NBA team of the week
By Ethan Barlow
It’s been a significant week in the NBA (Image: Getty Images)
Here are the standouts, from this week in the NBA:
PG - Jalen Brunson
Brunson had a brilliant week for the Knicks (Image: Getty Images)
This week, Jalen Brunson was selected as an All-Star for the first time in his career and his performances over the last few weeks have definitely matched that calibre. Brunson’s consistency over the New York Knicks’ brilliant 8-0 run, which is a winning streak only bettered by two this season, Orlando Magic (9) and LA Clippers (9), has been the key to their success. People are starting to recognise the point guard as one of the best in the league in his position.
The Knicks won all four of their matches this week, to extend their winning streak. The Knicks started their week at home, in Maddison Square Garden, where they beat last season’s conference champions, the Miami Heat. The home team won quite comfortably in the end and Brunson was the standout, with 32 points. Brunson dropped another 32 points a few nights later when the Knicks won at the struggling Charlotte Hornets. The New Yorkers were back at the Garden, to host the Utah Jazz and this time it was Donte DiVincenzo who was the standout. The NBA’s most in-form team finished their week with a narrow victory at home to the Indiana Pacers, with Brunson scoring his highest of the week (40).
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks' immaculate form has moved them up to third seed in the Eastern Conference, only behind the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics. With the Celtics going through a sloppy spell, the Bucks struggling to master a defensive formula and the Philadelphia 76ers without the injured Joel Embiid, there is no reason the Knicks can’t be considered the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Across the four wins this week, the new All-Star averaged: 33.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists. The former Dallas Maverick shot: 50.5% from the field, 34.6% from three-point range and 82.8% from free throws.
SG - Stephen Curry
Curry caught the eye enough to feature this week despite the Golden State Warriors only having a couple of games (Image: Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors had a quiet week, only playing twice, but Stephen Curry certainly made noises that he’s still got it at 35. Curry not being an All-Star starter might have signalled the downward spiral of his career at the top, but this week he showed otherwise.
The death of Dejan Milojević, the Warriors’ assistant coach is still quite fresh in the minds of everyone involved in the franchise. The Serbian died aged 46 a couple of weeks ago, after suffering a heart attack. For the last two weeks, the Warriors have been mourning the passing of Nikola Jokić’s mentor.
The Warriors started their week making up half of a regular season game, which will be remembered for years to come. The LA Lakers went to San Francisco, in a matchup which always seems to deliver. The Lakers ran out 145-144 winners after double overtime where both LeBron James (39) and Curry (35) were the standouts for their teams as they both continue to defy beliefs of what can be done at their age. The Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green v LeBron James matchup has been one for the ages, and despite all not being the players they used to be, if this was the last dance, it was a very entertaining one.
Despite losing to their California rivals, the Warriors did win their other match, beating the Sixers after Joel Embiid went off injured. Curry was the standout again as he dropped 37 points. The Warriors still need to do a lot to even make the Play-ins at this stage, but these two games will give the 2022 champions confidence going into next week’s games.
Across the two games, Curry averaged: 41.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and seven assists. The four-time champion shot: 55.8% from the field, 50% from three-point range and 100% from his eight free throws.
C - Nikola Jokić
“The Joker” is something of a regular fixture in the team of the week (Image: Getty Images)
The NBA Champion and Finals MVP had an impressive week, showing why he’s still one of, if not the best player in the league. Despite Embiid and Dončić’s ridiculous scoring numbers, Jokić is still arguably the best offensive player in the league, as everything the Denver Nuggets do is through the Serb. Jokić played in two of the Nuggets' wins this week but was rested in their third match, which they lost to second-seed OKC Thunder.
The Nuggets started their week with a win in Philadelphia against the Sixers, who were without Embiid. Jokić and co returned to Denver to face another one of the Eastern Conference powerhouses, the Milwaukee Bucks. Jokić was immense and was so important to handing new Bucks’ head coach, Doc Rivers his first loss at Milwaukee. Jokić had a triple-double with five stocks. The NBA champions are possibly going under the radar as candidates to win their second championship. It won’t be an easy task to take them down in a seven-game series.
Across the two wins, the “Joker” averaged: 25.5 points, 16 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1 block. The Finals MVP had an unimpressive shooting week, as he shot: 43.9% from the field, 14% from three-point range and 66.7% from free throws.
SF - Donovan Mitchell
Where would the Cavs be without Mitchell? (Image: Getty Images)
Like the Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers have also proven themselves to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Guard Donovan Mitchell has been the main contributor to the Cavs’ recent success, as they picked up four wins from four this week. Mitchell’s performances have been recognised as he was selected to be an All-Star.
The Cavs started their week with a win in Milwaukee against the Bucks, who are second seeds in the Eastern Conference. Mitchell was the standout, as he dropped 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The Cavs were back in Cleveland to host one of the most in-form teams in the league, the Clippers. This time, Mitchell had 12 assists to go along with his 28-point contribution to the Cavs’ second impressive win of the week. Mitchell’s best showing came at home to the Detroit Pistons, as he dropped 45 points. The Cavs finished off their flawless week with a win in Memphis against the Grizzlies.
Across the flawless week, “Spida” averaged: 32.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals. The former Utah Jazz player shot: 51.1% from the field, 38.6% from three-point range and 73.1% from free throws.
PF - Luka Dončić
Dončić delivers for Dallas again (Image: Getty Images)
Luka Dončić is the fourth guard to be in this team but after his performances this week, he certainly wasn’t the fourth option. Dončić had a historic game on Friday when he dropped 73 points against the Atlanta Hawks which will go down as one of the most impressive individual performances of all time. Dončić helped the Mavericks to a 2-2 week, as they now sit at eighth seed in the Western Conference, a few wins behind the Play-off places.
The Mavs started their week with a win in Atlanta, where Dončić had his historic game. In the match, his stats were: 73 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and he shot a ridiculous 75.8% from the field. With doubts over the legitimacy of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game and Dončic’s efficiency compared to Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game, is this the best single-player performance ever?
The Slovenian recorded a triple-double at home to the Sacramento Kings, but the Californian team came out on top. The Mavs got back to winning ways at home to the Orlando Magic where Dončić scored 45 points. Dončic didn’t feature in the Mavericks' last game of the week, in which they lost to the high-flying Minnesota Timberwolves.
Across a historical week, the Mavericks single-game points record holder averaged: 48.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 13 assists and 1.7 steals. The former Real Madrid man shot: 56.1% from the field, 40% from three-point range and 85.7% from free throws.
6th man of the week - PJ Washington
Rookie of the week - Victor Wembanyama