(NOTE: Before I begin, I just wanted to give my condolences to the family of Elgin Baylor. Rest in Peace to one of the greatest players in the history of the game)
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
After a brief hiccup where they lost four straight to end February, the Portland Trail Blazers are back on track, as they've gone 7-2 in their last nine games. This includes this week's strong 3-1 outing, which has improved their record to 25-16 on the year, putting them at joint 5th in the West with the Nuggets. The return of CJ McCollum this week has obviously been huge for the team, but Damian Lillard has obviously been the driving force for the Blazers' success. For the week, Lillard averaged 38.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game while shooting 57% from the field, 43% from three-point range, and 98% from the free-throw line. It was during the first of Portland's wins over the Pelicans this week that Lillard had his best performance of the season, putting up a season-high 50 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Honorable Mentions:
Luka Dončić: 35 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 11.3 APG, 2 SPG, 51% FG, 40% 3P
Russell Westbrook: 28 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 13.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 46% FG, 43% 3P
Shooting Guard: James Harden
The shooting guard spot for my Team of the Week picks is quickly becoming a lock for James Harden every week. And there's a good reason for that, as the Brooklyn Nets, like I mention every time Harden earns this spot, have been fantastic since trading for him. Since the Harden trade, the Nets have gone from 7-6 to 28-14, a record of 21-8 with Harden on the roster, and are the 2nd best team in the East, with only one game between them and the first place 76ers. This week, the Nets went 2-1, and Harden proved to be a big reason for that winning record. For the week, Harden averaged 26.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 13 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 40% from the field. Harden recorded triple-doubles in both of the Nets' wins this week, first dropping 21 points, a season-high 14 rebounds, and 15 assists against the Knicks, then putting up 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists against the Pacers two days later.
Honorable Mentions:
Bradley Beal: 36.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5 APG, 65% FG, 44% 3P, 91% FT
Donovan Mitchell: 29.5 PPG, 5.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 44% FG, 31% 3P
Small Forward: Jimmy Butler
For the second week in a row, Jimmy Butler takes the spot for the best small forward of the week. After their surprising run to the NBA Finals last year, the Miami Heat's season has left a lot to be desired, as they are currently 22-20 on the year after a 2-2 week. That's not bad, as they're currently tied for 4th in an admittedly weak Eastern Conference, but you'd hope for more from a team that was two games away from the championship last year. Still, last year proved they can be a threat come playoff time even if they aren't a top seed, and if Butler keeps playing the way he has the past few weeks, they could cause some real problems this postseason. For this week, Butler averaged 24.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 59% from the field and 92% from the free-throw line. Butler's best performance of the week came in a win over the Cavaliers, where he put up 28 points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
Honorable Mentions:
LeBron James: 23.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 8.3 APG, 59% FG, 50% 3P
Jayson Tatum: 24 PPG, 6 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 47% FG, 40% 3P
Power Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Going from one repeat pick from last week to another, Giannis Antetokounmpo takes the power forward spot for the fourth week in a row. After an underwhelming start to the season, the Milwaukee Bucks have turned it around in a big way over the last few weeks. Sitting at 16-13 after a five-game losing streak, the Bucks have gone 11-1 since, which includes a 3-0 performance this past week and are currently on a six-game winning streak. They now sit at 27-14 on the year, good enough for 3rd in the East right now. And of course, the reigning two-time MVP in Antetokounmpo has been a huge reason for their recent success. For the week, Antetokounmpo averaged a triple-double with 29.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 58% from the field and 33% from three-point range. Antetokounmpo opened the week with his 7th triple-double of the season, putting up 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Wizards.
Honorable Mentions:
Tobias Harris: 25.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1 BPG, 52% FG, 53% 3P, 100% FT
Zion Williamson: 27 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.3 APG, 66% FG
Center: Nikola Jokić
And while we're on the topic of repeats, my pick for the best center of the week is Nikola Jokić for the third week in a row. All season long (except for one week), the center spot on these has been a battle between Jokić and Joel Embiid. However, with Embiid out with a bone bruise over the last two weeks, there's been no one standing in Jokić's way. This coincides with a stretch of dominance by the Denver Nuggets, who have gone 8-1 in their last nine games, including a 3-0 performance this week, and are currently tied for 5th in the West with the Trail Blazers. For this week, Jokić was fantastic, averaging 26 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 56% from the field and 50% from three-point range. Jokić closed out the week with his best performance, putting up 34 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists against the Bulls.
Honorable Mentions:
Nikola Vučević: 25.7 PPG, 13.3 RPG, 6 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1 BPG, 44% FG, 33% 3P
Karl-Anthony Towns: 26.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 6 APG, 1 BPG, 61% FG, 48% 3P
6th Man: Montrezl Harrell
Given that he's the reigning Sixth Man of the Year winner, I'm shocked that, through 13 weeks of the NBA season, that this is the first time I'm writing about Montrezl Harrell for this spot. While he's had a good season this year, the great play of guys Jordan Clarkson, Chris Boucher, and Goran Dragić, along with rookies like LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton, has kept Harrell to an honorable mention, at best, this season. However, this week, there was no one better off the bench than him. In a week where the Los Angeles Lakers went 3-1, improving their record to 28-14 on the year, Harrell averaged 20.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and a steal per game while shooting 69% from the field. Harrell opened the week his best performance of the season, putting up a season-high 27 points, along with 5 rebounds and 3 steals in a blowout win over the Warriors.
Honorable Mentions:
Robert Williams: 13.8 PPG, 11 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 81% FG
Talen Horton-Tucker: 13.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5 APG, 55% FG, 92% FT
Rookie: Anthony Edwards
So Anthony Edwards has made the Rookie of the Year conversation real interesting these past few weeks. After being pushed aside in the conversation for guys like LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton, largely in part to his below 40% shooting during the season. However, the past two weeks have seen Edwards correct his poor shooting and put up great numbers, living up to his status as the #1 pick. Edwards' excellent play recently has also been big for the Timberwolves, who went 2-2 this past week. That's not great, but for a team that is 10-32 on the year, dead last in both the West and the entire league, and legitimately has the worst winning percentage of any franchise in American sports right now, that's like winning the championship. But back to Edwards, who had a fantastic week, averaging 29 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field and 38% from three-point range. Edwards would have his best performance of the season this week, putting up a career-high 42 points and 7 rebounds in a win over the Suns.
Saddiq Bey: 18.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 49% FG, 43% 3P, 100% FT
LaMelo Ball: 17.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 46% FG
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