Nope,
despite finishing with 41 against the Knicks, Kyrie Irving does NOT make this
list. Linsanity, Steph Curry, Deron Williams, and Kyle Lowry also miss the cut,
but there is ONE guy who’ll really make you shake your head (not THAT head!).
5) Brandon Knight (DET) - 23.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.2apg,
1.0spg, 65.4 3pt%, 20.8 EFF
Why, yes.
Now is the time to shake your head. Brandon Knight is a top 5 point guard in
the NBA, at least based on his last five games. I mean, look at his 3-point
shooting! Better than 65%!!! Too bad the Pistons continue to suck, losing four
of their last five.
4) Russell Westbrook (OKC) - 21.2ppg, 3.2rpg,
9.0apg, 1.8spg, 21.2 EFF
Jet Zero probably
won’t be in the MVP conversation this year because he’s more of a volume
scorer, but one cannot deny the impact he makes on the court in each OKC game.
He’s the Thunder’s number two scorer, but he’s tops in steals and assists. He’s
a big part of why OKC has won its last 10 games, and he’s a big part of why
they’re on top of the whole league right now.
3) Chris Paul (LAC) - 16.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 8.4apg,
2.6spg, 21.8 EFF
Averaging
less than 17 points and 9 assists per game is subpar for a player like Paul,
but even then he’s still the third-best PG in the league. The Clips have won 9
straight and are still firmly in control of the Pacific Division. They’re also
set to sweep their Eastern road trip after what should be an easy win against
the Pistons in two days. For the CP3 fans out there, don’t worry. I’m sure your
idol is just humming and waiting for the right time to explode.
2) Tony Parker (SAS) - 21.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 8.0apg,
56.9 FG%, 50.0 3pt%, 92.6 FT%, 26.0 EFF
Will you
look at those shooting numbers?! They’re TOO INSANE. I mean, it’s almost unfair
for a playmaker to shoot much better than most big men in the league. And then
still have time to dish out 8 dimes an outing. But that’s how Parker’s game has
progressed through the years. He has become a well-rounded world-beater, and
the Spurs, currently 2 games ahead of Memphis in the Southwest, are all too
happy to have him on board.
1) Rajon Rondo (BOS) - 14.2ppg, 7.2rpg, 12.8apg,
2.8spg, 1.0bpg, 53.4 FG%, 26.4
Rajon Rondo
is the NBA’s best point guard. That’s not too arguable a point, but then again
what’s really strange is how his team, the Boston Celtics, are languishing
ahead of only Toronto in the Atlantic Division. The Cs lost three of their last
five, and they have tough ones against the Bulls and Cavs to follow. Rondo’s
superhuman, stat-stuffing production notwithstanding, I still don’t think
Boston is a good bet in the near future.
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| Rajon Rondo and Tony Parker are the two top PGs in the NBA today. (image by Eric Gay/AP) |
Honorable Mention: Steph Curry (GSW),
Jrue Holiday (PHI), George Hill (IND)
Game
Recaps (courtesy of the Sports Network):
Golden State 115, Atlanta 93
David Lee
led five Golden State players in double figures with 20 points and 11 rebounds
as the Warriors thumped Atlanta, 115-93, Saturday at Philips Arena. Carl Landry
netted 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Harrison Barnes also
dropped in 19 on 8-of-14 shooting for the Warriors, who finished a seven-game
road trip at 6-1. Stephen Curry poured in 18 points with 11 assists and eight
rebounds, while Jarrett Jack finished with 13 points and eight assists in the
triumph. Al Horford netted a team-high 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds for
the Hawks, who had a two-game winning streak stopped. Louis Williams added 16
points, while Ivan Johnson and Jeff Teague contributed 15 and 10, respectively,
in the loss.
Orlando 107, Charlotte 98
Arron
Afflalo had 20 points and six rebounds as Orlando took a 107-98 win over
struggling Charlotte at Time Warner Cable Arena. Glen Davis had 20 points,
Jameer Nelson gave 16 points and six assists while J.J. Redick added 14 points
for the Magic, who have won three of four. Nikola Vucevic had 13 points and 13
rebounds in the win. Kemba Walker had a career-high 32 points along with seven
assists for the Bobcats, who have dropped 11 straight contests. Gerald
Henderson gave 16 points in defeat.
Indiana 88, Detroit 77
David West
scored 23 points and the Indiana Pacers took down the Detroit Pistons, 88-77,
on Saturday. George Hill, fresh off his first career triple-double in Friday's
win over Philadelphia, added 18 points and seven assists for the Pacers, who
have won three in a row. Paul George donated 15 points, eight rebounds and
eight assists for Indiana, which had lost three straight at Detroit. Tyler
Hansbrough finished with 11 points and six boards. However, the news was not
all good for the Pacers. Center Roy Hibbert left the game before the half with
a bruised left thigh and did not return. Greg Monroe ended with 18 points and
eight rebounds to pace the Pistons, who have lost four in a row. Rodney Stuckey
and Brandon Knight had 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Miami 102, Washington 72
LeBron James
compiled 23 and 10 rebounds as the Miami Heat exacted a measure of revenge on
the Washington Wizards with a 102-72 rout of their Southeast Division rival at
American Airlines Arena. The Heat were dealt a shocking 105-101 defeat in
Washington to a Wizards team that was 1-13 at the time back on Dec. 4, but
ensured there would be no repeat outcome this time. Miami never had a lead
under double digits after the second quarter and was ahead by as many as 35
points at one stage. Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem each netted 13 points to
help the defending world champions bounce back from Wednesday's 97-95 home
setback to Golden State as well. Bradley Beal and Cartier Martin were the lone
bright spots in an otherwise awful offensive display for Washington, which shot
a meager 37.5 percent from the field and committed 21 turnovers that the Heat
converted into 30 points. Beal paced the Wizards with 19 points, with Martin
recording 18 off the bench while making good on 4-of-6 attempts from 3-point
range.
New York 103, Cleveland 102
Tyson
Chandler tallied a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds and the New
York Knicks escaped with a 103-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers to
remain unbeaten at home. Without Carmelo Anthony, who sat with an injured
ankle, Raymond Felton scored a team-high 25 points. He also finished with seven
assists for New York, which also received 16 points from J.R. Smith and 13 points
from Steve Novak off the bench. The Cavaliers got a monstrous effort out of
Kyrie Irving, who scored a game-high 41 points a day after fracturing his jaw
against the Milwaukee Bucks. He led a furious late comeback, though Cleveland
ultimately fell short after Anderson Varejao missed a potential game-tying free
throw with a second left in the game.
 |
| Kyrie Irving's career night was not enough to help the visiting Cavs upend the Knicks at MSG. (image by Bill Kostroun/AP) |
Chicago 83, Brooklyn 82
Marco
Belinelli's driving layup in the closing seconds put the Bulls on top for good
as Chicago outlasted the Brooklyn Nets, 83-82, at the United Center. Belinelli
finished with a team-high 19 points, while Luol Deng followed with 17 and
Joakim Noah contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the
Bulls, who have won two straight and five of their last six. Deron Williams
dropped in a game-high 24 points for the Nets, but could not connect on a
game-tying jumper following Belinelli's decisive basket. Brook Lopez added 18
points and 10 boards, and Joe Johnson poured in 16 points as Brooklyn had its
two-game winning streak snapped.
Minnesota 114, Dallas 106 (OT)
Nikola
Pekovic scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down nine rebounds as the
Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the Dallas Mavericks, 114-106, in overtime on
Saturday at Target Center. Alexey Shved netted 18 points with six assists,
while Derrick Williams contributed 16 and six rebounds for the Timberwolves,
who have won a season- high four straight. Luke Ridnour scored 15 points, while
Andrei Kirilenko put home 14 and grabbed 10 boards and J.J. Barea finished with
14 points in the victory. Minnesota point guard Ricky Rubio made his season
debut after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral
ligament in his left knee last March. Rubio donated eight points and handed out
nine assists. O.J. Mayo and Derek Fisher scored 20 points apiece in the setback
for Dallas, which has lost three straight games.
LA Clippers 111, Milwaukee 85
Blake
Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul each recorded double-doubles as the
red-hot Los Angeles Clippers dominated the Milwaukee Bucks, 111-85. Griffin
ended with 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won nine in a
row for the first time since Nov. 3-23, 1974, when the Buffalo Braves set a
franchise record with 11 straight wins. Jordan had 15 points and 11 boards for
Los Angeles (17-6), which is off to its best start in franchise history after
23 games as well. Paul tallied 10 points and 13 assists, while Matt Barnes
added 21 points off the bench. Marquis Daniels ended with 16 points to pace the
Bucks, who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Monta Ellis and Luc Richard
Mbah a Moute added 13 and 11 points, respectively.
San Antonio 103, Boston 88
Tony Parker
compiled 22 points and eight assists as the San Antonio Spurs put an end to
their first losing streak of the season by coming through with a 103-88 triumph
over the Boston Celtics at the AT&T Center. The Spurs returned home having
been handed back-to-back defeats to Utah and Portland on a 4-game road trip,
but outscored the Celtics by a 51-39 margin in the second half to pull away and
get back on track. Gary Neal helped San Antonio's cause by dropping in 20
points, with Tiago Splitter adding 16 points to the victory. The night wasn't
all positive for the Spurs, however, as valued guard Manu Ginobili exited the
contest in the first quarter with a bruised left quadriceps and did not return.
Paul Pierce and Jason Terry each netted 18 points in the loss, Boston's second
in a row following two straight wins.
Memphis 99, Utah 86
Zach
Randolph registered a double-double with 25 points and 16 rebounds on Saturday,
as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a three-game skid with a 99-86 triumph over
the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Marc Gasol donated 16 points and eight
boards, while Rudy Gay added 14 points in the victory, Memphis' first in Utah
since Jan. 24, 2007. Al Jefferson led the Jazz with 21 points and eight
rebounds and Paul Millsap chipped in 12 points for Utah, which has lost two
straight on the heels of a four-game winning streak.
Top 10 Plays of the
Night:
Game Highlights:
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