By Ethan Barlow

Who’s in the team this week? (Image: Getty Images)

After an action-packed week of NBA action, here were the standout players from across the matches:

PG - Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet blasted the Rockets to a 4-0 week (Image: Getty Images)

Fred VanVleet was the star of an uncharacteristic Houston Rockets week. Based on their disappointing season, not many would have expected a 4-0 week, and certainly not six wins from seven. Despite VanVleet averaging over two fewer points than his seventh and final season with the Toronto Raptors, the 30-year-old averages a career-high eight assists. The Rockets’ great vein of form has moved them up to 11th seed in the Western Conference and they now sit just three wins behind the Golden State Warriors, and the play-in positions.

The Rockets started their week, with a win in Portland against the Trailblazers with Jalen Green starring for the team on their travels. The Rockets kept rolling on the road as they had their most impressive win of the week, beating the Sacramento Kings. The high of the win was spoiled in the dying minutes when Alperen Sengun collapsed to the floor with a leg injury, after trying to block the shot of fellow European centre Domantas Sabonis. Even with the loss of their main man, VanVleet deputised, and excelled, helping the Rockets to two more wins. The Texans finished their week with wins over the Western and Eastern Conference's worst teams: The San Antonio Spurs and the Washington Wizards.

Across the four matches, VanVleet averaged: 22 points, 3.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.8 steals. The 2019 NBA champion shot: 51% from the field, 44.4% from three-point range and 96% from free throws.

SG - Cade Cunningham

Cade Cunningham played well for the Pistons this week (Image: Getty Images)

Cade Cunningham has played most of the season cutting a disappointed and upset figure as to what has gone so terribly wrong for the Detroit Pistons this season. Before this week, the Pistons had won just 10 of their 62 matches. Earlier in the season, the Pistons tied the NBA’s all-time record for most consecutive defeats (28), but they’ve made improvements since then. They have now won six of their last 10 and have even moved off the bottom spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons started their week scoring 124 points at the Dallas Mavericks, but still lost out by 18 points. Cunningham was just one rebound away from his third career triple-double, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the Mavs. The Pistons picked up their 11th win of the season at the 13th-seed Charlotte Hornets, before beating the 12th-seed Toronto Raptors. Two wins on the road rounded off one of the Pistons' best weeks of the season.

Across the week, the 2021 number one overall pick averaged: 24.7 points, six rebounds and eight assists. The Montverde high schooler shot: 44.3% from the field, 31.8% from three-point range and 92.9% from the free-throw line.

C - Nikola Jokic

Will the MVP-favourite live up to his tag come the end of the season? (Image: Getty Images)

Nikola Jokic is the frontrunner to win his third regular season MVP award. Even if the Serbian isn’t crowned MVP for the third time in four years, the reigning Finals MVP does his best work in the post-season. Jokic helped the Denver Nuggets to a flawless 3-0 week. The Nuggets have won nine of their last 10 matches and are getting into playoff form, as they sit as the second seed in the Western Conference with the same record as the leading Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC).

The Nuggets started their week with a win at the Utah Jazz, with the help of Jamal Murray’s 37 points. Jokic’s 35-point triple-double inspired the defending champions to a win in Canada over the Toronto Raptors. The Nuggets came out on top in their final match of the week, which was a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals, against the Miami Heat.

Across the Nuggets’ flawless week, “The Joker" averaged: 24.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.3 blocks. The 2014 41st overall pick shot: 64.6% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range and 90.9% from free throws.

SF - Luka Doncic

Team of the week regular Luka Doncic stood out for the Mavericks (Image: Getty Images)

Luka Doncic helped the Mavericks to a 3-1 week. Despite this, they couldn’t move out of the eighth seed and into the playoff positions as it is very tight in the battle for post-season basketball, in the Western Conference. This season, Doncic has had his career-high averages in points, assists, steals and blocks. His consistent level of performance gives him an outside chance at being awarded the MVP award.

A 39-point Doncic triple-double led the Mavericks to their first win of the week against the Pistons, before his 27-point triple-double in a home win against the Chicago Bulls. Doncic failed to get a triple-double in a win at the Warriors, which ended his run of seven consecutive games with one. The Mavericks fell to defeat against OKC in their final match of the week without their star man.

Across the week, the former Real Madrid man averaged: 29 points, 8.3 rebounds, 11 assists and 1.3 steals. The 2019 Rookie of the Year shot: 44.6% from the field, 32.4% from three-point range and 81.8% from free throws.

PF - Jayson Tatum

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were superb for the Celtics, only Tatum makes this team, however

Jayson Tatum has crept into the MVP conversation, being the main man on the league’s best regular season team by far. The Celtics have amassed at least five more wins than any other team in the NBA. The Celtics won all four of their matches this week and are now just seven wins from securing the first seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics started their perfect week with a win at home to the Phoenix Suns. Jaylen Brown and Tatum starred scoring 27 and 29 points. Tatum and Brown were the stars again when the Trailblazers came to Boston. The Celtics earned their third home win on the trot against the Jazz with the help of Tatum’s 38 points. The Celtics finished their week with a win against the Suns in the reverse fixture. This time it was Brown who hit the high 30’s for points. This week’s selection was a toss-up between both Tatum and Brown for a place in this week’s team.

Across the four wins, “The Problem” averaged: 29.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists. The 26-year-old shot: 45.7% from the field, 42.9% from three-point range and 85.7% from free throws.

6th man of the week - Naz Reid

Minnesota Timberwolves star Naz Reid is our 6th man this week (Image: Getty Images)

Rookie of the week - Keyonte George

NBA team of the week