spot.
The final game to watch is on Thursday and one that many would have marked in their calendar when the schedule first came out. The two best players in the world meet in Miami in a rematch of the 2011-12 NBA finals. This rivalry has been fun to watch since LeBron arrived in Miami and is shaping up to be another classic.
Kevin Durant (NBA.com)
Nighthawk
Kevin Durant . 29.8pts, 8.1reb, 4.9ast
KD has been on a tear as of late, after losing Russell Westbrook for six weeks (expected back after the All Star break) he is not going to let his team down by dropping games. Instead he’s putting the team on his back and is averaging an amazing 34.5pts 8.3reb and 5.3ast over the last 10 games proving that he can do everything LeBron does and doing arguably even better.
Paul George , 22.8pts, 6.2reb, 3.6ast
Paul George is proving he’s a superstar in this league, he’s now a great 2 way player and can be labelled as an elite small forward in the league. He has been leading his team well all year and has not slowed down and showing that he does whatever it takes to win, he is the leading the league in second half scoring and is still a lockdown defender every night.
LeBron James , 26.0pts, 6.5ast, 6.6reb
LeBron has been playing well of late but his Heat team are slowing down currently on a 3 game losing streak and posting a 5-5 record over there last 10 games and to make matters worse those 3 games were against teams with a losing record.
Carmelo Anthony 26.0pts, 8.8reb, 3.1ast
Carmelo has been putting the Knicks on his back. 2014 has come and the ice cold Knicks went on a 5 game streak until their loss to the Bobcats but over those games he was carrying his team and was the reason the Knicks still has a fighting chance at making the playoffs this season. They are currently sitting 10th in the extremely weak Eastern Conference but recent signs from Carmelo have them on the rise.
His Airness
Things have changed a lot over the past few weeks, with key injuries such as Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook as well as the top teams starting to slump. Teams will no doubt look forward to go into the All Star break to refresh and hopefully get some momentum back. With that said, the MVP watch stays much the same. However there are a few changes. Stephen Curry, arguably the number one point guard in the game while Chris Paul recovers from a shoulder injury moves his way into the MVP watch. Averaging 23 points and 9.3 assists a game, Curry moves into a very exclusive category of players averaging in the top ten of two categories. Obviously LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kevin Love remain in the MVP watch. Durant who has had to step up recently with the injury of Westbrook is averaging 33 points over the last five games. Lastly Carmelo Anthony makes his first appearance in my MVP watch currently averaging 26 points per game, 8 boards and 3 assists and leading the Knicks to a much needed five game winning streak.
NH - Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are on the rise and have been playing very well since the trade of Rudy Gay, They have gone 7-3 over their last 10 and their 19-18 record has them slotted in at 4th in the East and with the Hawks slowing down they might be able to leap frog into 3rd if they keep playing the way have been. DeMar DeRozan has been the leading the scoring for them at 21.3 per game and although his scoring hasn’t changed since Gay’s departure his increased ball handling duties has served him well. He is showing a more complete all around game and is proving that he is one of the best shooting guards in the league. Kyle Lowry has been playing really well also this season, especially over the past 10 games he’s averaging 17.8pts 8.2ast and 4.5reb contributing to make this team that was once thought to be in the running for a high lottery pick into being one of best teams in the East.
HA - Toronto Raptors are my team on the rise with a record of 7-3 over the last 10 games. When they traded Rudy Gay to the Kings things didn’t look so great for the Raptors but with Gay gone they are looking like a much better team.
San Antonio Spurs are back on top of the Western Conference, losing only one game in their last 10. The Spurs are looking like title contender again. The consistency and depth they are showing is a credited to their coach Greg Popovich who has put in place a system that wins no matter who the players on the court are.
NH - New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have been a team that hasn’t had anything go their way this season after being the most active team in the offseason. They were thought to be a team with a lot of young talent and a team that would have a lot of improvement in them, but they can’t get their players healthy after losing emerging star Anthony Davis early in the season. After his return, they have now lost their star point guard Jrue Holiday for at least month and their shooting power forward Ryan Anderson for an extended period of time. Having Tyreke Evans being in and out of the line up with a nagging ankle injury is also not helping the cause. The Pelicans are a young team with lots of promise and some say one piece away from being a playoff team but can’t seem to be a team that stays healthy. They are on a 7 game losing streak and seem like they are pointing downward at the moment.
HA - Many teams are facing a slide in their performances over the January period most notably the current champions the Miami Heat. LeBron James said that chasing the three peat has been mentally and physically exhausting for Miami which may explain the slump in performance. Although having only a three game-losing streak is not that bad, it is the quality of teams they have played with all three opponents currently being below .500.
Milwaukee, New Orleans, Orlando and Los Angeles are all teams on the slide, Milwaukee being the worst of them winning only 7 games this season.
NH - DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins has been a beast lately proving he should definitely get a spot in the All Star team as he is playing like he’s the best center in the game right now. Cousins averages 23.4pts, 11.6reb, 3.1ast over the season but as of late he’s been averaging 25.8pts, 13.4reb and 2.6ast per game over the last 10 games and also has his Kings team trending upward lately over that 10 game stretch his Kings are 6-4. While the playoffs are a bit of stretch for them he is proving that their current 14-23 record has not been because he isn’t playing well. Cousins is a player that has been touted to have all the talent but his attitude issues have been the main thing slowing him down, this season he has shown positive signs of him growing up and his current play is a good way to indicate that. He has made it very clear he wants to be an All Star and his play recently and all season shows that despite his team’s struggles he’s definitely a player that deserves to be in it. I think he should make it and would definitely be the one of the biggest All Star snubs if he doesn’t make it.
HA - DeMarcus Cousins is also my undercover brother, playing in the struggling but improving Kings team he currently averages 23 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block per game. With a new mentor Shaquile O’Neal, look for Cousins to develop into one of the most feared centres in the game
DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins
Mystery Doctor
There have been a few interesting storylines in recent weeks that have kept respective fans on their toes. We’ll start with Rajon Rondo who is moving ever closer to a return. The Celtics have understandably not been very good this season and the return of Rondo will be a big moment for all Celtic fans. With many talented players in the upcoming draft, the Celtics must be attracted to a bottom spot but how will Rondo’s return help or hinder their future prospects? They were involved in a big trade that saw them part ways with Jordan Crawford and Marshon Brooks and welcome Joel Anthony. This sees the Celtics making space for Rondo, saving some cash and also receiving draft picks. I can’t wait to see how the Celtics rebuild goes and whether Danny Ainge is super smart or just dumb.
A few other stories to follow are the Brooklyn Nets who look to have a few things sorted out as they string a few wins together. The ongoing drama between the Knicks and JR Smith. This saw Smith lash out verbally after he was kept on the bench, could the Knicks part ways with Smith? The reigning 6th man of the year is a bit of a dick really. Lastly, the Golden State Warriors continue to impress. Can they march on and contend for a title? The arrival of Jordan Crawford must help a bit and it will be exciting to see how this group handles the challenge.
And to finish, some visual stimulation for the NBA faithful. Courtesy of NBA.com, here are the top 10 clutch shots of December:
And the top 10 dunks of December too:
MVP watch
Fresh Prince
-Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 28.6ppg, 8.2rpg, 4.8apg
-LeBron James (Miami Heat, 25.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 6.5apg)
-Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 23.8ppg, 5.8rpg)
-Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 19.5ppg, 11.3apg, 4.7rpg)
-Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.2ppg, 13.7rpg, 4.2apg)
-Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs 17.5ppg, 6.1apg)
-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors, 24.3ppg, 9.0apg, 4.2rpg)
-LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trailblazers, 23.3, 11.1rpg
His Airness
· LeBron James (Miami Heat, 25.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 6.5apg)
· Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 23.8ppg, 5.8rpg)
· Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.2ppg, 13.7rpg, 4.2apg)
· Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 28.6ppg, 8.2rpg, 4.8apg
Nighthawk
-Kevin Durant (OKC) – 28.6pts , 8.2reb , 4.8ast
-Lebron James (MIA) – 25.2pts , 6.8reb , 6.5ast
-Paul George (IND) – 23.8pts , 5.8reb , 3.6ast
-LaMarcus Alridge (POR) – 23.3pts , 11.1reb , 2.8ast
FP - Phoenix Suns
The Suns are a team we haven’t heard much from since the Steve Nash-Amare Stoudemire days but the young Phoenix squad are playing some great basketball. While a 14-10 record may not seem that impressive they were on a 5 game win streak before their loss to the Spurs today. Eric Bledsoe has been exactly what the Suns expected when they traded for him this offseason and they now have a solid backcourt pairing with Goran Dragic. This team is exceeding expectations and I’ve been impressed with the new look Phoenix Suns.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Is there any stopping Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook? The Oklahoma City Thunder duo are firing on all cylinders leading the Thunder on a seven game win streak and are now leading the Western Conference. Still unbeaten on their home court this Thunder squad has all the tools required to win a championship right now and yet they are still improving.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are another team who are exceeding expectations and are currently in some good form sitting third in the Eastern Conference. While this position has changed hands a number of times over the past few weeks the Hawks are now above .500 at 14-12 on the season. Led by big man Al Horford and point guard Jeff Teague (who is having a career defining year) the Hawks are a team on the rise who continue to surprise.
FP
· Oklahoma City Thunder
· Phoenix Suns
· Miami Heat
Andre Drummond
· Atlanta Hawks
HA
Detroit Pistons – The Eastern Conference is currently wide open and despite the Piston’s current losing record they remain a team on the rise. With so much potential in the likes of Andre Drummond, look for them to get back to .500 and challenge some of the top teams.
NH
Phoenix Suns – The Suns are one of the biggest surprises in the NBA thus far, they currently hold a 14-10 record which sits them 7th in the competitive Western Conference and had a five game win streak which ended today in their loss to the Spurs. They have been a team that was considered destined for the lottery, almost considered favourites in the ‘Riggin for Wiggins” sweepstakes but they have silenced those critics. They are showing that they are a team ready to compete and have even shown new interest in trading some of their future 1st round draft picks to try and pair a current star with their offseason acquisition of young gun Eric Bledsoe.
Detroit Pistons – The Pistons are a team quietly playing well in the weak Eastern Conference currently sitting nicely in 5th place with a 13-14 record. They have had an up and down season thus far, showing the inconsistency of a new team which is expected but now they are slowly gaining momentum with their big win against the Pacers on the road this week. They are showing that they're are a team which matches up extremely well against the Eastern Conference top dogs - the Pacers and Heat but will need to continue to win the so called smaller games to really show they are ready for a playoff run.
Boston Celtics – The Celtics were considered one of the worst teams if not the worst team in the league before the season began. Having lost Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo to injury their early season form reflected this, however after a slow start with young head coach Brad Stevens (who is now proving why they signed him for 6 years) they are showing some strength and are sitting right in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff contention. They hold a 12-15 record, which is good for 4th in the conference and with Rondo nearing a return you would only think they will get better.
FP
· Philadelphia 76ers
· Memphis Grizzlies
· Milwaukee Bucks
· Sacramento Kings
HA
Philadelphia 76ers – currently on a seven game losing sreak, the 76ers are struggling and it appears that there is little hope for them in the future. The only positive news is that rookie Nerlens Noel could possibly make his debut this season.
FP - LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Rockets 31 points, 25 rounds (12/22 FG)
There were a number of players this week who are worthy of the performance of the week but in a week where we saw a number of duels between great players and teams - LaMarcus Aldridge’s performance against Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets earns my performance of the week. A matchup of two of the top big men in the league, both players played well challenging one another in the paint and leading their teams in the points, rebounds and blocked shots.
Dwight Howard vs. Trailblazers 32 points, 17 rebounds (14/22 FG)
Al Horford (Hawks) vs. Wizards 34 points, 15 rebounds
Chris Paul vs. Wizards 38 points, 12 assists (11-14 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 11-11 FT)
LeBron James vs. Jazz 30 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists
Joe Johnson (Nets) vs. 76ers 37 points, 7 rebounds (13-20 FG, 10-14 3Pt)
Damian Lillard vs. Cavaliers 36 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds (8-12 3pt + Game winning 3 pointer)
Kevin Love vs. Trailblazers 29 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists
Both the Fresh Prince and His Airness agree that Damian Lillard’s clutch works perfectly fine.
FP - Play(s) of the week this week go to Portland Trailblazer Damian Lillard for his back-to-back game winning buckets. Lillard has been one the best players in the clutch this year and the nickname of ‘the silent assassin’ is warranted.
Oooops and again....
Notables..
Andre Igoudala’s almost play of the week
DeAndre Jordan defense to offense
FP - Undercover brother this week isn’t that undercover but deserves another mention. Damian Lillard has been playing at an all-star level in Portland and is a large reason why the Blazers are currently sitting 2nd in the West. The second year point guard is currently averaging 21.3 points per game and 5.9 assists per game. As I mentioned before he is one of the best performers in the clutch and to put it simply has superstar potential.
HA – Andre Drummond is currently a double-double machine having recorded 18 this year. He’s super efficient and can explode with a flurry of points at any time, as he did getting 31 points the other day.
Rookie Watch
NH - Victor Oladipo - 13.3pts , 4.5reb , 3.4ast
Michael Cater Williams – 17.7pts , 5.8reb , 7.3ast
Trey Burke – 13.5pts , 3.6reb , 5.1ast
Trey Burke has been creating buzz after returning from injuring and showing that he is a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year and with MCW still out with injuring and Oladipo’s up and down performances he is narrowing the gap that MCW and Oladipo have created from the rest of the pack.
Storyline Watch/Random thoughts
FP - The NBA really starts to heat up over the Christmas period with a number of key matchups coming on Christmas Day in the US. (Boxing day in NZ) Trade rumors start to grow as teams start to get a feel for what direction they’re headed in for the remainder of the season. Some teams will be looking to strengthen their squads while others will be shopping for players and draft picks to build a future team around. With the competition being so close this year in each respective conference it will be hard to get a gauge on what the owners and general managers are thinking so keep an eye out as I suspect there are a few teams looking to make big moves before the February trade deadline.
What to watch for (all NZT)
Spurs @ Warriors on Friday
Rockets @ Pacers on Saturday
Thunder @ Spurs on Sunday
Christmas Day Games (Boxing day in NZ)
MVP watch
Fresh Prince
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 28.4ppg, 8.2rpg, 4.9apg)
Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 24.7ppg, 5.7rpg)
LeBron James (Miami Heat, 25.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 6.3apg)
Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 18.9ppg, 11.9apg)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 23.9ppg, 13.8rpg, 4.2apg)
Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs 17.6ppg, 6.1apg)
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors, 24.1ppg, 9.0apg, 4.3rpg)
The Nighthawk
Kevin Durant (OKC)
Paul George (Indiana)
Lebron James (Miami)
Chris Paul (LA Clippers)
Standouts
FP - Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have gone 9-1 over their last 10 games including a convincing win over the Indiana Pacers. Led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook the Thunder are a title contending team and are hitting midseason form early in the year.
Phoenix Suns
Key man in the desert - Eric Bledsoe
The Phoenix Suns are so far, 12-9 on the season and are currently in the eight position in the Western Conference. They’ve gone 7-3 in the last 10 games including wins over the Portland Trailblazers and the Houston Rockets. Standout guard Eric Bledsoe is back for Phoenix now and the Suns are a team on the rise.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t been what I expected at this stage of the season however they have shown some positive signs through their last five games. Coming off a poor start and a losing streak spanning five games the Kyrie Irving led Cavaliers have beaten the Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks. All of these wins came at home with their only loss coming on the road against the Atlanta Hawks. Kyrie Irving has had a bumpy start with some outstanding performances like his 37-point outing against the Knicks but equally has had several unimpressive performances. The Cavaliers are full of players ready to break out and I expect them to challenge for a playoff spot if they can resolve their locker room issues and offensive struggles. Tristan Thompson, Andrew Bynum, Dion Waiters and Jarrett Jack are all players capable of stepping up for the Cavs and if Kyrie can lead they way this team is more than capable of making the playoffs.
Teams on the rise
FP - Oklahoma City Thunder
Cleveland Cavaliers
Phoenix Suns
Denver Nuggets
NH - The Portland Trail Blazers are a team to look out for as they are leading arguably the hardest conference in the NBA. They aren’t getting the publicity of the Heat and Pacers and are going about their business quietly with Lamarcus Aldridge and Damien Lillard leading the way. Ignore them at your peril.
Sacramento's Isaiah Thomas
The Sacramento Kings got blown out today, but have been a team on the improve. Demarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas have been leading the Kings and with the arrival of Rudy Gay, they could continue their ascent. Gay may be a risky acquisition, hurting them in the long run but he adds valuable scoring ability as well as giving the Kings the option to go small with him at the 4 position, relying heavily on their guards.
My top five at the moment is
Portland
OKC
Indiana
Miami
San Antonio
Teams on the slide
FP - Chicago Bulls
Philadelphia 76ers
New York Knicks
Milwaukee Bucks
NH – Bottom five
Bucks
Utah Jazz
Orlando Magic
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Bobcats
Performance of the week
FP - Kevin Durant vs Indiana Pacers (36 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 14/23 FG)
Once again KD earns the performance of the week for his game against the Indiana Pacers. Matching up against Paul George and the league leading Indiana Pacers, Durant was outstanding leading the Thunder to a 24-point win 118-94. What’s equally impressive with this performance was how efficient Durant was shooting a ridiculous 14/23 and hitting 2 of his 3 attempts from behind the three-point line.
Notable performances
Kyrie Irving vs Knicks (37 points, 11 assists, 4/7 3pt)
Stephen Curry vs Bobcats (43 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds)
Russell Westbrook vs Pacers (26 points, 13 assists, 7 rebounds)
NH - Demarcus Cousins vs Dallas (32 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists)
Play of the week
Play of the week this week is an all around team performance by the Golden State Warriors. Some great work protecting the rim by Australian Andrew Bogut leading to a good fast break opportunity, a nice dish from Stephen Curry to Harrison Barnes for an effortless reverse jam!
Notables
Uncle Drew’s (Kyrie Irving) killer crossover, spinning Pablo Prigioni around and nailing a three pointer.
And Iman Shumpert’s emphatic throw down
Undercover Brother
FP - The undercover brother this week is the Chicago Bull’s swingman Luol Deng. The Bulls are struggling big time after losing Derrick Rose but Deng has stepped up and played well for Chicago. His last six scoring totals read 20, 37, 27, 27, 24 and 22 and currently averaging 19.4 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game and is doing a great job for a Bulls squad that is battling without Rose and Jimmy Butler.
Storyline Watch/Random thoughts
FP - Kobe’s return is currently all the talk in the NBA and I suspect the entire basketball world is keeping a close eye on number 24 and the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe is looking great for a guy who’s stepped in with a small amount of basketball in the last eight months. Kobe isn’t match conditioned and expect him to be inconsistent for the next little while but we all know how Kobe is out to prove all the doubters wrong so don’t be surprised if we see the Black Mamba hitting some form sooner rather than later.
NH – Kobe Bryant’s return was a slow one, but a good blowout to get rid of the cobwebs. He played better in his second outing shooting 6-11 (8-8 at the line) on his way to 20 points in the Lakers loss to the Pheonix Suns. Even though they lost, the Lakers and their fans will feel good about Bryant’s return as the signs of a return to his best look promising.
What to watch for (all NZT)
FP - Rockets @ Blazers on Friday
Dwight Howard and James Harden take on the team currently ruling the Western Conference in the Portland Trailblazers. I’m looking forward to the battle of the paint in this one between LaMarcus Aldridge and Dwight Howard. Will be interesting too see how they match up and whether we will see Howard on Aldridge on the defensive end as the Blazers big man has been in some fine form.
Lakers @ Thunder on Saturday
Fortunately for us this one’s on ESPN so tune in on Saturday to see Kobe Bryant’s Lakers take on Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, our own Steven Adams and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers are battling at the moment and I expect this one too be a high scoring affair.
Spurs @ Clippers on Tuesday
The San Antonio Spurs travel to LA to take on Chris Paul and the Clippers. This should be a quality game of basketball as the Spurs are very good on the road and the Clippers are a great team at home. This Western Conference battle should be a good one!
Pacers @ Heat on Thursday
The Heat-Pacers game last week lived up to the hype and I expect this game to be just as intense. The Heat will not want to drop another game to the Pacers while Indiana will be looking to make a statement early in the season, which will hopefully end up in a good battle between two of the top teams in the NBA.
MVP watch
LeBron James (Miami Heat, 26.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 6.3apg)
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 28.5ppg, 8.2rpg, 5.1apg)
Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 24.6ppg, 5.9rpg)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 23.7ppg, 13.6rpg, 4.1apg)
Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 18.9ppg, 12.0apg)
...
LeBron James (Miami Heat, 26.0ppg, 5.7rpg, 6.6apg)
Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 24.3ppg, 6.4rpg)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 24.6ppg, 13.8rpg)
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 28.6ppg, 7.1rpg, 5.2apg)
Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 19.3ppg, 12.5apg)
LaMarcus Aldridge
Fresh Prince
LeBron James (Miami Heat, 25.6ppg, 5.5rpg, 6.8apg)
Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 24.4ppg, 6.8rpg)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.4ppg, 13.3rpg)
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 29.6ppg, 7.0rpg, 5.2apg)
Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 19.5ppg, 12.5apg)
His Airness
Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Paul George and Chris Paul
MVP watch does not change this week, all four candidates have continued to have solid weeks with LeBron stepping it up averaging 34 points. He continues to shoot a remarkable 62% from the field.
The streaking Blazers have won eight straight behind some fantastic team basketball along with the impressive performances from last year’s rookie of the year, Damian Lillard and All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge. They are facing some challenges this week but Portland look the part and are a team to keep an eye on.
Both these teams never fail to impress me. Derrick Rose is rusty and is struggling with his shot while also having some issues taking care of the ball, yet they’re 3rd in the East at 6-3 and have rattled off five straight wins. Every year I think how long can this squad in San Antonio keep pace in the west. Well they’re not only keeping pace, they’re setting it at 10-1 and have won eight straight.
Blake Griffin often features in highlight reels but sometimes doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. One of three players currently averaging 20+pts and 10+rpg, Griffin’s high flying game continues to be a force for the Clippers. While he has the benefit of playing with the league’s best point guard, he certainly makes the most of it and has been a standout performer so far in 13-14.
FP- San Antonio Spurs
Portland Trailblazers
Chicago Bulls
Memphis Grizzlies
HA- The Portland Trail Blazers are currently on a seven game winning streak, the best streak in the NBA at the moment. However, they have some difficult games coming up, facing Chicago at home and then travelling away to play Golden State.
Chicago Bulls – after having a tough start to the season it looks as if they have finally found their rhythm, handing the Pacers there first loss and continuing their now five game winning streak. The Bulls are on the rise and look for them to only get better as the season continues.
FP - Milwaukee Bucks
Utah Jazz
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
HA - Brooklyn Nets. The Nets had a lot of hype coming into the season with many people thinking they were going to do very well. They haven’t had a good start, currently 3-7 and new head coach Jason Kidd could be soon out of a job if they don’t start performing soon.
In a week where there were several standout performances from the usual suspects my performance of the week goes to the Chicago Bulls. In a game where they went up against the undefeated Indiana Pacers and their highly proclaimed defence, the Bulls played a complete game and took it too Indiana. Highlighted with seven players scoring in double digits and having no player get double digits in rebounds or assists meant that the Bulls produced an all round dominant team performance. Shooting 50.6% from the field in a game versus a defence that was allowing under 40% is a statistic that stood out too me along with their 57% 3-point percentage.
Individual performances of note were LeBron’s monster week, Harden’s 36 versus Carmelo’s 45, Tony Wroten’s debut start in which he recorded a triple double in an overtime win against the Rockets (complemented by James Anderson’s 36 point outburst). A glimpse of what the Mike D’Antoni’s Lakers are capable of led by Jordan Hill’s career performance of 24 points and 17 rebounds. Finally, the game between the Thunder and Warriors which featured a few clutch shots to say the least.
HA - Could be one of the dunk’s of the year by Xavier Henry.
FP - Those clutch performances lead me too the play of the week and once again it’s a game winner. This one finished a game of a playoff caliber between two teams that have the makings of a rivalry to look forward too. This followed a cold-blooded three from Russell Westbrook in a game to remember.
Another play that springs to mind is this off the backboard alley-oop from Brandon Jennings too Andre Drummond. WOW.
FP - Roy Hibbert
There’s been a lot of talk about Paul George and the Indiana Pacers but one player who deserves more recognition is Roy Hibbert. The 7’2’ Center has played tremendously well and is a large reason why the Pacers are currently 9-1. Hibbert’s numbers aren’t all that high (11.4ppg, 8.9rpg) but he does lead the league in blocks per game at an impressive 4.4 per game.
HA - DeMarcus Cousins – although he’s playing for the struggling Kings, Cousins looks as fit as ever and looks to have put his attitude issues behind him. He is averaging 21 points and 9 boards a game, this puts him among some of the top big men this year.
FP - The only storyline for me this week is regarding Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba is back, well almost; He is back participating fully in practice and while it will take some time to get match conditioned and into a rhythm I expect too see him back on the court sooner rather than later.
Kobe said a November return isn’t out of the question and although it’s unlikely to be this week (I hope it is) this is certainly something to watch for.
Clippers @ Thunder on Friday
Clippers take on the Thunder once again this week after a fierce battle last week where the Clippers got the win in LA where we saw an ejection apiece for a first half scuffle between Matt Barnes and Serge Ibaka.
HA - Clippers vs. Thunder will be a huge game, these two teams that have not played their best lately but will look to put themselves back on track with a win here.
Bulls @ Trailblazers on Saturday
The streaking Trailblazers will meet the team that seems to have a knack for ending streaks (while also being on a streak of their own). Chicago travel to Portland and meet the inform Portland Trailblazers. A good matchup between point guard’s Damian Lillard and Derrick Rose will highlight this battle as Portland look to make a statement and keep rolling while the Bulls will be looking to end another streak while continuing their own.
Trailblazers @ Warriors on Sunday
A matchup between two top teams in west as the Trailblazers meet the Warriors in San Francisco. The Blazers will be coming of a game against the Bulls and the Warriors meet the Lakers the day before. This will be a good one to watch as both teams are young and full of talent and are looking like the real deal this year.
Timberwolves @ Pacers on Tuesday
A good matchup for both teams here as the Timberwolves take on the Indiana Pacers. A good test for the Pacers as Minnesota is starting to look the part and with the Rubio/Love connection going strong this should be a quality game.
Heat @ Cavaliers on Thursday
Anytime LeBron returns to Cleveland is a game to watch. The Cavaliers are still rebuilding from LeBron’s departure and have struggled early in the season but are starting to find some form thanks to the exciting play of Uncle Drew. Expect the Cavs to get up for this one and hopefully we will see some of the potential in Cleveland along with a strong showing from LeBron James.
Spurs @ Thunder on Thursday
Another western conference matchup here as the Spurs take on the Thunder in OKC. This one will be an interesting one as the Spurs are looking as good as ever while the Thunder are coming into some form following some sublime play from their dynamic duo. Always a good matchup and I expect nothing less next Thursday.
Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 24.9ppg, 7.8rpg)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 26.4ppg, 15.0rpg)
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 30.2ppg, 7.3rpg)
LeBron James (Miami Heat, 25.5ppg, 7.3apg)
Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 21.3ppg, 12.4apg)
Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Paul George and Chris Paul
Anthony Davis is emerging as one of the top big men in the league, averaging 21.7 points, 11.6 rebounds and an impressive 3.8 blocks per game in only his second season, Davis is working his way into the MVP race.
Kevin Love
Kevin Love is another big man on the rise currently averaging 26.4 points per game which is second in the league and leading the league in rebounds per game 15, Love’s very impressive start to the season has helped his team to a 5-3 start to the season
FP - DeMarcus Cousins (23.5ppg, 9.7rpg)
Cousins has had some great performances this week and while they haven’t translated into wins, he has been a standout for the Sacramento Kings.
Houston Rockets (James Harden/Dwight Howard)
The Rockets haven’t had the greatest of weeks but their two superstars are beginning to warrant the exceedingly high expectations for this team. Harden (24.9ppg, 5.1apg) and Howard (17.6ppg, 14.9rpg) are leading the Rockets and will only improve the further we get into the season.
Anthony Davis (21.7ppg, 11.6rpg, 3.9bpg)
Anthony Davis
I didn’t mention Anthony Davis last week and I should have. He is playing some great basketball for the Pelicans and putting up some impressive numbers. He’s looking a lot stronger and more refined on the NBA stage and will continue to be a talented defensive presence for New Orleans.
FP - Indiana Pacers
San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
Boston Celtics
HA - Phoenix have had a impressive start to the season, lead by Eric Bledsoe this team has surprised many people going 5-2 to start the season. However, I am not sure if they can keep this up.
Atlanta are another surprising team on the rise this week currently leading the Southeast division ahead of Miami and with upcoming games against the struggling Knicks and hosting Philly at home the
Hawks could easily improve to 7-3.
FP - Utah Jazz
Sacramento Kings
Los Angeles Lakers
Detroit Pistons
HA - The Knicks have made a poor start to the season, currently 2-4 they are not looking like the team that made it to the playoffs last year.
Utah Jazz are the only team without a win this season, a team with really no stars you would think they will continue to struggle this season. There losing streak might be extended over the next week as they have tough games coming up against the Pelicans, Spurs and Warriors. Look for them to be a strong candidate for picking up college star Andrew Wiggins in next years draft.
For me there were two performances of the week, the first was by Kevin Love versus Dallas last Thursday, 32 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists in a 116-108 victory. The second was a performance by another superstar named Kevin, in a game that also featured Steven Adams’ posting his first double-double. Kevin Durant posted 37 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in the 119-110 victory over Detroit. Both Kevin’s are playing at MVP levels and performances like these are not uncommon for either player.
FP - In a week of game winners there was one that stood above all… Against the two-time defending champion, on the road, over the best player on the planet with 0.6 remaining.
HA - Got to love this, Miami at home losing to arguably one of the worst teams in the NBA at the moment.
Kevin Martin
FP - Kevin Martin (Minnesota Timberwolves)
The other Kevin in Minnesota has been on a scoring tear, putting up 32, 27 and 30 point performances over the past week. Having always being a volume scorer Martin is playing well in Minnesota and filling a vital scoring role alongside Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio.
HA - Damien Lillard (Portland Trailblazers)
Damian Lillard has been a significant reason why Portland are currently 5-2, averaging 21 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. Lillard has been impressive and look for him to continue this throughout the season.
Once again, who can challenge the Indiana Pacers?
The growth of the Harden/Howard combination in Houston
How the New York Knicks perform without Tyson Chandler?
Rockets @ Knicks on Friday
Two of the teams to watch this week are the Rockets and Knicks. The Rockets are starting to find out their identity and are looking stronger each outing. The Knicks are struggling at 2-4 and now are without their defensive specialist Tyson Chandler due to injury. It gets harder before it gets easier for the Knicks as Dwight Howard will be in town.
Thunder @ Warriors on Friday
The Thunder have quietly rattled off a four game win streak last week and head into Golden State second in the west. Kevin Durant is at his best and Russell Westbrook is as explosive as ever as he looks to settle back in. Another thing to look out for is the NBA’s own trans-tasman battle of big men as Steven Adams meets Australia’s Andrew Bogut.
Pacers @ Bulls on Sunday
The Pacers meet the Bulls once again this time in Chicago. Indiana is the best team in basketball right now and the Bulls (3-3) are yet to perform, as we’ve been accustomed to seeing. I expect this too be the Pacers biggest challenge yet and after they handled the Bulls in the 4th quarter last week leading too a 97-80 victory, this is the perfect stage for Chicago to send a message.
Hawks @ Heat on Wednesday
The Atlanta Hawks have been a surprise, currently sitting 3rd in the East at (4-3). They meet LeBron James and the Miami Heat on Wednesday in Miami and will provide them with an opportunity to establish themselves as a contender in the East. Miami currently 5-3 will be looking to put a strong week together after losing to the Celtics at Home and questions about their defence.
Fresh Prince
1 – Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 25.8ppg, 8.2rpg)
2 – Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 26.2ppg, 14.6rpg)
3 – Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 24.8ppg, 12.6apg)
4 – Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder 27.8ppg, 5.8rpg)
5 – LeBron James (Miami Heat, 25.6ppg, 8.0apg)
