Most Valuable Player
1. LeBron James - MIA - 24.8 pts, 6.8 reb, 7.3 ast (1)
What did LeBron do this week? Just average 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists as the scorching Miami Heat stretched their latest winning streak to 7 games. If it were possible to just forget his stats from the past two years and look at his numbers and his team's record this year, he would be a shoo-in for MVP.
2. Dwyane Wade - MIA - 25.0 pts, 6.5 reb, 4.2 ast (2)
As impressive as LeBron has been in recent weeks, Wade has been equally brilliant, if that seems possible. This week he averaged 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists as one half of the most potent duo this league has seen since Baylor and West played for the Lakers decades ago.
3. Derrick Rose - CHI - 23.8 pts, 4.5 reb, 8.3 ast (6)
In Chicago's 3 wins this week, Rose averaged nearly 9 assists per game. In their loss to New Jersey last night, he had only one. There was no difference in his scoring or the number of shots he took, so it seems that when Rose is distributing the ball to the right people, the Bulls win. Before that loss, they had won 14 of their past 17, and Rose is the reason.
4. Dirk Nowitzki - DAL - 24.1 pts, 7.4 reb, 2.4 ast (3)
While watching the Mavericks struggle without him on the court would seem to prove how valuable Nowitzki is to his team, I still believe that no matter how valuable you are, you can't help your team when you're not on the floor. When he returns, look for him to regain his footing in the standings as well.
5. Pau Gasol - LAL - 18.4 pts, 10.7 reb, 4.0 ast (5)
Gasol showed signs of his old self in a win over Detroit where he ended up with 21 points and 7 rebounds, but he followed that solid game up with a 6-point dud against the Phoenix Suns last night. Early in the year, he was my obvious choice for MVP, but he wasn't able to maintain that pace for even half a season.
6. Kevin Durant - OKC - 27.9 pts, 6.2 reb, 3.0 ast (4)
Durant averaged over 30 points in the Thunder's two wins this week, but only 22 points in losses to the Grizzlies and Spurs. The Thunder needs to win more consistently for Durant to be a serious MVP contender again this year.
7. Kobe Bryant - LAL - 25.1 pts, 5.0 reb, 4.5 ast (7)
Kobe and Pau need to take a page from Miami's playbook, where both star players can be successful on the same night, which leads to more wins. In Pau's best game of the week against Detroit, Kobe had his worst, scoring a measly 17 points in the win.
8. Amare Stoudemire - NYK - 26.4 pts, 9.0 reb, 2.3 blk (9)
Most people have noticed that Amare is #2 in the NBA in scoring currently, but how many people have noticed that Stoudemire, who has never been known for his defense, is also sitting at #5 in blocks per game so far this season? Also impressive: New York's 128-115 win over the first-place San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
9. Russell Westbrook - OKC - 21.9 pts, 4.9 reb, 7.9 ast (8)
Westbrook won the Player of the Day award with his third career triple-double on last Friday, then followed it up with 8 points against the Spurs the next night. One amazing performance does not make up for a week with two losses and two poor performances.
10. Dwight Howard - ORL - 21.4 pts, 13.2 reb, 2.4 blk (NR)
Howard came crashing into the top 10 this week after averaging 25 points and 15 rebounds for the week and adding to the Magic's season-long 7-game winning streak, which came after a rough stretch of 8 losses in 9 games. It looks like Superman is finally meshing with his new teammates, and Orlando may be able to challenge the Heat for the Eastern Conference title.
Dropping out: Deron Williams (10)
Getting warm: Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony, Al Horford, Carlos Boozer, Chris Paul, Raymond Felton
Rookie of the Year
1. Blake Griffin - LAC - 21.7 pts, 12.7 reb, 3.3 ast (1)
Don't look now, but here come the Clippers. Griffin and his mates have won 6 of their past nine games, including wins over Phoenix, Chicago, and Denver, all playoff teams from a year ago. The double-double streak now stands at 22, and Griffin's case for making the All-Star team is getting stronger with every game.
2. John Wall - WAS - 15.9 pts, 3.7 reb, 8.7 ast (3)
Wall averaged 18 points and 9 assists this week and finally started looking like a Rookie of the Year candidate, although he won't win the award. He did improve his shooting percentage this week, which was my problem with him last week, from 29% up to 51%.
3. Landry Fields - NYK - 10.1 pts, 7.4 reb, 1.9 ast (2)
Fields scored 10 points in only 13 minutes against the Pacers this week, and it seems to have helped him earn more playing time. He played 40 minutes in the win over San Antonio, scoring 13 points in the upset.
4. DeMarcus Cousins - SAC - 12.8 pts, 7.7 reb, 1.6 ast (4)
It looks like Cousins' stint on the bench made him grow up a little bit, and he's looked every bit like a man this week, putting up 22 points and 7 rebounds per game, all while helping the last-place Kings win twice in the same week for the first time since week 1.
5. Eric Bledsoe - LAC - 7.4 pts, 3.1 reb, 4.2 ast (5)
Bledsoe's playing time didn't increase this week, but his shooting percentage sure did. After shooting 3 for 16 last week, he increased that to 7 of 16 this week. If he keeps it up, he may get to see his playing time return to where it was in November.
Sixth Man of the Year
1. Antawn Jamison - CLE - 16.1 pts, 5.9 reb, 1.4 ast (2)
Now that Jamison has finally reached the top spot in the Sixth Man rankings, he is about to drop off the list just like Wilson Chandler and Nick Young, and for the same reason. His team realized that they needed him to start, and his production has been incredible lately, with back-to-back 30-point games.
2. Jamal Crawford - ATL - 15.8 pts, 1.8 reb, 3.6 ast (NR)
After a very poor December, Crawford shoots right back to the top of the list with an incredible start to the New Year, averaging 27 points per game since the calendar turned over. With Jamison moving on to starterdom, this award may be his to lose again.
3. Jason Terry - DAL - 15.6 pts, 1.8 reb, 4.5 ast (1)
With Dirk Nowitzki out with an injury, this looked like a golden opportunity for Terry to pad his stats and stake his claim for the 6th man award, but he has performed well below his season averages in every category since the big man went down.
4. Daniel Gibson - CLE - 13.7 pts, 3.3 reb, 3.1 ast (4)
After missing two games with the flu, Gibson injured his ankle in his first game back and will miss at least the next five recovering. He will most likely drop off this list for a little while until he is back on the court.
5. Gilbert Arenas - ORL - 15.1 pts, 3.1 reb, 5.2 ast (3)
It appears that Arenas will not be getting the playing time he's used to now that he's in Orlando, where Jameer Nelson is firmly entrenched in the starting point guard spot and coach Stan Van Gundy doesn't like to put two point guards on the floor together.
Most Improved Player
1. Dorell Wright - GSW - 16.1 pts, 6.0 reb, 3.0 ast (1)
Wright had his second 30-point game in as many weeks in the Warriors close loss at Miami, his former team, and I bet that his former teammates can vouch for him deserving to be named the Most Improved Player this season.
2. D.J. Augustin - CHA - 13.7 pts, 3.1 reb, 5.9 ast (2)
Augustin may have cooled off slightly this week, but his averages are still well up since Larry Brown left the bench in Charlotte. He seems to be a little more confident with Coach Silas on the sideline, and it's showing up in his production.
3. Kevin Love - MIN - 21.0 pts, 15.6 reb, 2.4 ast (3)
Love won the Player of the Day award again yesterday after a huge night that ended with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists and a near-win against the Charlotte Bobcats. The Wolves have also come close to beating Boston and Denver is the past two weeks, and a little more Love could push them over the top.
4. Daniel Gibson - CLE - 13.7 pts, 3.3 reb, 3.1 ast (4)
The knee injury shouldn't hurt Gibson as much in the Most Improved Race as in the 6th man race, since this award is more about overall improvement than being the big man off the bench for your team every night.
5. Jrue Holiday - PHI - 14.6 pts, 3.8 reb, 6.5 ast (NR)
26 points and 9 assists against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday was enough for Jrue to pass Nick Young for the final spot on the Most Improved Watch. He has shown vast improvement over his rookie season, when he only 8 points and fewer than 4 assists per game.
NBA Player of the Day
Tyreke Evans - SAC - 27 pts, 5 reb, 12 ast, 2 stl, 11-18 FG, 5-5 FT
Evans gave a masterful performance last night as the Kings totally demolished the flailing Nuggets, which gave Sacramento their 3rd win in 5 games. This came just one week after he stunned the Grizzlies with a heave from beyond half-court to beat the buzzer and win the game.
Predictions - 7 Jan
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
Spurs at Pacers - Spurs by 6
Bulls at 76ers - Bulls by 2
Nets at Wizards - Wizards by 1
Raptors at Celtics - Celtics by 14
Trail Blazers at Timberwolves - Trail Blazers by 4
Rockets at Magic - Magic by 7
Jazz at Grizzlies - Grizzlies by 2
Heat at Bucks - Heat by 7
Cavaliers at Warriors - Warriors by 9
Hornets at Lakers - Lakers by 6
Knicks at Suns - Suns by 1
College Football
(11) LSU vs. (17) Texas A&M - Texas A&M by 4
Prediction Results - 6 Jan
College Football: 1/1 (1.000) 55/82 overall (.671)
NBA: 0/2 (.000) 246/341 overall (.721)
College Basketball: 6/6 (1.000) 220/256 overall (.859)
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