The
following five guys have left Dirk, Lee, Zeebo, and even the Manimal in the
dust so far this February. Find out who they are.
Note: All of the following stats are based
on the last five games of each player as computed by HoopsStats.com.
5. Ersan Ilyasova (MIL) - 14.8ppg, 8.4rpg,
1.8spg, 1.0bpg, .508 FG%, .500 3pt%, 21.0 EFF
The Bucks
have been on a slump, winning just 2 of their last 10, but nobody can lay the
blame on Ilyasova, who seems to have regained the mojo that made him a great
Fantasy pick-up last year. The Turkish Delight is pretty much being a monster
for Milwaukee, doing practically everything a 4 should do, and then some – look
at his three-point percentage for heaven’s sake!
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| Ersan Ilyasova is a stat-demon once again! (image by Kathy Willens/AP) |
4. Nene (WAS) - 14.2ppg, 8.6rpg, 3.4apg,
1.2spg, 1.0bpg, .600 FG%, 21.6 EFF
With these
numbers, Nene has the distinction of being the best big man on a team with less
than 20 wins. Well, outside of Nikola Vucevic at least. The Brazilian has been
a bona fide stat-stuffer in his last five games, and he’s also been making 60%
of his shots! Of course, not even those numbers will be enough to tow the
Wizards into any level of significance.
3. LaMarcus Aldridge (POR) - 22.8ppg,
6.0rpg, 1.0bpg, .527 FG%, .900 FT%, 21.8 EFF
The Blazers
have dropped to 12th in the West thanks to a miserable February –
they’ve lost 8 of their last 10. Aldridge has been his usual dependable self,
however, at least in terms of offense. He’s still not exactly the most
consistent double-double threat, but he makes up for his rebounding
deficiencies with his brilliance from the free throw line.
2. Blake Griffin (LAC) - 19.2ppg, 10.0rpg,
3.8apg, 1.4spg, .588 FG%, 25.0 EFF
The All-Star
Starter has brought his A-Game into February, and the Clippers are loving every
bit of it. After a shaky 0-3 start to the Love Month, this LA team has racked
up 5 wins in its last 7. OKC and SAS are still way ahead of them, but at least
the Clippers are still on pace for a first round homecourt edge in the
Playoffs. I also have a feeling Griffin will keep on getting better as the
season runs its course. Every other PF out there should be cringing at that
thought.
1. Josh Smith (ATL) - 21.6ppg, 9.8rpg,
6.8apg, 1.2spg, 1.4bpg, .550 FG%, .526 3pt%, 28.8 EFF
J-Smoove’s
numbers, when rounded up, are the following – 22 points, 10 boards, and 7
assists per game along with making more than half of all his field goals,
including threes. Damn. How was he NOT an All-Star again? Too bad the Hawks are
not going beyond the second round of the Playoffs, if at all, and too bad they’ll
lose Smith when the free agency wars heat up. Oh well, I guess there’s hardly
any better way to say goodbye (or good riddance?).