NBA team of the week

By Ethan Barlow

PG – Tyrese Haliburton

Haliburton is on track for an incredible season (Image: Getty Images)

In a week where “mr supposed wannabe fake All-Star” was announced to be leading the votes for Eastern Conference guard’s All-Star voting, he helped the Indiana Pacers to a flawless 3-0 week as he is becoming a regular in this team. Tyrese Haliburton started off his week with a second of back- to/back 20 point and 20 assist games after he helped the Pacers to a home win over the New York Knicks, while poking fun at former NBA player, Wally Szczerbiak who branded Haliburton as “mr supposed wannabe fake All-Star”. There will be nothing “fake All-Star” about Haliburton’s All-Star selection if similar voting trajectory was to continue. The Pacers ended their week with back-to-back home and away wins over the Milwaukee Bucks, as they have now won four of the five meetings between the teams this season, and it required a 64-point game from Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Pacers. The second seeded Bucks awful record against the fifth seeded Pacers prompted Antetokounmpo to say: “When you go home and sleep and wake up, you think about it…”. The Pacers and Bucks have developed quite the rivalry this campaign after the In-season Tournament Conference final and Giannis’ record ball incident. Haliburton was again the standout for the Pacers, across the week as he averaged: 26.3 points, 15.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocks. The Pacers’ superstar shot: 49.2% from the field, 28.6% from three-point range and 100% from his 13 free-throws.

SG – Luka Dončić

Doncic is on track for an MVP calibre season (Image: Getty Images)

The Dallas Mavericks had another impressive week, as they now sit just outside the Play-off positions. Luka Dončić, who leads the All-Star guard voting in the Western Conference was the star performer for the Mavericks as they won two of their three matches. The Mavericks started off their week with a win at the Golden State Warriors, they then picked up a surprise loss at the on-from Utah Jazz before a home win over the Portland Trailblazers. Luka Dončić is very much in the MVP conversation this season, and if he can lead the Mavericks to the Play-offs, which they missed last season, there wouldn’t be many with better chances than the Slovenian. Across the week Dončić averaged: 33 points, 9.7 assist, 6.7 rebounds and 1 steal. The former Real Madrid man shot, 47.1% from the field, 36.4% from three-point range and 77.8% from free-throws.

C – Domantas Sabonis

Sabonis gets to the rim for a dunk (Image: Getty Images)

The man who was on the other end of the famous Tyrese Haliburton trade, once again shows how both the Indiana Pacers and the Sacramento Kings were successful in the trade. The Kings won three of their four matches this week and Domantas Sabonis was the standout. The Kings started off their week with a win at the Atalanta Hawks, they then won at the Memphis Grizzlies. When the Kings returned to Sacramento, they picked up a surprise defeat to the Charlotte Hornets but ended their week in positive fashion, with a double overtime win over the Orlando Magic. Across the week, Sabonis averaged: 20.8 points, 18.3 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1 steal. The Lithuanian shot, 57.1% from the field, 50% from his two three-point shots and 52.6% from free-throws.

SF – Brandon Ingram

Ingram has had an impressive week for the Pelicans (Image: Getty Images)

There wasn’t an amazing standout for the New Orleans Pelicans but after their flawless week it was only right for them to have an inclusion in this team. Of the big three, Brandon Ingram was the best, and has been the most reliable this season, as both Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum have missed parts of the season with injuries. The Pelicans’ 3-0 week has them sat at sixth seed in the Western Conference, but the job is far from done in securing a spot in the Play-offs. The Pelicans begun their week with a win at home to Ingram’s former employers, the LA Lakers. They then won comfortably at home to the struggling Brooklyn Nets before a massive win on the road, as they beat Western Conference first seed, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Across the Pelicans’ impressive week, Ingram averaged: 19 points, 6.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1 block. The former, Most Improved Player shot: 57.9% from the field, 58.3% from three-point range and 60% from free-throws.

PF – Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard seems to be back to his best (Image: Getty Images)

The LA Clippers have had a massive change in fortunes this season, after a terrible start they now find themselves at fourth seed in the Western Conference despite losing six on the bounce to start off James Harden’s Clippers career. James Harden is not the superstar highlighted in this team though, it’s former Spurs and Raptors man, Kawhi Leonard. Since the beginning of December, the Clippers have won 13 of their 15 matches showing the turnaround as they’re now even some people’s favourites to go all the way, despite having three superstars who have never went all the way. On the other hand, Leonard is experienced at getting the job done in the Finals and across the Clippers’ flawless week he was the standout. The Clippers started off their week with a home win over the Grizzlies. Leonard didn’t take part in this match, as he was recovering from a hip injury. Leonard missed four consecutive matches due to this knock and in that time the Clippers picked up two losses (the only two in their last 15 matches), this shows how important it is to keep Leonard fit if the Clippers hope to go far this season. The LA team went on to win at the Miami Heat before winning at home to the Phoenix Suns, to cap off a solid week. Across the week, the ‘robot’ averaged: 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1.5 blocks. The two-time Finals MVP shot, 54.3% from the field, 54.5% from three-point range and 90.9% from free-throws.

6th man of the week – Jordan Clarkson

Rookie of the week – Victor Wembanyama