Weekly NBA Wrap With The Mid Range Jumpers
MVP Watch
Nighthawk
Steph Curry (GS) 243.0 ppg , 7.7 apg , 5.1 rpg
Steph Curry has his Warriors on a current 14 game win streak and his team sitting steady atop of the West at 19-2. He’s not the sole reason for their success but a he’s the leader of this team and showing why he’s one of the best players in the league. He’s been consistent throughout the year and has his Warriors team currently looking unstoppable. Their winning streak doesn’t look like it will be snapped anytime soon.
Anthony Davis (NO) 25.1 ppg , 10.6 rpg , 2.9 bpg
Davis has been an absolute freak this year and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He’s doing all he can to will his Pelicans to win night in and night out but needs some support. The Pelicans aren’t doing well this season and need to give Davis some sort of support for them to make a push for that 8th seed in the West. Davis is doing all he can, doing it efficiently and has had support here and there but that help hasn’t been there every night, the Pelicans need to help their superstar big man out if they want to win.
Marc Gasol (MEM) 19.5 ppg 8.0 apg 3.8 apg 1.5 bpg
The Grizzles seem to be the team that is quietly doing extremely well, not many people seem to talk about them but they sit a close 2nd in the West to the exciting Warriors. A big reason for this is the two way play of Marc Gasol. His numbers aren’t spectacular but the Grizzles are a team were no one player dominates but Gasol is one who makes the team gel together. Without him they wouldn’t be where they currently are and his value to the team is priceless, which is what the MVP really is about.
His Airness
The MVP race is becoming very close a quarter of the way through the season. Led by Steph Curry ( 23ppg, 7.7apg, 5.1rpg), who has been the reason why the Warriors have gone an impressive 19-2. The point guard position is full of superstars but Curry has separated himself as the best thus far.
LeBron James (24.8ppg, 7.7apg, 5.5rpg) who has a strong case for the number 1 spot comes in at second place. He has been instrumental in the Cavs eight game win streak and has been shooting much better. If LeBron can keep this up he will be hard to go past as the MVP.
Third place is wide open, the likes of Marc Gasol and James Harden who have led their teams into playoff positions are hard to go past. However, the best player in the NBA currently would have to be Anthony Davis (25.1ppg, 10.6rpg, 2.9bpg) he is the most efficient player in the NBA and has been absolutely dominating. But he needs help the Pelicans contend in the West and he is yet to quite do that..
Teams On The Rise
Nighthawk
Atlanta Hawks (15-6 Eastern Conference)
The Hawks are another team that has been quietly good and are on a slick 8 game win streak. They have been a good offensive team in the past but that has come with defensive issues. This season however they have shown a change, as their defensce is a huge part to their success that has seen them pop into 2nd place in the Eastern Conference.
His Airness
The Oklahoma City Thunder are back…although it may take a while for them to be at their best the Thunder now have their All Stars back and are a force in the West. The Thunder cannot waste too much time with a current record of 9-13 they are currently 10.5 games behind in the West. Though they only need to make the eight, position will be important as they will hope to avoid the top teams early in the playoffs.
The LA Clippers have put together a nice streak winning the last 9 games. What’s been even more impressive is how every night it seems to be a different player playing well. Led by Blake Griffin and Chris Paul with Jamal Crawford off the bench the Clippers are reaching their potential and will make a good run come playoff time.
Teams On The Slide
Nighthawk
Detroit Pistons (3-19 Eastern Conference)
The Pistons have looked terrible this season, that has been evident all season and was on show again as they gave the tanking Sixers their second win of the season (that game was in Detroit too). The Pistons have gone backwards big time from last season even with new head coach Stan Van Gundy. The Pistons have a few very good players on their roster but have struggled finding a rotation that works that has lead to a terrible start to the season. They are a team that have had players names floating around the trade rumors in the past but this season something big may happen as they a team in desperate need of some sort of life, a trade may spark this change.
His Airness
The Phoenix Suns have lost their last 3 games and are close to slipping out of the eight. The Suns losses have been close and with the Thunder coming for their spot they will need to heat up and put together some winning streaks.
Rookie Watch
His Airness
The rookie class is finally beginning to play well with Andrew Wiggins has found some form recently and put together two straight 20 plus point games while Jabario Parker continues to shoot well and put up points when he takes enough shots. The real improvers have been other guys though. Zach LaVine has started to play well putting up some impressive performances and K.J Daniels is close to being considered with the likes of Parker and Wiggins. He has been reasonably consistent and has been a block machine leading the 76ers in blocks. This is impressive with the likes of Noel in the lineup.