NBA Player of the Week - 11 Nov

Technically, we've had about a week and a half so far this season, but with Brooklyn playing only one game in week one due to Hurricane Sandy, I decided to combine the first two weeks together in choosing my first player of the week and early-season MVP candidate. There were a lot of good candidates, but the top player so far is:

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony is my choice as the top player of the season so far for several reasons. The first is that his New York Knicks are the only undefeated team left in the NBA, despite Amare Stoudemire being out with knee problems again and all 4 of its games being against playoff teams from last season. Carmelo has been steady in each game, with his best performance against Miami when he scored 30 points and grabbed 10 boards, but he's scored at least 21 in each game so far and has just taken over as the league scoring leader as well. He is also averaging over a block a game, which is something he has never done before in his 10-year NBA career. We always knew he was great on offense, but if he can stay respectable on defense and keep his Knicks winning, we could be looking at your next MVP.

Predictions

Upset picks are in italics.

NBA Sunday

Orlando at Brooklyn - Nets by 21

Atlanta at LA Clippers - Clippers by 10

Miami at Memphis - Grizzlies by 1

Cleveland at Oklahoma City - Thunder by 14

Sacramento at LA Lakers - Lakers by 16

College Basketball

Sunday

Manhattan at (2) Louisville - Cardinals by 10

Albany at (4) Ohio State - Buckeyes by 31

(9) Syracuse at (20) San Diego State - Aztecs by 5

Alabama State at (10) Florida - Gators by 46

Florida Atlantic at (11) North Carolina - Tar Heels by 18

Charleston Southern at (12) Arizona - Wildcats by 6

Jackson State at (19) Baylor - Bears by 38

Southeast Louisiana at (23) Wisconsin - Badgers by 36

Tennessee-Martin at (24) Cincinnati - Bearcats by 40

New Mexico State at Oregon State - Beavers by 23

Monday

North Dakota State at (1) Indiana - Hoosiers by 23

IUPUI at (5) Michigan - Wolverines by 21

North Florida at (17) Memphis - Tigers by 19

Northern Arizona at (18) UNLV - Rebels by 24

West Virginia at (21) Gonzaga - Bulldogs by 20

Monmouth at (22) Notre Dame - Fighting Irish by 22

Buffalo at (25) Florida State - Seminoles by 2

Lamar at Kansas State - Wildcats by 48

Yale at Saint Joseph's - Hawks by 28

Davidson at New Mexico - Wildcats by 2

Toledo at Minnesota - Golden Gophers by 31

Oglethorpe at Mercer - Bears

Fordham at Pittsburgh - Panthers by 30

Prediction Results

NBA: 7-2 (.778) 58-30 (.659)

Upsets: 3-0 (1.000) 11-7 (.611)

College Basketball: 24-4 (.857)

Upsets: 2-3 (.400)