Player Recognition
All-Star Synopsis:
Damian Lillard, PG, Trail Blazers
The NBA has “oohed and awed” over Damian Lillard’s ability in his young career with excellent passing skills, high-percentage three point shooting, and his ability to somehow always get to the basket. Lillard has been a vital part in building up this once down franchise to a legitimate championship threat out west. Lillard’s play this week sparked many putting together his best statistical week in his career. Lillard, with LeBron James, was nominated as NBA Player of the Week.
Lillard’s Stats Week Three:
at LA Clippers (L, 102-106): 25 points (4-8 from 3P), 8 assists, 7 rebounds
vs. Charlotte (W, 102-100): 29 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
at Denver (W, 130-113): 27 points (5-6 from 3P), 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
vs. Brooklyn (W, 97-87): 28 points (4-6 from 3P), 10 assists, 5 rebounds
Lance Stephenson, SG, Hornets
The Hornets’ signing of the Pacers’ X-factor guard Lance Stephenson made big headlines and was easily the strongest move this past offseason outside of Cleveland. Stephenson highlighted the 2013-14 season with multiple triple-doubles while helping lead the Indiana Pacers to the top spot in the Eastern Conference. With his stock high, the Hornets acted fast picking up the hot name, whether that meant overpaying the young gun or not. While the season is still young, Stephenson has yet to blossom into that All-Star type shooting guard the Hornets were expecting. Stephenson has shown some glimpses foreshadowing that he will get to that point.
The streaky shooter has become more efficient as of late versus quality playoff teams with performances with 14, 13, and 16 points accompanied with some high rebounding numbers. The LeBron James agitator started out slow, but seems to be becoming into his own mold after a rough first week and a half.
He was known this week for a stunt only he could pull off:
Rookie Rundown:
Jabari Parker, SF, Bucks
Jabari Parker has been a big proponent on how the Bucks have managed an early .500 record, even though he doesn’t have gaudy numbers. Parker averages 11.6 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game (both statistics lead all rookies in those categories). Parker didn’t have a fantastic week with a tough three game stretch versus Oklahoma City, Orlando, and Miami in which he combined for just 25 points on 11-23 shooting (not terrible) within that span. Parker is becoming a valuable piece to this trending Bucks team as his minutes increase and his role becomes more demanding.
Flying Under the Radar:
Jrue Holiday, PG, Pelicans
When healthy, Jrue Holiday is one of the more productive point guards in the league and he is proving that statement in an underrated fashion this season. Holiday is not the primary scorer as he was in Philadelphia and doesn’t look to return that form, but he is becoming a more well-rounded point guard and is a vital part in the Pelicans’ 2014-15 possible journey to the playoffs. Holiday averages 16.3 points per game, just fewer than seven assists per game, and is shooting 48% from the field.
Reggie Jackson, PG, Thunder
Following the injury to Russell Westbrook, Reggie Jackson’s role increased in becoming the starting point guard for the Thunder. On paper, Jackson is one of the league’s leading stat packers with 21.5 points per game, 7.6 assists per game, and 4.9 rebounds per game. Regardless of his stats, the Thunder are still losing, but mostly due to the domino effect of injuries Scott Brooks has had to deal with. Jackson is doing all he can to keep pushing and carrying this team until the All-Star duo returns, hopefully, in December.
The Thunder appreciate his contributions (rumored):
Team Outlooks
Top Five:
1. Golden State Warriors (8-2)
Records aside, Golden State is the best team in the league and may have one of the best coaches, even though being in his first season. No, Golden State didn’t have the best week with back-to-back losses to Phoenix and San Antonio, but the turnovers have been lowered since the time I wrote about them last week. While the offense continues to impress, the Warriors are off to their best start since 1975 at 8-2 and should improve this week to 10-2 with games versus Utah and OKC. Remember, this team is still without one of the league’s better rebounders in David Lee.
2. Houston Rockets (9-1)
Even with ugly wins versus Philadelphia and OKC, the Rockets are still one of the top teams in the NBA with a 9-1 record. Houston has been known for its offense in recent seasons finishing in the top five in three of the last four seasons in scoring, but the trend of this 2014 Houston version is the improved play of the defense, especially James Harden.
Getty Images
3. Memphis Grizzlies (9-1)
The Grizzlies franchise is not familiar with quick starts as this season marks only the third time the Grizzlies have exceeded the .500 mark within the first ten games in the team’s existence. The Grizzlies have benefitted off of two close losses giving them a 9-1 overall record. The upcoming week should give us a good idea of how strong this unit is with home games versus Houston and LA Clippers and a road trip to Toronto.
4. Chicago Bulls (7-3)
I’m a little higher on the Bulls than most right now, as I’m not putting much stock into the chain of Derrick Rose injuries. The offense has seen improvement whether Rose is on the court or not with improved play from Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson and good minutes from Aaron Brooks and Kirk Hinrich off the pine. A Chicago team that is the ninth ranked offense in the league is unheard of which makes this team even scarier with the already tough Tom Thibodeau defense led by reigning defensive player of the year Joakim Noah.
5. San Antonio Spurs (5-4)
Many other teams including the Mavericks, Raptors, Clippers, and Trail Blazers could place here, but the Spurs get the nod this week with impressive back-to-back wins over the Warriors and Clippers. The Spurs haven’t been as effective in scoring this season averaging just 94.4 points per game which ranks 24th in the league. Tony Parker is the team’s leading three-point shooter. Take that in whatever way you want.
Bottom Three:
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-7)
Minnesota is one of the less intriguing teams in the NBA possibly even behind Philadelphia, but let’s not get too carried away now. The defense has been terrible with Ricky Rubio’s absence and the offense hasn’t been much better. This was a terrible week for the Wolves giving up a combined 270 points to Dallas and New Orleans. Minnesota has a nice stretch of home games coming up with New York, San Antonio, and Sacramento all coming to town.
29. Los Angeles Lakers (1-9)
If you follow me on twitter (@cpage2911) I constantly like to bash the Lakers and their decision to overpay Kobe Bryant, therefore receiving an incredibly weak roster. Kobe has produced, but that was expected. The defense is the worst in the league and will get smashed this week with three straight road games at Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas.
Kyle Terada, USA Today Sports
30. Philadelphia 76ers (0-9)
The 76ers continue to lose big and find a way to give up and blow the close ones, but what more can you expect from this roster? Tony Wroten is the team’s leading scorer. Yup.
What’s Trending:
The Cavs
If you don’t watch ESPN, I will update you on the Cavs real quick. After the 1-3 start the Cavs have reeled off four straight wins. A dominating win over Atlanta sparked many, but the defense still needs some work. LeBron has been, well, LeBron in this four game winning streak and the team chemistry and body language seems to be improving in the eye’s of this non-psychology major writer.
Buzzer-Beating Controversy
The Kings are protesting last week’s loss to the Grizzlies countering the officials’ final decision on the “game-winning” buzzer beating alley-oop. You be the judge:
(All stats and records taken before Monday, November 17th)