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: Luka Dončić
While they're in playoff contention right now, the Dallas Mavericks have been a bit disappointing this year. Having an early MVP front runner and one of the better centers in the league, I said before the season started that the Mavericks look like they have a bright future ahead of them. However, we haven't seen that bright future just yet. They're currently 6th in the West right now and hold a playoff spot, but you'd expect more from the team that has one of the absolute best players in the league right now. Things have been looking up in April, however, as they've gone 8-5 in the month and now hold a 33-26 record. The big reason for that has been Luka Dončić, who has continued to put up MVP-like numbers, especially this past week. In a week where the Mavericks went 3-1, Dončić averaged 28.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field and 33% from three. Dončić's best performance of the week came in a win over the Pistons, where he put up 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Honorable Mentions:
Ja Morant: 30.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 9.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 59% FG, 50% 3P
Stephen Curry: 33 PPG, 6 RPG, 5.3 APG, 45% FG, 40% 3P, 95% FT
Shooting Guard: Bradley Beal
After a rough start to the season that prompted #FreeBradleyBeal to trend on Twitter, the Washington Wizards have really put it together over the last few weeks. They still have a losing record, but a seven-game win streak has bumped them up to a 26-33 record on the year, putting them at 10th in the East and in the play-in tournament. A second-straight undefeated week has kept the Wizards red hot, and they have Bradley Beal to thank for it as he takes the shooting guard spot for the second week in a row. For the week, Beal averaged 30.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block per game while shooting 49% from the field, 56% from three, and 95% from the free-throw line. Beal closed out the week with his strongest scoring performance, putting up 33 points against the Thunder
Honorable Mentions:
Collin Sexton: 28.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1 SPG, 61% FG, 50% 3P
Terry Rozier: 22.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 8 APG, 1 SPG, 46% FG, 39% 3P
Small Forward: Paul George
Going from one player who is holding their spot on the Team of the Week for the second week in a row to another, we have Paul George. Losing Kawhi Leonard could have been devastating for the Los Angeles Clippers this late in the season, but so far, they've managed to stay hot without one of their two best players. Between April 11th and now, a stretch where Leonard has only played in one game, the Clippers have gone 7-1 and now sit at 43-19 on the season, putting them firmly in 3rd in the West, only half a game behind the 2nd place Suns, and two games behind the first place Jazz. The task of keeping the Clippers strong these past two weeks has fallen on George, who has not disappointed. In a week where the Clippers went a perfect 3-0, George averaged 29.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 49% from the field and 33% from three. George would notch his 6th and 7th double-doubles of the season, recording 33 points and 11 rebounds against the Trail Blazers before putting up 33 points and 14 rebounds three days later against the Rockets.
Honorable Mentions:
Michael Porter Jr: 25.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 56% FG, 55% 3P
Brandon Ingram: 24.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, 49% FG
Power Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Following a six-game absence due to soreness in his left knee, Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the court last week. The loss of their star player could've spelled disaster for the Milwaukee Bucks, but they managed to break even without Antetokounmpo by going 3-3. After last week's return saw disappointing returns from the team as a whole despite strong play from the reigning two-time MVP, this past week saw the Bucks go 2-1 and improve their record to 37-22, good enough for third in the East, behind some stellar performances from Antetokounmpo. For the week, Antetokounmpo averaged 28 points, 12.7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.7 steals, and a block per game while shooting 59% from the field and 33% from three. Antetokounmpo's best performance of the week saw him put up 27 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists in a win over the 76ers.
Honorable Mentions:
Julius Randle: 30 PPG, 9 RPG, 6 APG, 2 SPG, 45% FG, 48% 3P
Zion Williamson: 30.8 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 64% FG
Center: Clint Capela
The center spot for the Team of the Week is almost exclusively held by either Joel Embiid or Nikola Jokić. So much so that out of the 17 weeks I've written these, there have only been two times where someone other than Embiid or Jokić took the spot. Either one of them could take it this week too, honestly, but it's hard to argue against the guy who averaged over 20 rebounds per game this week. The Atlanta Hawks have been having a solid season this year, as they're currently 33-27 on the year after a 3-1 week and hold 5th place in the East. Usually when I write about the Hawks, it's about how great Trae Young has been, and while Young had a stellar week for himself, it was Clint Capela who stole the show and had an absolute barn burner of a week for himself. For the week, Capela averaged 21.3 points, 21.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2 blocks per game while shooting 63% from the field. Capela would have two 20-20 games this week, first recording 25 points and 24 rebounds against the Pacers
Honorable Mentions:
Joel Embiid: 30 PPG, 11 RPG, 5 APG, 1 BPG, 48% FG, 33% 3P
Nikola Jokić: 28.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 7.8 APG, 58% FG
6th Man: Derrick Rose
Last week, I wrote about how the New York Knicks were on a hot streak at the moment. Well, a week has gone by, and they've only gotten hotter. A perfect 4-0 week extended their winning streak to nine, and they now sit at 34-27 on the year. The Knicks have been so good the last few weeks that they've propelled themselves from a below .500 team to the 4th best team in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks' success this week can be attributed to an overall strong performance from their core, but the best player off the bench was Derrick Rose. For the week, Rose averaged 19.8 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 63% from the field and 40% from three. Rose would open the week with his best performance, putting up 23 points and 5 assists against the Pelicans.
Honorable Mentions:
D'Angelo Russell: 19.3 PPG, 5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 52% FG, 43% 3P
Jaren Jackson Jr: 19 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 56% FG, 90% FT
Rookie: Anthony Edwards
Just as things started to look up for the Minnesota Timberwolves as they escaped the bottom of the league's standings, the cold, callous hand of reality smacked them right back down. Despite going 2-2 this past week, the Timberwolves' abysmal season overall has put them in a hole too deep to climb out of, as they've become the second team eliminated from playoff contention this year. Currently 17-44 on the year, the Timberwolves are really just playing for pride at this point, and they can take pride in the fact that they have a Rookie of the Year candidate in Anthony Edwards, who balled out this week despite the team's struggles. For the week, Edwards averaged 22.5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field and 40% from three. Edwards' best performance of the week saw him put up 28 points in a win over the Kings.
Honorable Mentions:
Cole Anthony: 15.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 41% FG
Xavier Tillman: 12.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 61% FG, 40% 3P
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