Kevin Durant (Richard Rowe/Getty Images)

MVP watch

Fresh Prince

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder31.3ppg, 7.8rpg, 5.2apg)

LeBron James (Miami Heat, 26.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 6.4apg)

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trailblazers, 24.3ppg, 11.6rpg)

Paul George (Indiana Pacers, 23.3ppg, 6.3rpg)

Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs 18.1ppg, 6.2apg)

Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 19.6ppg, 11.2apg)

Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors, 24.1ppg, 9.2apg, 4.5rpg)

Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves, 25.0ppg, 12.9rpg, 4.1apg)

His Airness

Kevin Durant: 31.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists. Kevin Durant has been getting better and better throughout the month of January, averaging 37.8 points over the last ten games. Durant hasn’t been playing against just below .500 teams either stepping up against top teams such as the Heat, Spurs, Warriors and Trail Blazers. Durant has truly stated his claim for MVP and if he keeps this up he will be a sure pick to win it.

LeBron James: 26.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists. LeBron’s numbers remain high and his recent performance against the Thunder was impressive showing his full array of shots, however this performance was outshined by Durant’s performance.

LaMarcus Aldridge: 24.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists. Aldridge has been the best big man this year averaging great numbers and being a huge factor in Portland’s impressive start to the season.

Standouts

FP - Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony’s 62 point performance against the Bobcats this week was outstanding. ‘Melo’ was unstoppable at Madison Square Garden in the blowout victory against the Bobcats and provided a memorable outing for a team who has had little to celebrate this season. If you didn’t get a chance too see this game, here’s a video with all his made field goals, it’s well worth a look.

Kevin Durant

A lot of the talk in the NBA surrounds Kevin Durant and his form over the past few weeks. He’s scored 30 or more in 12 straight performances and is closing in on Kobe Bryant’s record of 16 in a row. Right now it would be hard to bet against KD as he continues to get better even LeBron James couldn’t stop him yesterday when the Thunder thrashed the Miami Heat on their home court. It’s been fun to watch Durant over this period, carrying the Thunder to the top of the Western conference standings through a nine game winning streak. Over his past 10 games Durant has averaged a ridiculous 37.6 points per game.

Teams on the rise

FP

Oklahoma City Thunder

Memphis Grizzlies

Phoenix Suns

LA Clippers

HA

Houston Rockets – The Rockets have flown under the radar over the past few months, after starting out as a team to watch they have almost fallen well back. However, they are starting to find their way winning seven of their last ten games. With an impressive record of 31-17 the Rockets could be a team to watch for come the start of the second half of the season.

Dwight Howard of the Houston Rockets (Bill Baptist/Getty Images)

Teams on the slide

FP

San Antonio Spurs

Boston Celtics

LA Lakers

Sacramento Kings

Milwaukee Bucks

HA

LA Lakers – Without Kobe this team has been poor, even with Kobe this team would probably be poor. This team is full of nobody’s and it is showing on the court. You have to wonder why or how much longer they will keep coach D’Antoni especially when former coach Mike Brown was fired after five games. The Lakers are looking at picking up a lottery pick which could be a good thing with the coming draft and free agency.

Performance of the week

Carmelo Anthony vs Bobcats – 62 points, 13 rebounds, 23-35 FG, 6-11 3PT, 10-10 FT, 0 Turnovers

60 points or more in a NBA game is a feat not many have accomplished. In fact its only been achieved 63 times since scores have been recorded, an astounding 32 of those belong to Wilt Chamberlain. The last 60+ point performance was by Kobe Bryant (61) in 2009 in the same building against the Knicks. These performances don’t happen very often and is clearly deserving of the performance of the week.

Play of the week

In case you didn’t think Melo’s performance was impressive enough !

Undercover Brother

FP

The Charlotte soon-to-be Hornets are currently sitting in eigth position in the Eastern Conference. The Bobcats have been in Charlotte for 10 years making the playoffs just once. Fortunately Michael Jordan is slowly turning things around and the undercover brother this week is Al Jefferson. The Center currently averages a double-double, 19.3 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game. Over the past 10 games the Bobcats have gone 5-5 which is above their 0.426 (20-27 record) win percentage. Jefferson over the past 10 games is averaging an impressive 27.6 points and it wouldn’t surprise me if an all star selection followed.

HA

Anthony Davis – Davis is having a remarkable year averaging 20 points, 10 rebound and a crazy 3.3. blocks a game, if he keeps this up he will enter elite company in the likes of Kareem, Olajuwon and Mutombo. Look for Davis to only get better and help the Pelicans to some W’s in the second part of the season.

Storyline Watch/Random thoughts

Steven Adams has been selected for the rising stars game during all-star weekend. This is a great game to be apart of with only 18 players being selected, nine rookies along with nine sophomores (second year players). Adams has made quite the impression on the NBA and the Thunder have been very happy with him. It will be a good platform for Adams to express himself and should be a good game to watch. The 18 players eligible will now go into a draft that takes place on February 7 (NZT) where two ‘general managers’ (likely former NBA stars) will select their teams from the player pool. It is a great showcase of future NBA stars and often as action packed as the all-star game itself.

Steven Adams (Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports)

What to watch for (all NZT)

Clippers @ Warriors on Friday

Thunder @ Nets on Saturday

Raptors @ Blazers on Sunday

Heat @ Knicks on Sunday

Pacers @ Hawks on Wednesday

Heat @ Clippers on Thursday

Plenty of games to look out for this week but the three I’m looking forward too the mostare Thunder @ Nets on Saturday, Heat @ Knicks on Sunday and Pacers @ Hawks on Wednesday.

Thunder @ Nets

Two of the best teams over the past ten games (Thunder 9-1, Nets 8-2) however Kevin Durant is the main reason I’ll be watching this game. Can he continue his impressive 30+ scoring streak against the improving Brooklyn Nets? I expect he can but the Nets will provide a strong challenge as they begin to gather momentum and are looking a far sight better than they did earlier in the season.

Heat @ Knicks

Anytime a star player like LeBron James plays in the famed Madison Square Garden, its likely going to be a game to watch. James vs Carmelo Anthony should be an exciting matchup, Melo coming off a great week and the Heat looking for a spark before all-star break. LeBron said he’d like to score 60 sometime, I’d like to see him try in this one!

Pacers @ Hawks

The league leading Pacers take on the 23-21 Hawks in Atlanta, coming off a week where the Pacers showed a few signs of weakness with some struggles playing away from home. This won’t have the glamour of the other games but I expect too see a good game of defense focused basketball. The Pacers will be looking to regain some form while the Hawks look to keep pace with the third placed Toronto Raptors.