Most Valuable Player
1. LeBron James - MIA - 25.8 pts, 7.3 reb, 7.1 ast (1)
The reigning MVP went off for 38 points and 11 rebounds against the Toronto Raptors this week, but struggled in last night's loss in New York, managing only 24 points on 7 of 24 shooting. Miami has dropped 5 of 6, and his lead in the MVP discussion has shrunk considerably.
2. Dwyane Wade - MIA - 25.3 pts, 6.7 reb, 4.2 ast (2)
Wade missed Miami's only win in the past two weeks with migraines, but was the best player on the court last night in Miami's loss at New York. He scored 34 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, handed out 5 assists, and hit 13 consecutive shots at one point, but didn't get enough help from his teammates as the Heat lost again.
3. Derrick Rose - CHI - 24.6 pts, 4.6 reb, 8.1 ast (3)
Rose has been playing with stomach ulcers for a while, and though you can see a slight drop in his production, if he's still capable of putting up 24 points and 9 assists while playing in pain, just imagine where he'll be when he's fully healthy.
4. Pau Gasol - LAL - 18.6 pts, 10.5 reb, 3.9 ast (4)
Gasol was his normal solid self again this week in the Lakers' two wins over potential playoff foes Utah and Denver. He averaged 19.5 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 63% from the field in the two victories, but he isn't putting up the monster numbers he did early in the season.
5. Kobe Bryant - LAL - 24.9 pts, 5.0 reb, 4.8 ast (6)
Kobe failed to reach 20 points in the Lakers' win at Denver this week, and has now admitted that he has not practiced with the team all year due to knee problems, but the Lakers keep winning, and even when Kobe's not at his best, he's better than most players in the league.
6. Kevin Durant - OKC - 28.6 pts, 6.7 reb, 2.9 ast (5)
Durant was incredible in Oklahoma City's overtime win against Minnesota two nights ago, tying the league's season-high in points scored with 47 while hauling in 18 rebounds along the way, but the Thunder's loss to New Orleans two nights earlier cost the scoring leader a chance to move into 4th place in the MVP race.
7. Russell Westbrook - OKC - 22.4 pts, 5.0 reb, 8.4 ast (7)
Westbrook scored 28 against New York a week ago, but was largely ineffective in the Thunder's past two games, one of which ended up as a loss in New Orleans. His shooting average, although not usually that great, was below 41% in those two games, and the Thunder need their second star if they want to make a deep playoff run.
8. Dwight Howard - ORL - 22.0 pts, 13.4 reb, 2.2 blk (8)
The Magic did lose at home to Detroit this week, but Howard was a monster all week, putting up at least 19 points and 14 rebounds in each game, including his amazing 31-point, 19-rebound performance in 30 minutes against Toronto that earned him the Player of the Day distinction.
9. Dirk Nowitzki - DAL - 23.1 pts, 6.9 reb, 2.4 ast (10)
The Mavericks have begun winning again, but Dirk still doesn't look like he's back where he was before the injury. His shooting percentage, which was on pace to shatter his previous career high when he went down, has been steadily dropping since his return, especially given this week's 36% overall average.
10. Amare Stoudemire - NYK - 26.0 pts, 9.0 reb, 2.2 blk (9)
Amare was held to just 18 points in consecutive losses at San Antonio and Oklahoma City, but responded well when the team returned to Madison Square Garden, putting up 30 and 24 in two straight wins over the visiting Wizards and Heat. Amare has the Knicks back in the playoff hunt much sooner than anyone expected.
Rookie of the Year
1. Blake Griffin - LAC - 22.6 pts, 12.8 reb, 3.5 ast (1)
Griffin claimed that his elbow wasn't bothering him before the Clippers' game at Houston two nights ago, but after he put up only 14 points and the game wasn't even close, you have to wonder if he's really healthy.
2. John Wall - WAS - 15.1 pts, 4.0 reb, 9.3 ast (2)
Wall seems like a player who either scores or hands out a lot of assists in each game, but never both at the same time. His two double-digit assist games this week were also his lowest scoring, and vice versa.
3. Landry Fields - NYK - 10.0 pts, 7.2 reb, 1.9 ast (3)
Fields was having a pretty down week until last night against the Miami Heat, where he picked up every aspect of his game, getting 19 points, 13 rebounds, and a career-high 6 assists in the Knicks' come-from-behind victory over the favored Heat.
4. DeMarcus Cousins - SAC - 12.9 pts, 7.6 reb, 1.7 ast (4)
Cousins' week started off very well against Golden State (21 points), but he had a severe dropoff after that game, scoring only 9 in the Kings' loss to Charlotte on Tuesday. It seems that he goes from 20-point games to single-digit outputs regularly, which is the definition of inconsistent.
5. Evan Turner - PHI - 7.3 pts, 4.5 reb, 1.9 ast (5)
Turner has now put up double-digits in back-to-back games for only the fifth time this season in wins over Phoenix and Toronto, but he has yet to do it in 3 straight. Maybe a visit from Memphis tonight will be what he needs to turn the corner.
Sixth Man of the Year
1. Jamal Crawford - ATL - 16.2 pts, 1.9 reb, 3.5 ast (1)
Crawford hit 20 points in Atlanta's loss to Milwaukee last night, the first time he'd done that since his 6-game streak of 20-point games ended on the 12th of this month. That streak also coincided with Atlanta's most recent 5-game winning streak.
2. Jason Terry - DAL - 15.6 pts, 2.0 reb, 4.2 ast (2)
Terry was great in Dallas' win against the Clippers this week, scoring 28 points on 11 of 22 shooting, way above his season average of 43.5%, and leading the Mavericks to the win while Dirk is working his way back into shape.
3. Thaddeus Young - PHI - 11.8 pts, 5.0 reb, 1.1 ast (NR)
Young's 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists against Phoenix on Monday thrust him into the rankings after several weeks sitting just outside the top 5 looking in. He may not be as consistent as the two ahead of him on the list, but they've also been doing this a lot longer.
4. J.R. Smith - DEN - 11.5 pts, 4.0 reb, 2.1 ast (3)
Smith missed Denver's game against Washington because he was late to the team shootaround, and wasn't much better in the 3 games he did play. His high for the week was 8 points, and he shot 0 for 5 from 3-point range, which is usually his specialty.
5. Shawn Marion - DAL - 11.4 pts, 6.4 reb, 1.0 ast (4)
Marion recorded a bare-minimum double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds against the Clippers on Tuesday, but when you've only got 5 all year, you take what you can get.
Most Improved Player
1. Dorell Wright - GSW - +9.5 pts, +2.5 reb, +1.8 ast (1)
The Warriors may not be winning very often, but Wright has been producing in every category lately, scoring 25 against New Orleans, grabbing 12 rebounds against Sacramento, and handing out 9 assists against San Antonio this week.
2. D.J. Augustin - CHA - +8.5 pts, +1.7 reb, +3.9 ast (2)
Augustin has now scored in double-figures in 13 of his last 14 games, and the Bobcats have won 4 of their last 5 games, including two road wins this week in Phoenix and Sacramento.
3. Nick Young - WAS - +8.3 pts, +1.3 reb, +0.7 ast (4)
Something strange pops out when you look at Young's stats in the past 5 games. When he has scored over 20 points, the Wizards have lost, but in the game that he only managed 6 points on 1 of 13 shooting, the Wizards upset Boston. Not quite sure what this says about him, but hopefully it's just a strange coincidence.
4. Kevin Love - MIN - +7.6 pts, +3.5 reb, +0.3 ast (3)
Minnesota just can't seem to get a win lately, but Love is most definitely not the reason, especially after his 31 points and 21 rebounds against Oklahoma City on Wednesday, the third time this season he's hit 30 and 20 in the same game.
5. Eric Gordon - LAC - +7.2 pts, +0.6 reb, +1.5 ast (5)
Gordon sprained his right wrist against Golden State last week and is expected to miss about a month in recovery. The Clippers will definitely miss their scoring leader, especially since they were looking like they could make a push for the playoffs.
NBA Player of the Day
Landry Fields - NYK - 19 pts, 13 reb, 6 ast, 6-11 FG, 3-6 3P, 4-4 FT
Fields, a shooting guard, led the Knicks in rebounding last night and hit an important 3-pointer during the Knicks' wild comeback victory over the Miami Heat last night. It was a great game from the rookie, and definitely his best in quite a while.
Predictions - 28 Jan
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
Nets at Pacers - Pacers by 6
Grizzlies at 76ers - 76ers by 2
Bucks at Raptors - Bucks by 2
Knicks at Hawks - Hawks by 4
Nuggets at Cavaliers - Nuggets by 11
Pistons at Heat - Heat by 14
Magic at Bulls - Bulls by 2
Wizards at Thunder - Thunder by 11
Timberwolves at Jazz - Jazz by 8
Bobcats at Warriors - Warriors by 3
Kings at Lakers - Lakers by 16
Celtics at Suns - Celtics by 6
College Basketball
Florida-Gulf Coast at Belmont - Belmont by 31
Prediction Results - 27 Jan
NBA: 2/3 (.667) 359/496 overall (.724)
College Basketball: 4/6 (.667) 332/404 overall (.822)
Upsets: 0/1 (.000) 88/142 overall (.620)
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