With the first week (well, five days) of the NBA season in the books, I thought I'd take a look at the 10 players who excelled to start off the year. With that in mind, here are the 10 best players from the last week.
James Harden
The Chris Paul-era might not have gotten off the best start for them, but the Houston Rockets are still putting up wins as they've won all three of their first games. Despite losing Chris Paul in the first game to injury and losing key players like Lou Williams and Patrick Beverly in the trade that got them Paul, James Harden has continued to lead the Rockets and maintain their status as one of the best teams in the Western Conference. For the week, Harden averaged 27.7 points, 4 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting 44% from the field and 39% from three-point range.The Harden-led Rockets are already a great team, and once CP3 comes back and (hopefully) adjusts to the team, the Houston Rockets could be scary.
LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Aldridge started off the season by showing everyone just why he got a 3-year, $72.3 million contract extension one day before the season started. Aldridge has been a key factor in the San Antonio Spurs 2-0 start to the season, despite not having both Kawhi Leonard or Tony Parker to start the season. For the week, Aldridge averaged 26.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals per game while shooting 47% from the field and 91% from the free throw line. Once Leonard and Parker come back and join Aldridge, the Spurs could be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
Marc Gasol
The Memphis Grizzlies have started off the season strong, winning both of their games and capped off the week with a big 10-point win over the defending champion Golden State Warrior. A big part of their big week was Marc Gasol, who has started off the season strong. For the week, Gasol averaged 24 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 41% from the field, 44% from three-point range, and 94% from the free-throw line. If the Grizzlies want to keep up their winning ways, Gasol seems set to be a big part of it.
John Wall
With the Boston Celtics, the expected 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference, losing one of their best players in Gordon Hayward for (likely) the entire season and falling to 1-2 in their first three games, the Washington Wizards look to move into the #2 spot in the East. And along with Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr., John Wal is set to be the guy who leads the Wizards to that 2nd seed spot, and he gave a preview of why he could do it in the first week of the season as he lead the Wizards to a 2-0 record to start the season. For the week, Wall averaged 27 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 blocks while shooting 45% from the field. Can the Wizards compete with the Cavaliers and the Warriors with Wall leading the way? We'll have to wait and see, but if this week was any indication of what's to come, they could have a shot at it.
Kristaps Porziņģis
The New York Knicks have struggled in the first week of the season, as was expected following the Carmelo Anthony trade, going 0-2 in their first two games. However, one bright spot the team has been the defacto leader of the team, Kristaps Porzingis, who has put up big numbers despite the team's losses. For the week, Porzingis averaged 32 points, 8.5 rebounds, a steal and a block per game while shooting 49% from the field and 39% from three-point range. The Knicks might be going through some hard times right now, but Porzingis has been doing good for himself.
Nikola Vucevic
If there's any name that stands out on this list, it's probably this guy. Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic, however, has had one hell of a week as he's led the Magic to two wins out of their three games, which included a big 21-point win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the week, Vucevic averaged 27.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, a steal and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 68% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Vucevic has always been a pretty good player, but this week he turned it up to 11 and put up huge numbers.
Blake Griffin
Despite the loss of Chris Paul this offseason, the Los Angeles Clippers have been able to hold their own for the first week of the season, winning both of their games against the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns decisively. Those bigs win came in no small part from the great play of Blake Griffin. For the week, Griffin averaged 29 points, 10 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 53% from the field and 54.5 from three-point range. Whether or not the Clippers can keep up their winning ways once they face tougher competition than the Suns is unknown, but as long as Griffin keeps up the good work, they should be fine.
DeMarcus Cousins
The New Orleans Pelicans have continued to struggle, losing their first two games of the season. However, their two best players have been doing great individually. First off, we have DeMarcus Cousins. For the week, Cousins averaged 31.5 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 46% from the field and 35% from three-point range.
Anthony Davis
Cousins' teammate Anthony Davis also had a strong week despite the Pelicans stinking it up in their first two games. For the week, Davis averaged 34 points, 17.5 rebounds, a steal and a block while shooting 55% from the field and 67% from three-point range. The Pelicans have two of the best big men in basketball, but their inability to surround them with capable role players has held them back significantly.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
And rounding off the list we have my pick for Player of the Week, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak played three games in the NBA's opening week and didn't slow down for a second, putting up over 30 points in each game and capped off the week with a huge 44 point game against the Portland Trail Blazers, where he also made the game-saving block on Jusuf Nurkic. For the week, Antetokounmpo averaged 38.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2.7 steals while shooting 67% from the field. If he continues to play at this high of a level all season, Antetokounmpo could be a serious MVP candidate.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
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