1.LeBron James : Miami Heat
STATS FROM LAST WEEK (3/22-3/28): 29.3 pgg | 8.0 rpg | 8.0 apg | 2.0 spg
James did the same things in victory, for two straight months, as he did in defeat Wednesday night, against Chicago. He dominated the action. The Heat's franchise record win streak might have ended at 27 games, but James will continue to take apart the competition from all angles. All that said, now might be the perfect time for the Heat to provide the reigning MVP with a little rest. The Heat have the top spot in the Eastern Conference locked up and don't need to continue to burn James at both ends this close to the start of the playoffs.
James did the same things in victory, for two straight months, as he did in defeat Wednesday night, against Chicago. He dominated the action. The Heat's franchise record win streak might have ended at 27 games, but James will continue to take apart the competition from all angles. All that said, now might be the perfect time for the Heat to provide the reigning MVP with a little rest. The Heat have the top spot in the Eastern Conference locked up and don't need to continue to burn James at both ends this close to the start of the playoffs.
2.Kevin Durant : Oklahoma City Thunder
STATS FROM LAST WEEK (3/22-3/28): 23.0 ppg | 8.0 rpg | 3.3 apg | 1.7 spg
The Thunder rebounded from back-to-back losses to Denver and Memphis by going on a three-game feast of non-playoff teams in Orlando, Portland and Washington. Durant's scoring is always going to be there -- he ranks among the best to ever do it in the NBA. It's his other work -- 8.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks -- that has distinguished his performance. He's not quite in LeBron James territory across the board, but he's darn close to having that sort of impact on the game night in and night out.
The Thunder rebounded from back-to-back losses to Denver and Memphis by going on a three-game feast of non-playoff teams in Orlando, Portland and Washington. Durant's scoring is always going to be there -- he ranks among the best to ever do it in the NBA. It's his other work -- 8.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks -- that has distinguished his performance. He's not quite in LeBron James territory across the board, but he's darn close to having that sort of impact on the game night in and night out.
3.Tony Parker : San Antonio Spurs
STATS FROM LAST WEEK (3/22-3/28): 21.0 ppg | 3.0 rpg | 7.7 apg | 0.3 spg Parker
missed just eight games with that sprained ankle -- initially the Spurs
thought he would be out four to six weeks -- and returned to action
without missing a beat. In the three games since his return Parker is
averaging 35.7 minutes, 21.0 points (on 50 percent shooting from both
two- and three-point range), 7.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds. Unfortunately
for Parker and the Spurs, they won't have a chance to snap the Heat's
win-streak Sunday. But we'll still get a matchup of the best teams the
Eastern and Western Conferences have to offer. His showdown with Chris
Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night is the perfect appetizer.
4.Chris Paul : Los Angeles Clippers
STATS FROM LAST WEEK (3/22-3/28): 26.0 ppg | 5.0 rpg | 8.3 apg | 2.7 spg
Paul is not going to win MVP honors, but a strong argument can be made that no player is as crucial to his team's ultimate success. Paul was as magnificent in victory (29 points, 11 assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a win over Brooklyn and 16 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in a win over New Orleans) as he was in defeat (33 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals in a loss to Dallas). What he needs, however, is assistance. Someone else on this roster has to be able to create when teams scheme to stop Paul, the way the Mavericks did.
Paul is not going to win MVP honors, but a strong argument can be made that no player is as crucial to his team's ultimate success. Paul was as magnificent in victory (29 points, 11 assists, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a win over Brooklyn and 16 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in a win over New Orleans) as he was in defeat (33 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals in a loss to Dallas). What he needs, however, is assistance. Someone else on this roster has to be able to create when teams scheme to stop Paul, the way the Mavericks did.
5.Carmelo Anthony : New York Knicks
STATS FROM LAST WEEK (3/22-3/28): 29.0 ppg | 7.3 rpg | 1.8 apg | 1.5 steals
Anthony is rolling right now and so are the Knicks, who own the league's longest win streak at six games. Anthony's gotten back to his ways, before injuries interrupted his flow. He's averaging 27.4 points and 7.4 rebounds during the streak, while also shooting a wicked 81 percent from the free-throw line, a huge bonus for a player who gets to the line as often as Anthony does. The Charlotte Bobcats are next up on the hit list on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, but a date with the Heat on Tuesday could prove to be one of the most entertaining matchups of the coming week.
Anthony is rolling right now and so are the Knicks, who own the league's longest win streak at six games. Anthony's gotten back to his ways, before injuries interrupted his flow. He's averaging 27.4 points and 7.4 rebounds during the streak, while also shooting a wicked 81 percent from the free-throw line, a huge bonus for a player who gets to the line as often as Anthony does. The Charlotte Bobcats are next up on the hit list on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, but a date with the Heat on Tuesday could prove to be one of the most entertaining matchups of the coming week.
6.Kobe Bryant : Los Angeles Lakers
STATS FROM LAST WEEK (3/22-3/28): 29.5 ppg | 4.3 rpg | 6.0 apg | 0.8 spg
Bone spurs, a sprained ankle, drama ... what hasn't Kobe Bryant played through this season? Now he has to endure all of this down the stretch run with the eighth and final Western Conference playoff slot on the line. Just four points shy of catching Wilt Chamberlain for fourth place on the NBA's career scoring list, Bryant will have cleared many a milestone in a season that might not end up with the Lakers clinching a postseason bid. It would be a colossal disappointment for the Lakers and the ultra competitive Bryant, who would surely trade in the milestones for a legitimate shot at title No. 6.
Bone spurs, a sprained ankle, drama ... what hasn't Kobe Bryant played through this season? Now he has to endure all of this down the stretch run with the eighth and final Western Conference playoff slot on the line. Just four points shy of catching Wilt Chamberlain for fourth place on the NBA's career scoring list, Bryant will have cleared many a milestone in a season that might not end up with the Lakers clinching a postseason bid. It would be a colossal disappointment for the Lakers and the ultra competitive Bryant, who would surely trade in the milestones for a legitimate shot at title No. 6.
7.Dwyane Wade : Miami Heat
STATS FROM LAST WEEK (3/22-3/28): 18.5 ppg | 5.0 rpg | 3.0 apg | 3.5 spgWade
didn't come back from his two game absence (sore knee) with the same
energy he showed before missing games against the Charlotte Bobcats and
Orlando Magic. Just like LeBron James, Wade has earned the right
to rest up a bit as we get closer to the start of the playoffs. The Heat
know all too well what it's like to have Wade worn out this time of
year. They don't need anything to get in the way of their postseason
plans. Wade proved himself more than capable of playing like the Wade
we're used to this season, so a little rest should be in order.
8.Russell Westbrook : Oklahoma City Thunder
STATS FROM LAST WEEK (3/22-3/28): 20.3 ppg | 4.7 rpg | 7.3 apg | 1.0 spg
Westbrook was solid in back-to-back games against hot young point guards Damian Lillard from Portland and John Wall from Washington. He went for 21 points (on 9-for-18 shooting), nine assists and four rebounds in the Thunder's 103-83 rout of the Trail Blazers on Sunday. And he followed that up with 21 points (on 5-for-8 shooting), four assists and four rebounds in a 103-80 rout of the Wizards on Wednesday night. Next up on Westbrook's point guard parade? Ricky Rubio and the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday at Target Center.
Westbrook was solid in back-to-back games against hot young point guards Damian Lillard from Portland and John Wall from Washington. He went for 21 points (on 9-for-18 shooting), nine assists and four rebounds in the Thunder's 103-83 rout of the Trail Blazers on Sunday. And he followed that up with 21 points (on 5-for-8 shooting), four assists and four rebounds in a 103-80 rout of the Wizards on Wednesday night. Next up on Westbrook's point guard parade? Ricky Rubio and the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday at Target Center.
9.Marc Gasol : Memphis Grizzlies
STATS FROM LAST WEEK (3/22-3/28): 14.5 ppg | 5.5 rpg | 3.5 apg | 1.0 bpg
Talk about toughness. Gasol missed just two games with an abdomen injury and came back to play 36 minutes in a loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. He scored 13 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists against the Knicks. Those are far from superstar numbers, but the fact that he shook off the injury that quickly is a testament to the competitor and rugged inside force that the younger Gasol has become. Raise your hand if you thought Marc, not Pau Gasol, would wind up as the All-NBA pick in the family.
Talk about toughness. Gasol missed just two games with an abdomen injury and came back to play 36 minutes in a loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. He scored 13 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists against the Knicks. Those are far from superstar numbers, but the fact that he shook off the injury that quickly is a testament to the competitor and rugged inside force that the younger Gasol has become. Raise your hand if you thought Marc, not Pau Gasol, would wind up as the All-NBA pick in the family.
10.James Harden : Houston Rockets
STATS FROM LAST WEEK (3/22-3/28): 23.7 ppg | 4.7 rpg | 5.3 apg | 1.7 spg
Shot-makers will struggle at times in this league. That's just a part of the deal for players like Harden (who shot just 6-for-24 in Wednesday's loss to the Indiana Pacers). But on those nights when they can't miss, even a juggernaut like the San Antonio Spurs will fall. Harden lit up the Spurs for 29 points (he was 15-for-17 from the free-throw line) to go along with nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals. Harden has shown himself to be more than just a spectacular scorer. He's a potential superstar with the skills to get the job done in all facets of the game.
Shot-makers will struggle at times in this league. That's just a part of the deal for players like Harden (who shot just 6-for-24 in Wednesday's loss to the Indiana Pacers). But on those nights when they can't miss, even a juggernaut like the San Antonio Spurs will fall. Harden lit up the Spurs for 29 points (he was 15-for-17 from the free-throw line) to go along with nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals. Harden has shown himself to be more than just a spectacular scorer. He's a potential superstar with the skills to get the job done in all facets of the game.
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