Victor Oladipo
Heading into the All-Star break, the Indiana Pacers continue to be one of the most surprising teams in all of the league. After trading away Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder, everyone expected them to fall flat on their faces. However, they actually have a better record than the Thunder right now, as they currently sit with a 33-25 record on the year, putting them in the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. Their surprise success has largely been due to the man they traded Paul George for; Victor Oladipo. This week was no different, as the first-time all-star led the Pacers to two wins to head into the All-Star break. For the week, Oladipo averaged 27.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 4.5 steals per game while shooting 40% from the field. Oladipo's best performance of the week saw him come close to recording a quadruple-double in a win over the New York Knicks when he put up 30 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 steals.
Karl-Anthony Towns
As expected, the Minnesota Timberwolves are sitting good heading into the All-Star Break, as they currently hold the 4th seed in the Western Conference with a 36-25 record. Even with that; however, there is still only a three and a half game difference between them and the 9th place Los Angeles Clippers. There good for now, but they're by no means safe just yet. But back to the matter at hand, this week saw the Timberwolves go 2-1, with their first-time all-star in Karl-Anthony Towns leading the way for them. For the week, Towns averaged 24.7 points, 13 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 57% from the field, 33% from three-point range, and a perfect 22/22 from the free throw line.
Russell Westbrook
Just like the Timberwolves, the Oklahoma City Thunder also hold a spot in the playoffs heading into the all-star break, currently occupying the 5th seed in the Western Conference. However, just like the Timberwolves, the gap between them and teams fighting for a playoff spot, only there's is even smaller than Minnesota's gap. Only a game and a half ahead of the Clippers, the Thunder are still going to have to fight hard to stay in the playoffs. This week they went 2-1, which certainly helps their spot in the standings a bit. Leading the for the Thunder was Russell Westbrook had himself another fantastic week prior to making his 7th all-star appearance. For the week, Westbrook averaged 22 points, 10 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and a block per game and shot 90% from the free throw line.
James Harden
For the first time in a long time this season, the Golden State Warriors are no longer at the top of the Western Conference. That spot is now held by the Houston Rockets, who currently hold a 44-13 record as they continue a winning streak that currently sits at 10 games. Three of those ten wins came during this past week, and it was none other than the six-time all-star James Harden who has been leading them on this huge win streak and during this past week. For the week, Harden averaged 29.7 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 1.3 steals, and a block per game while shooting 40% from the field and 40% from three-point range.
Kevin Durant
Speaking of the Warriors, they went 1-1 this past week and have fallen to the 2nd seed in the Western Conference with a 44-14 record on the year. That being said, they're still 13 games ahead of the 9th seed Clippers, so their playoff spot is pretty much safe at this point, and they're only half a game behind the Rockets, so don't be surprised if they reclaim their spot at the top of the West shortly. But back to this week, the leader of the team was Kevin Durant, put up big numbers prior to making his 9th all-star appearance this past week. For the week, Durant averaged 33.5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks per game while shooting 69% from the field and 47% from three-point range. Durant's best performance of the week came from arguably the best game we've seen all season between the Warriors and the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite the loss, Durant put up a season-high 50 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks.
LeBron James
The new-look Cleveland Cavaliers played their first two games together this past week, and so far it looks like the big roster change is paying off. Winning both of their games this week, the Cavaliers improved their record to 34-22 on the year, putting them in the 3rd seed of the Eastern Conference, but are still four and a half games behind the 2nd seed Boston Celtics. These trades look like a step in the right direction, but the Cavs still have to climb out of the hole they dug for themselves. Back to this week, however, the leader of the team was, as always, LeBron James who put up great numbers with his new teammates before making his 14th all-star appearance. For the week, James averaged 30.5 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and a block per game while shooting 54% from the field and 42% from three-point range.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The post-Jason Kidd era has continued to be a successful one for the Milwaukee Bucks, as they've gone 8-3 since firing Kidd as their head coach. Their recent success has helped boost their record up to 32-35 on the year, a record that currently gives them the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference. While they did only go 1-1 this past week, the Bucks still look to be on the right track right now and could be potentially moving up the standings soon. Going back to this week, the leader and best player for the Bucks was Giannis Antetokounmpo, the now two-time all-star and possible MVP candidate. For the week, Antetokounmpo averaged 25.5 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 57% from the field. This week also saw Antetokounmpo record his first triple-double of the season in a loss to the Denver Nuggets when he put up 36 points, 11 rebounds, a season-high 13 assists, and 3 blocks.
Damian Lillard
The Portland Trail Blazers, like the Timberwolves & Thunder, find themselves in the playoffs right now, but the gap between them and the 9th place Clippers is slim...even slimmer than the Thunder's gap between themselves and the Clippers. Currently holding the 7th seed in the Western Conference, they find themselves only one game ahead of the Clippers, making their spot in the playoffs even less secure than the Thunder's. However, if Damian Lillard continues to play the way he did this past week, they should be just fine. In a week that saw the Blazers go 1-1, Lillard averaged an insane 41.5 points, 4.5 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 52% from the field, 32% from three, and a perfect 25/25 from the free throw line. Like Durant, Damian Lillard's best performance of the week came in the awesome match-up between the Trail Blazers and the Warriors, in which the Trail Blazers won. Lillard led the team and put up 44 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals.
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic is the only player on this list who was not selected to the all-star game this year, and many people (myself included) think that he was more than deserving of a spot as a reserve. Being snubbed must have been a sort of wake-up call for Jokic, as he's been doing great since the all-star reserves were announced, averaging a near triple-double since January 23rd. This week was no different, as Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a perfect 2-0 week and improved their record to 32-26 on the season. That gives them the 6th seed in the Western Conference, but they're still only one game ahead of the 9th place Clippers right now. But hey, as long as Jokic plays the way he has, especially this past week, they should be fine. For the week, Jokic averaged 26.5 points, 14 rebounds, 14 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 66% from the field, 63% from three-point range, and 91% from the free throw line. Jokic also recorded two triple-doubles in both the games he played during the week and recorded a career-high 17 assists in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks, adding 30 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Anthony Davis
And rounding out this list is my pick for the Player of the Week, and that's Anthony Davis. While Jokic had a spectacular week that deserves tons of commendation, it's hard to put him over Davis, who had a dominant week for himself as he led the New Orleans Pelicans to two wins this week. Out of every team in the Western Conference who have small gaps between them and the 9th place Clippers, the Pelicans are the team that has the smallest gap out of anyone. Currently sitting at the 8th seed in the Western Conference with a 31-26 record, the Pelicans are just a half a game ahead of the Clippers, and with the loss of DeMarcus Cousins, that spot is not as secure as the other teams I've mentioned. However, this past week showed that the Pelicans might just be able to hold onto that 8th seed with Davis leading them to a perfect 2-0 week behind his fantastic stat line. For the week, Davis averaged 40 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 2 blocks per game while shooting 69% from the field, 63% from three-point range, and 94% from the free throw line. Davis' best performance from his top-notch week came in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers when he put up 42 points, 15 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 steals. If Davis can keep playing like that for the rest of the season, the Pelicans should hopefully be able to hold onto that 8th seed.
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