With another week of the NBA season in the books, in the pocket, and out of sight, it's time to take a look at the best players of the last week. If you missed last week's, click here. If not, let's get into it, these are the 10 best players of the week.
Andre Drummond
While they aren't having a great season so far, the start of the year has to be seen as a positive for the Detroit Pistons. After posting a sub-.500 record this past year, the Pistons have been able to put up a 9-7 record, giving them the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference. This past week, the Pistons were able to go 2-1 behind the strong play of their frontcourt. The first member of that frontcourt I'll talk about is Andre Drummond, who is having the best season of his career right now, and this week was no different. For the week, Drummond averaged 22 points, 15.7 rebounds, a steal and 3 blocks per game while shooting 55% from the field. Drummond's best performance of the week came in a win over the Houston Rockets when he put up 23 points and 20 rebounds for his sixth 20-20 game of the season, adding 3 steals and 5 blocks.
Clint Capela
I've been a big fan of Clint Capela for a long time now, so yeah, I had no problem putting him on this week's list. Currently putting up the best numbers of his career, Capela's stat line this week was great despite the Houston Rockets posting a 1-2 record. For the week, Capela averaged 22.7 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting a staggering 77% from the field. Capela's best performance of the week came in a loss to the Detroit Pistons when he dropped a career-high 29 points, 21 rebounds, and 3 blocks. If Capela keeps playing the way he did this past week, an all-star appearance this season wouldn't be out of the question.
Blake Griffin
As I mentioned earlier, the Detroit Pistons have been having a moderately successful season so far, largely thanks to their dominant frontcourt. I've already talked about one of those players in Andre Drummond, and the other great big man on their roster is Blake Griffin, who is also having one of his best seasons in not just several years, but arguably his entire career. This week was no different, as Griffin put up a top-notch stat line as the Pistons went 2-1. For the week, Griffin averaged 28.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field and a great 53% from three-point range. Griffin's best performance of the week came in a loss to the Houston Rockets when he put up 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists. If both Drummond & Griffin keep playing the way they have, a playoff run for Detroit seems likely.
Russell Westbrook
While it looked like the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets were going to run away with the Western Conference this year, it's actually been a lot more competitive than anyone could've thought. Seven teams are currently above .600 and within 2 games of eachother for first place. One of those teams is the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have rebounded after a 0-4 start to post a 12-7 record on the season so far. This week saw them go 2-2, with Russell Westbrook leading the way after missing six games. For the week, Westbrook averaged 21.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 41% from the field. Westbrook would record two triple-doubles this week as well, putting up 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists in a win over the Golden State Warriors and 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in a loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Anthony Davis
The post-DeMarcus Cousins era (can you call it an era when it lasts a year and a half?) has been...just alright for the New Orleans Pelicans. Currently holding a respectable 10-10 record on the season, the Pelicans currently find themselves in the bottom half of the stacked Western Conference. The Pelicans will need more if they want to make the playoffs this year, and the 1-3 outing they had this week is exactly not what they needed. Luckily, they still have Anthony Davis, who put up a great stat line despite missing a game. For the week, Davis averaged 24.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 54% from the field. Davis' best performance of the week came in a loss to the New York Knicks when he put up 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Joel Embiid
Unlike the West, the Eastern Conference is shaping up pretty much the way everyone expected it to, with the Toronto Raptors currently tearing it up in first while the Atlanta Hawks & Cleveland Cavaliers bring up the rear. Also as expected, the Philidelphia 76ers find themselves high in the conference standings. Currently in third place with a 13-8 record on the season, the 76ers were able to improve with a 2-1 record this past week, thanks to more MVP-caliber play from Joel Embiid. For the week, Embiid averaged 29.3 points, 16 rebounds, a steal and a block per game while shooting 53% from the field and 31% from three-point range. Embiid had several great games, dropping 33 points and 17 rebounds against the Phoenix Suns before dropping 31 points and 19 rebounds two days later against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Kevin Durant
Following a chaotic week the previous week, the Golden State Warriors seem to have stabilized. Posting a 2-2 record for the week, the Warriors now hold a 14-7 record on the season, putting them in a three-way tie for first place in the Western Conference. While only going .500 could be seen as disappointing for a team with so much talent, it's still a good sign for them following last week's drama. Leading the way for Warriors this week was Kevin Durant, who has been the go-to guy for Golden State with Stephen Curry on the shelf. For the week, Durant averaged 32.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists, a steal and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 48% from the field and 92% from the free throw line. Durant's best performance of the week came in a win over the Sacramento Kings when he put up 44 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists.
LeBron James
After a shaky start to the season, the Los Angeles Lakers have been able to go on to have a strong record with the first full month of the season coming to a close soon. Currently holding an 11-7 record on the year, the Lakers are one of many Western Conference teams within two games of first place but are currently the lowest in the standings of those seven teams. Still, with LeBron James on the roster, it's hard to imagine that the Lakers won't be one of the top teams in the West this season. This past week, James was able to lead the Lakers to a perfect 3-0 record as he averaged 35 points, 10.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 steals and a block per game while shooting 56% from the field and 53% from three-point range. James' best performance of the week came against the Miami Heat when he dropped 51 points and 8 rebounds.
James Harden
Like several high-profile teams this season, the Houston Rockets stumbled out of the gate this season. While they have been able to stabilize, they are still just .500 on the season with a 9-9 record so far. They were above .500 before this week, but a 1-2 outing dropped them back down to even. Even though the beginning of the season hasn't gone well for the Rockets, there is still a lot of hope for the team and it's hard to imagine that they'll miss the playoffs this year. This is especially true considering they have the reigning-MVP in James Harden on their side. This past week, Harden averaged 38.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 43% from the field and 38% from three-point range. Harden would drop 40 or more points twice this week, putting up 43 in a win over the Detroit Pistons and 40 in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Probably not a good sign that they lost to the Cavs, but still a good outing for Harden himself.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
And rounding out my list for the best player of the week is the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks have really surprised me this year. I knew they were good, but I really only saw them as a one-player team, especially after their disappointing season last year. This season, however, they've gone above and beyond, and they currently hold the second-best record in the Eastern Conference with a 14-5 record. While the whole team is coming through big, the leader is without a doubt still Antetokounmpo, and he proved exactly why that is this past week as the Bucks went 3-1. For the week, Antetokounmpo averaged 32.8 points, 14 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 64% from the field. Antetokounmpo would have several great games this week, including a 33 point, 16 rebound, 9 assist, 3 steal outing in a blowout win over the Portland Trail Blazers and put up 34 points, 18 rebounds, and 8 assists in another win over the San Antonio Spurs.
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