NBA team of the week

By Ethan Barlow

Who has performed in the NBA this week? (Image: Getty Images)

Here are the standouts from this week in the NBA:

PG - Donovan Mitchell

“Spida” was in superb form for the Cavaliers (Image: Getty Images)

Cleveland Cavaliers’ star man, Donovan Mitchell had his best week of the season so far. Mitchell’s All-Star voting has him placed fourth for Eastern conference guards.

The Cavaliers had a quiet week only playing two games, but they won both and are currently on a six-game winning streak. They started their week with a win at home to the Chicago Bulls, Mitchell was the standout with 34 points. The Cavs’ other game in the week was a blowout 40-point win over a Giannis-less Milwaukee Bucks. The Cavs have been impressive as of late and have cemented their place as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference amid great competition.

Across the two matches, “Spida” averaged: 32.5 points, four rebounds, seven assists and 2.5 steals. This week the All-Star guard shot, 57.5% from the field, 44.4% from three-point range and 91.7% from free throws.

SG - Grayson Allen

Grayson Allen after the Phoenix Suns’ victory over the Sacramento Kings (Image: Getty Images)

In this week’s team, it was a toss-up between two Phoenix Suns players: Grayson Allen and Devin Booker, but Allen was a lot more efficient in his shooting and therefore deserves his spot in this team after helping the Suns to a 2-0 week. The Suns are now on a three-game winning streak and their recent form has moved them up in the standings, but they are still way off where they would be expected to be at this point in the season. The Suns were projected to be a top-three seed by many people, but they are not even in the play-off positions as it stands. Injuries to Bradley Beal have disrupted the big three formed with Booker and Kevin Durant and stopped them from playing very many games.

The Suns began their week with a win at the Portland Trailblazers, with Booker being the key man. They then finished their week with a narrow win at home to the Sacramento Kings, and on this occasion, Allen stood out.

Across the week, Allen averaged: 24.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, one steal and two blocks, as he was a massive help to the Suns on both sides of the floor. The former Milwaukee Buck shot, 60.9% from the field, 65% from three-point range and 100% from his four free throws.

C - Rudy Gobert

The Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert drives towards the basket in the game against the Detroit Pistons (Image: Getty Images)

Despite it being Anthony Edwards’ spectacular slams, and him throwing the ball to himself off the glass being the highlights, Rudy Gobert’s defensive work is vital to the Minnesota Timberwolves' impressive form and their top-seed position in the Western Conference. They have the second-best record in the entire NBA. Gobert’s experience will help the Timberwolves go far this season, and who knows they could go all the way. This week, Gobert helped the Timberwolves to a flawless 4-0 week.

The Timberwolves started their week with a home win against the Trailblazers, with Gobert recording the most points, rebounds and blocks. The Timberwolves' second win of the week came at home to the LA Clippers. The Timberwolves won by four points, and although Edwards was the standout with 33 points, Gobert’s 18 rebounds and four blocks should not go unnoticed as he makes a strong case as the Defensive Player of the Year so far. The Timberwolves second half of the week would be on the road, with wins over the Detroit Pistons and then the Memphis Grizzlies, with Gobert making six blocks in Memphis.

Across the week, the Frenchman averaged: 18.8 points, 15.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 3.3 blocks. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner shot, 70.3% from the field and 63.9% from free throws.

SF - Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown starred for the Celtics this week (Image: Getty Images)

The best team in the NBA completed another flawless week (3-0). The player who caught the eye this week was not the usual Jayson Tatum, but it was Jaylen Brown who was the best performer for many people's favourites to win the championship. The Boston Celtics have been consistently the best team throughout the season and having five possible All-Stars as starters with a former one as their sixth man, it is not a surprise. It is difficult to see any team in the Eastern Conference beating this force across a seven-game series, but eighth-seed Miami Heat did it last season, so, you never know. Brown is likely to make the All-Star game as a sub along with teammate Kristaps Porzingis, while Tatum will almost definitely be a starter and Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are likely to miss out.

The Celtics started their week with a blowout win at home against the Houston Rockets, they then beat the Raptors in Toronto. Brown was rested for the Celtics’ win in Toronto but returned when they beat the San Antonio Spurs to complete a perfect week.

Across the week, Brown averaged: 26.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. The 2016 number three draft pick shot: 61.3% from the field, 58.3 % from three-point range and 66.7% from free throws.

PF - Joel Embiid

Joel Embiid is back and he’s back in the team of the week (Image: Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Sixers had to sustain a difficult period without their monster scorer, but the MVP front-runner is back with a bang. Joel Embiid was criticised for winning last season’s MVP award but if he were to win it again there could be no complaints. Despite question marks over his play-off records, he meets the criteria for a regular season MVP like no other, and although he can be a frustrating player to watch with the soft free throws he gets, he is the most dominant player in the NBA right now. Embiid was the star as he helped the Sixers to a 3-0 week, although he only played in two of the games, his impact cannot go unnoticed.

The Sixers began their week with a win in Sacramento without Embiid. Philly won their second match at home to the Rockets, while Embiid dropped 41 points. The Sixers finished their week with an epic showdown against the NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets. The two best big men in the league went head-to-head and it was not something to be missed, the MVP got the better of the Finals MVP, Nikola Jokic as the Sixers won by five points.

Across the two games he played, the MVP averaged: 41 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and one block. The league’s best scorer shot: 58.1% from the field, 36.4% from three-point range and 87.5% from his 32 free-throw attempts.

6th man of the week - Georges Niang

Rookie of the week - GG Jackson II