Valentine’s has come and gone. Ditto with the All-Star Weekend. Now
we’re in what we hoop nuts call the stretch run of the Association. This is
when all the teams who WANT to make the Playoffs try to string as many wins
together to actually get into the top eight of their respective conferences
(being a top 16 team like Minnesota doesn’t matter if you’re not in the top 8
of the West), and this is also when all the teams who WANT to take a stab at
Andrew Wiggins will clear their reserves and give their starters their token
25-30 minutes of play. This is when we’ll get a clearer picture of who’s
challenging the diabolical reign of the Heat (read: Indiana, Oklahoma City, San
Antonio, Houston, and the Clippers) and who’s in it to pile up the losses
(read: Milwaukee, Philly, Utah, Sac-town, and maybe even the Lakers).
In the spirit of all the craze we're bound to see in this stretch
run, let’s look at the guys who actually did well this past month of hearts.
This is the fourth in a series of “Best of the Month” citations
based on the Efficiency Recap ratings on HoopsStats.com. Team citations will be based on Efficiency Recap Difference (Team
Efficiency – Opponents’ Efficiency), while Player citations will be based on
Player Efficiency. You can check out the Stats Glossary here.
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| (Clockwise from top left) The Rockets, Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, CP3, and Victor Oladipo are among the best February had to offer. (composite image by Enzo Flojo/HoopNut) |
Team Citations:
Best Backcourt: Toronto
Raptors - 53.5ppg, 11.5rpg, 16.7apg, 2.8spg, .871 FT%, 15.2 DEFF
Once again, Kyle Lowry, the guy who deserved to be an All-Star way
more than Joe Johnson (yeah, we’ll keep on beating that dead horse), leads the
Association’s best backcourt. Aside from him, though, the Raptors have enjoyed
great contributions from the likes of Terrence Ross and Greivis Vasquez. They
should survive the stretch run and make the Playoffs, and, hey, they might even
hold on to that Atlantic Division top spot.
Best Frontcourt: Charlotte
Bobcats - 59.1ppg, 32.3rpg, 9.3apg, 4.1spg, 4.6bpg, .486 FG%, .433 3pt%, 15.1
DEFF
That’s not a typo, hoop nuts. The Charlotte Bobcats – yes the team
that’s owned by the worst player-turned-owner/chairman in the current
generation – possess the best frontline in the NBA. And, NO, it’s not because,
all of a sudden, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has found his touch (he might never,
take note). Instead, it’s because Al Jefferson remains a superb center, and the
forward combo of Josh McRoberts and Anthony Tolliver isn’t exactly the worst PF
pairing in the league (look at this – they combine for 4.2 treys a game and
shoot nearly 44% from beyond the arc).
Best Bench: Dallas Mavericks
- 39.3ppg, 16.7rpg, 10.0apg, 3.0spg, 2.5bpg, .398 3pt%, .822 FT%, 19.1 DEFF
Yes, the days of Vinsanity are long gone, and we will never see him
have another let’s-jump-over-Fred-Weis scene except on YouTube, but,
hey, he’s the main motor behind the league-best Dallas bench this past month. He
registered around 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal this past month
while also making about 2 triples per game while shooting better than 42% from
downtown. He leads a bench mob that includes the surprising Brandan Wright and
solid Devin Harris.
Best Starting Five: LA
Clippers - 87.9ppg, 34.7rpg, 20.0apg, 6.5spg, 3.7bpg, .504 FG%, 30.6 DEFF
Here’s why the Clips’ bench isn’t one of the best out there – Jamal
Crawford is actually starting for Doc Rivers. Crawford, perennial Sixth Man of
the Year candidate, started 9 of 11 games for LA in February, averaging about
24 points, 4 dimes, a steal, and 3 triples per outing. Combine that with
eye-popping stats from Blake Griffin (30ppg, 11rpg, 4apg, and .545 FG%), Chris
Paul (15ppg, 11apg, 2spg), and DeAndre Jordan (13ppg, 14rpg, 3bpg, and .757
FG%), and, well, it’s not hard to picture the Clippers having the league’s best
starting unit.
East: Miami Heat (9-1 in
February) - 104.8ppg, 36.6rpg, 22.6apg, 10.4spg, 4.0bpg, .510 FG%, 20.7 DEFF
For the first time this season, the Indiana Pacers aren’t the best
team in the East. Miami went on a tear in February, winning all of their games
except that hiccup against (of all teams) the Utah Jazz. LeBron has been in
supervillain mode (mask and all), so it stands to reason they will continue
their winning ways. Indiana’s hold at the top spot is in peril, folks, and we
all better batten down the hatches.
West: Houston Rockets (8-2 in
February) - 111.9ppg, 46.5rpg, 22.8apg, 8.2spg, 5.3bpg, .491 FG%, .402 3pt%,
19.6 DEFF
My Rockets are soaring! Woohoo! They’ve won 8 of their last 10
games and are knocking on the door of the West’s top four, though they’re still
about 3 games away from unseating the Spurs at the peak of the Southwest. Dwight
Howard and James Harden have both been awesome, while the rest of Houston’s
crew have chipped in their share, too. It also seems like the Omer Asik
dramathon as, for now, abated, which makes me really excited for the Rockets’
chances moving forward.
Player Citations:
Best Point Guard: Chris Paul
(LAC) - 15.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 11.0apg, 2.4spg, 23.9 EFF
CP3 retakes his throne as the world’s best playmaker, dropping a
double-double on a nightly basis while also remaining atop the steals
leaderboard. Sorry Steph Curry, but your reign was just way too short.
Best Shooting Guard: James
Harden (HOU) - 27.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 5.3apg, 1.9spg, 3.0 triples per game, .423
3pt%, .904 FT%, 25.9 EFF
Harden’s shooting was awesome last month as he hit about three
triples per outing, but it’s his defense and playmaking that have really put
him at a level above everyone else. He actually leads Houston in both assists
and steals, while, not surprisingly, also setting the pace in scoring.
Best Small Forward: LeBron
James (MIA) - 30.8ppg, 8.1rpg, 6.7apg, 2.7spg, .575 FG%, 1.9 triples per game,
33.7 EFF
Finally someone unseats KD at the helm of all small forwards, and,
SHOCKINGLY, it’s a guy named LeBron James who does it. The self-styled King
simply owned February, raining threes, getting steals, making plays for his mates,
and basically reaching down and ripping the throats of the opposition. He’s in
beast mode, folks. Yikes.
Best Power Forward: Kevin
Love (MIN) - 34.0ppg, 14.1rpg, 4.0apg, 3.0 triples per game, .415 3pt%, 38.0
EFF
Will he join the Lakers, or will he stay? That is for another day
altogether, but, for now at least, T-Wolves fans can rejoice because they still
have the planet’s best PF. Sadly, that alone doesn’t guarantee a Playoff berth,
but at least it means there’s a reason to be optimistic about Target Center
ticket sales.
Best Center: Dwight Howard
(HOU) - 22.8ppg, 12.9rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0spg, 2.5bpg, .654 FG%, 29.3 EFF
Another Rocket? Why, yes! Dwight Howard really seems to have found
his niche in Houston, even if it means a subversively disgruntled Omer Asik
awaits his turn on the pine. Dwight is posting awesome numbers of late,
including that wickedly wonderful 34-14-2 masterpiece against the Suns last
February 5.
Best East Rookie: Victor
Oladipo (ORL) - 14.7ppg, 4.4rpg, 4.9apg, 1.9spg, 1.0 triples per game, .400
3pt%, .919 FT%, 15.4 EFF
The ROY race might not be as much of a runaway as we think. Oladipo
has put together some interesting games lately, including his
near-triple-double against the Knicks last February 21. In that match, he
dropped 30 points, 14 assists, and 9 rebounds, while also netting 2 thefts. Can
he still catch MCW at the top? Only time will tell.
Best West Rookie: Nick
Calathes (MEM) - 10.7ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.6apg, 1.8spg, .495 FG%, 13.6 EFF
The Greek-American has been struggling the past week or so, but his
February production was padded by a string of great games midmonth when he
scored in double-figures for six straight contests. His best was scoring 18
points, grabbing 7 boards, dishing out 6 assists, and getting 2 steals in
Memphis’s win over Washington last February 11.
Best East Player: LeBron
James (MIA) - 30.8ppg, 8.1rpg, 6.7apg, 2.7spg, .575 FG%, 1.9 triples per game,
33.7 EFF
No beating LeBron right now. I hate to say it, but it’s true.
Best West Player: Kevin Love
(MIN) - 34.0ppg, 14.1rpg, 4.0apg, 3.0 triples per game, .415 3pt%, 38.0 EFF
Not the Kevin you expected? Well, Durant had some not-so-good games
in February, so this one we’ll give to his namesake instead. Love continues to
be all-around awesome, even if his team continues to be all-around
inconsistent.
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| Should Kevin Love jump ship and switch to Purple & Gold? (image from Bloguin) |
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