Most Valuable Player
1. LeBron James - MIA - 25.6 pts, 7.1 reb, 7.2 ast (1)
Even though the Heat have lost four straight and LeBron missed two of those games with an ankle injury, his production didn't change when he was in the lineup. The only place that his games seemed to lag this week was in field goal percentage, where he shot 41% instead of the 48% he normally does.
2. Dwyane Wade - MIA - 25.1 pts, 6.5 reb, 4.2 ast (2)
Statistically speaking, Wade's only dud of the week was the 16 points he scored in Miami's embarrassing loss to Denver in the first game LeBron missed this week. He looked much better in the loss to Chicago, but it appears that Wade needs LeBron in order to be at his best.
3. Derrick Rose - CHI - 24.7 pts, 4.7 reb, 8.0 ast (6)
Rose surged back toward the front of the MVP pack this week after averaging nearly 29 points as he led the Bulls to a 4-1 record, including impressive wins over the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks. His best game of the week may have been his lowest-scoring one, as he recorded a triple-double in Memphis to beat the Grizzlies in the same town where he played college ball.
4. Pau Gasol - LAL - 18.6 pts, 10.6 reb, 2.0 blk (3)
Gasol was relatively solid this week, but scoring only 13 points against the Clippers at the Staples Center may have been the difference between a win and a loss for the defending champions. Blake Griffin outplayed him in every way and showed who the best power forward in LA really is.
5. Kevin Durant - OKC - 28.2 pts, 6.2 reb, 2.9 ast (4)
The Thunder only played twice this week, and although Durant was perfect from the free throw line, that was the only positive that came out of this week. He shot 33% from the floor, was 1 for 11 from three-point range, and Oklahoma City lost both games.
6. Kobe Bryant - LAL - 25.1 pts, 5.1 reb, 4.7 ast (5)
It looks like Kobe's 39 points against Golden State were just a fluke, a result of playing a team with a hurry-up style of play. He failed to hit 30 points again this week, and the Lakers were only 2-2 in four games they should have won.
7. Russell Westbrook - OKC - 22.5 pts, 8.4 ast, 1.9 stl (7)
Westbrook was the reason that Oklahoma City was able to keep both of its games close this week, because Kevin Durant was not playing his best. Westbrook shot over 50%, averaged 30 points and 11 assists, and recorded his 5th straight triple-double in the two losses.
8. Dwight Howard - ORL - 21.9 pts, 13.1 reb, 2.2 blk (10)
Howard had a strange week. He averaged only 17 points in the Magic's two wins, but put up 33 in their loss to Boston. The most important thing is getting the win, and that's what Howard and the Magic have been doing much more consistently lately.
9. Amare Stoudemire - NYK - 26.4 pts, 8.8 reb, 2.3 blk (9)
Amare averaged over 30 points per game this week, including a season-high 41 against the Phoenix Suns, but the Knicks lost all 3 of them. He has now scored over 20 points in 26 straight games, the 3rd-longest streak in Knicks history.
10. Dirk Nowitzki - DAL - 23.4 pts, 7.2 reb, 2.5 ast (8)
Dirk returned from his injury this week, but it didn't make much of a difference for Dallas, who still lost 3 of 4 this week. He looked good while scoring 32 against Detroit, but wasn't much of a factor in the Mavericks' other games, including their upset of the Lakers.
Just outside:
Deron Williams, Al Horford, Carmelo Anthony
Rookie of the Year
1. Blake Griffin - LAC - 22.6 pts, 12.8 reb, 3.4 ast (1)
Griffin failed to record a double-double for the first time since November 18 in LA's win over Minnesota on Wednesday, but he has the Clippers looking like true contenders after beating Miami, the Lakers, and Denver already this month.
2. John Wall - WAS - 15.3 pts, 9.3 ast, 1.8 stl (2)
Wall only scored 8 points in Washington's win over Toronto last Saturday, but he followed that up with two straight double-doubles, including 19 points and 15 assists in a big upset over the visiting Utah Jazz. The Wizards have now won 4 straight home games despite failing to win a single road game so far this year.
3. Landry Fields - NYK - 10.1 pts, 7.4 reb, 1.8 ast (3)
Fields was his usual steady self this week, contributing his 10 points and 8 rebounds just like he does every night. It seems strange to think that 38 players were selected ahead of him last summer, because he's playing better than all but one of them.
4. DeMarcus Cousins - SAC - 12.8 pts, 7.7 reb, 1.7 ast (4)
Cousins had 3 very good games for the Kings this week before putting up an absolute dud against Portland on Wednesday, finishing with 5 points and 4 rebounds on 2-11 shooting in 25 minutes on the floor. He's got to be more consistent to stay around this league for long.
5. Evan Turner - PHI - 7.2 pts, 4.4 reb, 1.8 ast (NR)
Turner has been getting a lot more minutes lately, and its contributed to his increase in production, but he's not playing anywhere near the level a #2 pick should be at halfway through his first season.
Sixth Man of the Year
1. Jamal Crawford - ATL - 16.2 pts, 1.9 reb, 3.6 ast (1)
Crawford had a very bad week until he scored 19 on Tuesday to help Atlanta upset the Miami Heat. He's only holding onto this spot because nobody else seems to want it, and those that do have moved on to become starters.
2. Jason Terry - DAL -15.4 pts, 2.0 reb, 4.4 ast (2)
For some reason Terry has been playing much better since Nowitzki returned from his injury. Maybe Terry is just more comfortable not having to be the first option on the team, and having a true superstar like Dirk there to take the attention allows Terry to thrive.
3. J.R. Smith - DEN - 11.8 pts, 4.1 reb, 2.2 ast (3)
After his 28-point explosion against Miami last week, Smith returned to his usual 12-point games this week, doing nothing to strengthen his case for this award, but also not weakening it.
4. Shawn Marion - DAL - 11.6 pts, 6.2 reb, 1.1 ast (4)
Marion scored only 10 points combined in Dallas' two losses this week, but he put up 22 in the Mavericks' big win over Dallas. It seems that the Matrix is still trying to find his niche on this team, while Terry seems to have found his long ago.
5. Glen Davis - BOS - 12.5 pts, 5.3 reb, 1.4 ast (5)
Big Baby scored in double-figures for the 10th straight game on Wednesday, a streak that started with the turning over of the calendar, and has easily been the most consistent player of this group all month.
Most Improved Player
1. Dorell Wright - GSW - +9.5 pts, +2.3 reb, +1.6 ast (1)
If Wright's increase in production is just a byproduct of playing for the Warriors, then why is he the only Golden State player to be in consideration for any award this season? The Warriors have now won 3 straight, and Wright is as big a reason for the surge as anybody.
2. D.J. Augustin - CHA - +8.3 pts, +1.8 reb, +3.9 ast (2)
Augustin had a pretty average week until he went nuts on the 76ers last night, scoring 31 points, 8 assists, and mailing in his application for Player of the Day. Augustin has been incredible lately, and he has the Bobcats looking like they could make a return trip to the playoffs.
3. Kevin Love - MIN - +7.3 pts, +4.5 reb, +0.2 ast (3)
Love has continued to put up double-doubles every single night while leading the entire league in rebounding while playing for a cellar-dwelling team. Love shouldn't be denied a spot on the All-Star team because his team isn't that good, because Love is the best power forward in the league today.
4. Nick Young - WAS - +8.0 pts, +1.2 reb, +0.6 ast (5)
Young may be Washington's best player now that Gilbert Arenas has left town, even with John Wall sharing the backcourt with him. He scored over 20 points in every game this week, and has the Wizards winning consistently at home.
5. Eric Gordon - LAC - +7.2 pts, +0.6 reb, +1.5 ast (NR)
Gordon, the Clippers' leading scorer (no, it's not Blake Griffin), has now scored over 20 points in 8 straight games, of which 6 were victories for Los Angeles. Just for reference, that's exactly how well the Lakers have fared over their past 8 games, which includes a win by the Clippers over the Lakers.
NBA Player of the Day
D.J. Augustin - CHA - 31 pts, 4 reb, 8 ast, 11-17 FG, 3-5 3P, 6-6 FT
Augustin did most of his damage in the first half, going 10 for 11 from the field as Charlotte pulled ahead of the favored 76ers, and then hit 4 free throws in the final 11 seconds to ice the game and finish off the visitors.
Predictions - 21 Jan
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
Suns at Wizards - Suns by 2
Pistons at Nets - Nets by 1
Raptors at Magic - Magic by 11
Hornets at Hawks - Hawks by 3
Jazz at Celtics - Celtics by 8
Bucks at Cavaliers - Bucks by 8
Knicks at Spurs - Spurs by 10
Rockets at Grizzlies - Grizzlies by 2
Lakers at Nuggets - Nuggets by 1
Kings at Warriors - Warriors by 7
College Basketball
Belmont at USC-Upstate - Belmont by 21
Prediction Results - 20 Jan
NBA: 2/3 (.667) 319/444 overall (.718)
College Basketball: 2/3 (.667) 304/361 overall (.842)
Upsets: 0/1 (.000) 77/122 overall (.631)
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