Nine days into the new year and reaching the midway point of the 2010-2011 NBA season, it’s a good time to check and see who are the players performing better than the rest lately. Here are the five guys in the best form right now in the NBA.
LeBron James, Miami Heat
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Season stats so far – 25.3 points, 7 rebounds, 7.2 assists per game. LeBron said last week that he doesn’t think anyone from the Heat (meaning him and Wade) will win the MVP this year. So he said. He sure is playing like one lately. Just last night it was a 44 point, 13 rebounds performance, leading the Heat to an overtime win over the Blazers. He is averaging 31.6 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists per game in the Heat’s last 5 games. All wins. In fact, they’ve won their last nine games and 21 of their last 22. Like we said, MVP, again?
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
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The rebound machine isn’t stopping, leading the league in boards per game (15.7) and double doubles (33). If Love carries on at this pace he will have the highest rebounding average since Dennis Rodman back in the 1996-1997 season, grabbing just over 16 boards a game. Love isn’t just rebounds of course, averaging 21.2 points per game. He’s currently on a streak of 24 consecutive double double games, including two fantastic back to back games last week, scoring 35 points with 15 rebounds against the Bobcats and two nights later a 30-19 display in another losing effort, this time to the Blazers. His last six games? 24 points and 16.5 rebounds. Too bad the win loss column shows 1-5.
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
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Here’s an award that’s pretty much in the bag – Rookie of the year. Blake Griffin has been tremendous with the (as usual) struggling Clippers, averaging 21.8 points and 12.6 rebounds in his delayed rookie season. Griffin has been in amazing for of late, with 23 straight double double games. He hasn’t scored less than 20 points since early December and is averaging 26.3 points and 13.8 rebounds per game during his last six, which surprisingly were also 4 wins for the Clippers.
Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies
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Another double double machine, although not as consistent, and not always as highly motivated like the younger two we talked about earlier. Randolph and the Griz, like last season are hovering around the .500, right now with 17-20. Randolph is averaging 19.7 points and 12.7 boards this season but has really been on fire during the last six games, averaging 27.8 points and 14 rebounds per game. During that six game span the Grizzlies beat the Lakers, Thunder and the Jazz. The also lost to the Jazz, Thunder and to the Kings with that crazy Tyreke Evans Buzzer beater.
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers
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Life isn’t easy these days at Portland without Brandon Roy, but Aldridge is doing his best to make the fans forget their best player is gone. Going through the best season in his career, Aldridge is averaging 20.5 points and 8.8 rebounds this season and his recent form, averaging 27.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game during the last six just might be his best in his career. Aldridge had a huge game last night in the overtime loss to the Heat with 31 points, 14 rebound and 7 assists. For now, despite Roy being sidelined, Aldridge is keeping the Blazers in playoff contention (20-18, 8th in the West).