It's Monday, you know what that means! It's time to take a look back at the past week and see who the best players were around the league. Selections are based mostly on the player's stats, but (minus the rookie of the week) their team's record during the week is also taken into consideration. Click here to check out last week's if you missed it. If not, let's get into this.
Point Guard: Damian Lillard
With the Western Conference remaining the stacked conference in the NBA, the Portland Trail Blazers might be getting lost in the shuffle a bit. However, they are having far from a bad season, as they're currently 18-11 on the year. Despite the extended absence of their second-best player in CJ McCollum, the Blazers remain a strong team in the West, going 3-1 this past week. And surprisingly, Damian Lillard has been the reason the Blazers have remained strong. For the week, Lillard averaged 35.8 points, 5 rebounds, 12.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field and 41% from three-point range. Lillard put up a double-double in all four of his games this week, with his performance against the Pelicans where he dropped 43 points and a career-high 16 assists in a close win being arguably his best of the season.
Honorable Mentions:
Jamal Murray: 33.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 62% FG, 55% 3P, 93% FT
Trae Young: 31.3 PPG, 9 APG, 2 SPG, 55% FG, 40% 3P, 90% FT
Shooting Guard: James Harden
Unsurprisingly, the addition of James Harden by the Brooklyn Nets has proven to be incredibly beneficial. After an underwhelming 7-6 start to the year, the Nets made the blockbuster deal to land Harden and haven't looked back, going 12-6 since and are currently on a five-game winning streak to put them at 19-12 on the year. With three bonafide superstars, any one of them could get a Team of the Week selection from me, and this week, Harden gets that nod. For the week, Harden averaged 30 points, 8.3 rebounds, 12 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 56% from the field, 50% from three-point range, and 93% from the free-throw line as the Nets went a perfect 3-0 on the week. Harden would open the week with his fifth triple-double of the season, putting up 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 14 assists in a win over the Kings.
Honorable Mentions:
Bradley Beal: 33.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 54% FG, 33% 3P, 90% FT
Zach LaVine: 33.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4 APG, 2 SPG, 52% FG, 42% 3P
Small Forward: Evan Fournier
The post-Dwight Howard era for the Orland Magic has been a rough one. While they aren't quite as bad as they were for most of the 2010s, the Magic have been in limbo for the last few seasons; good enough to make the playoffs, but not enough to make a serious run. This season hasn't been good for the team, as they're currently 12-18 on the year and in the bottom five of the conference. This week was fine enough, as they went 2-1, but they have work to do if they want to make the playoffs again. Normally a team with Nikola Vučević being the main guy, this week saw a few players step up, and one of them was Evan Fournier. Generally a strong scorer, Fournier played above his normal production, averaging 23.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 58% from the field and 57% from three-point range. Fournier closed out the week with his best performance of the year, putting up a season-high 28 points in a win over the Warriors.
Honorable Mentions:
LeBron James: 25.8 PPG, 10 RPG, 8 APG, 52% FG
Brandon Ingram: 21.8 PPG, 5.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 45% FG, 36% 3P, 96% FT
Power Forward: Domantas Sabonis
After starting off the season hot, the Indiana Pacers have chilled and are now a pretty average team. Generally playing .500 basketball this year, a four-game losing streak really hurt them, and they currently find themselves at 15-14 on the year. As they've done all season, the Pacers went .500 for the week, going 1-1 in their two games. While the team hasn't been anything to write home about, Domantas Sabonis continues to shine, as he's having the best season of his career and could be looking at his second all-star selection. This week was no different, as Sabonis averaged 30.5 points, 13 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 2 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the field. Sabonis would close out the week with his best performance of the season, recording his third triple-double of the year with a career-high 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Honorable Mentions:
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 27.5 PPG, 14.5 RPG, 8.5 APG, 2.8 SPG, 2 BPG, 50% FG
Julius Randle: 34.5 PPG, 8 RPG, 4 APG, 61% FG, 50% 3P
Center: Joel Embiid
The importance of Joel Embiid to the Philadelphia 76ers cannot be understated. The 76ers currently sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 20-10 record, with Embiid suiting up for 24 of those games. When Embiid plays, they are 19-5, When Embiid sits out, they are 1-5. That's how vital he has been to the 76ers this season. In a week that saw the Sixers go 2-1, Embiid played in just two games (the two they won, of course) and proved why he's being considered a legitimate contender for MVP this year. For the week, Embiid averaged 40.5 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 57% from the field. Embiid would have his best performance of the season to cap of the week, putting up a career-high 50 points, a season-high 17 rebounds, and a season-high 4 blocks in a win over the Bulls.
Honorable Mentions:
Nikola Jokić: 28.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 8.5 APG, 2 SPG, 59% FG, 47% 3P, 100% FT
Nikola Vučević: 20 PPG, 14 RPG, 5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 41% FG
6th Man: Jordan Clarkson
Everyone knew the Utah Jazz were good, but I don't think anybody expected them to be this good. In their last 22 games, the Jazz have gone 20-2 and, while their impressive nine-game winning streak did come to an end this week, they still find themselves with a league-best 24-6 record thanks to that aforementioned winning streak, something that was preceded by an even more impressive 11-game winning streak. The Jazz have quite possibly the deepest team in the entire league, with Jordan Clarkson being a great example of that. Clarkson has excelled coming off the Jazz's bench this season and looks like an early front runner for the Sixth Man of the Year award. This past week, Clarkson further cemented his contention for the award, averaging 25.7 points and 2 steals per game while shooting 48% from the field and 41% from three-point range. Without a doubt, Clarkson's best performance of the week (and of the season) came in a win over the 76ers where he put up a season-high 40 points.
Honorable Mentions:
Tyler Herro: 17.5 PPG, 7 RPG, 3 APG, 1.3 BPG, 49% FG, 36% 3P
Dāvis Bertāns: 16.8 PPG, 5 RPG, 54% FG, 58% 3P, 92% FT
Rookie: Jae'Sean Tate
Well, this has been a pleasant surprise that the Houston Rockets desperately needed. After an initial surprisingly strong-run following the James Harden trade, the Rockets have crashed back down to earth, as they're currently on a seven-game losing streak and sit at 11-17 on the year. Add on the injury to Christian Wood and things are bleak in Houston right now. However, a bright spot has been Jae'Sean Tate. After going undrafted in 2018, the former prospect at THE Ohio State University played overseas in Belgium and Australia's National Basketball League before signing with the Rockets this past offseason. Tate has exceeded expectations since the season started, and this week, he was the best rookie in the entire class. For the week, Tate averaged 18.5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 65% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Tate's best performance came against the 76ers, putting up a career-high 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and a career-high 3 steals.
Honorable Mentions:
Saddiq Bey: 14 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 47% FG, 41% 3P, 100% FT
Tyrese Haliburton: 14 PPG, 4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 47% FG, 39% 3P
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