Who is the Best Point Guard in the NBA?

One of the hottest debates in the National Basketball Association right now revolves around who is the best point guard. With it currently being a point guard dominant league, having a top-tier floor general is key to success, especially come playoff time. Five point guards have really stood out this year, so let's take a look at where they fall in terms of being the best in the league.

Almost made the cut:

Damian Lillard (Season stats- 21.1 ppg, 6.1 apg, 4.8 rpg)- Lillard is one of the most explosive point guards in the league, and will someday soon be in this conversation. However, his assist totals, as well as his defensive numbers aren't quite at the level of the names that are soon to be mentioned. I will give him his due though, as he is one of the go-to guys in crunch time, and is does not shy away from big moments/games.

John Wall (Season stats- 16.9 ppg, 10.0 apg, 4.5 rpg)- During the first month of the season, it would have been hard to keep Wall out of the top-tier group. His Wizards were 22-9 through December, and double-doubles were a routine thing for the 24-year-old guard from Kentucky. Now, they sit at 36-28 (14-19 since Jan. began), and Wall's scoring has been up and down. However, he is still an athletic freak who will be a force in this league for many years to come.

The Big Three

Stephen Curry (Season stats- 23.8 ppg, 7.7 apg, 4.4 rpg)- Move over LeBron James and Kevin Durant, there is a new man ascending to the throne. Curry has skipped the stairs and taken the elevator straight to the top of almost every list (MVP, Best Player, Etc.). He is electrifying to watch, with his dazzling handles and pure as silk jump shot. But his statistics back up his amazing plays, and then some.

He is chasing a 50/40/90 season (Currently at 48.5% FG, 42.2% 3PT, 90.3% FT), and his Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 27.94 is good for third behind Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis. Curry's defense is also much improved, with his 2.2 steals per game leading NBA. Look for Curry to possibly raise his first MVP award come the end of the year, while his number-one seed Golden State Warriors will try and win championships for the first time since 1975.

Chris Paul (Season stats- 18.2 ppg, 10.2 apg, 4.8 rpg)- When it comes to elite floor generals, CP3 has been at or near the top of the list since the 2007-08 season. This year has been a quiet one in terms of him getting recognition, as his Clippers have struggled at times, and are currently the fifth seed in the West. That should not take away from the great season that Paul is achieving, despite not having teammate and superstar Blake Griffin since Feb. 8 (Elbow injury).

Paul is shooting 47% from the field on the year, and recently has seven double-doubles in his last eight games (51% shooting, 12.6 apg during that span). He has reclaimed the lead in assists per game, and will likely win that honor for the fourth time in his career. Paul's PER of 24.87 ranks third among qualified point guard, behind Curry and Westbrook respectively. His ability to control the pace of a game is matched by no one else in the NBA, and is a model that young point guards coming into the leaguer should follow.

Russell Westbrook (Season stats- 27.4 ppg, 8.3 apg, 7.1 rpg)- What can be said about Russell Westbrook that hasn't been said already? He is the most athletic point guard in the league, and has shown utter dominance with since the beginning of February. He averaged 31.2 points, 10.3 assists and 9.1 rebounds a game, while being named the Western Conference Player of the Month and the all-star game MVP.

In March, Westbrook is putting up staggering 40.7 points, 11.3 assists and 11.3 rebounds a game, while attempting an average of 16 free throws per contests. His PER has soared to a mark of 30.15, which as stated before trails only Anthony Davis, and his usage percentage of 38.1 leads all players by a wide margin. If the Thunder are able to hold on and make the playoffs in a tightly contested conference, Westbrook should and will receive many MVP votes.



Verdict 

The bottom line is this- any general manager in his right mind would love to have any of these five outstanding point guards on their team. Each one can put a team on their respective backs and win many games. With that being said, if I had to pick just one as the best in the league, I am going to lean with Stephen Curry. His balance of scoring and assisting is almost perfect, and his game is still evolving. Curry hasn't just made it to the top floor of the building, he now owns it.

*All stats accurate as of March 11

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats/facts courtesy of ESPN/Basketball Reference 

Weekend Recap- Feb.27-March 1

Friday's Top Performances

Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)- Recorded his third consecutive triple-double in a 115-112 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Westbrook's phenomenal stretch of basketball continued, as he poured in 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, while hitting 14 of 32 shot attempts. He has zoomed up the MVP rankings, and is doing any-and everything he can to give his team a chance to win games night in and night out.

Source

Greg Monroe (Detroit PF)- Scored 28 points in a 121-115 double overtime loss to the New York Knicks. Monroe led the Pistons into overtime, doing everything he could to give them the win, but it wasn't enough. The 28 points were most than he had scored in his previous two games combined.

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland PF)- Recorded 29 points and 16 rebounds in Portland's win over the Thunder on Friday evening. Aldridge hit 10 of 23 shot attempts, and 9 of 10 free throw attempts in the big win for Portland.

Source

Jimmy Butler (Chicago SG)- Tallied 28 points and 12 rebounds in a 96-89 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Butler nailed 11 of his 19 shot attempts, and as usual, filled up the rest of the stat sheet with two steals and two blocks.

Saturday's Top Performances

Deron Williams (Brooklyn PG)- Sparked the Nets to a 104-94 win over the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 25 points and grabbing six rebounds. Williams turned back the clocks, as he missed only five of his 14 shot attempts, and only committed one turnover in the big win.


Source

Hassan Whiteside (Miami C)- Pulled down 24 rebounds, while adding in 14 points in a 93-91 loss to the East-leading Atlanta Hawks. It was the fourth double-double in his last five games, as Whiteside has been one of the biggest surprises of this NBA season.

Marc Gasol (Memphis C)- Gasol scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 101-97 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Spaniard was uber-effecient from the floor, knocking down 11 of 14 field goal attempts, while also dishing out four assists for the current number two seed in the Western Conference.
Sunday's Top Performances

Stephen Curry (Golden State PG)- Exploded for 37 points in a 106-101 comeback win over the Boston Celtics Sunday. The Warriors trailed by as many as 26 points in the second quarter, but rallied behind their leader and one of the league's top MVP candidates to come away with a win. Curry knocked down 14 of his 22 shot attempts, including five 3-pointers, while dishing out five assists.

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Recorded a double-doubled of 28 points and 12 rebounds the Clippers' 96-86 victory on the road against the Chicago Bulls. Paul was in total control throughout the entire game, as this was his fourth consecutive double-double, with three of those being of the 20+ point and 10+ assist variety.

Source

Damian Lillard (Portland PG)- Dropped 31 points in a 110-99 win over the Sacramento Kings. Lillard had his second consecutive game scoring 29 or more points, hitting 11 of 20 field goal attempts. The young stud from Weber State also added in seven assists and four rebounds.

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN 

Nightly Recap- Feb. 23

Top Performances

James Harden (Houston SG)- Scored 31 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 10 assists in Houston's 113-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was Harden's second double-double of the season, and he also blocked four shots in the win. He is having the best season of his career by far, and is without a doubt in the top-2 for MVP voting.

Source

Avery Bradley (Boston SG)- Scored 23 points and swiped six steals in a 115-110 win over the Phoenix Suns. It marked the third straight game with 20+ points for Bradley, who also has 13 steals in those contests for Boston. His production should stay the same over the final months of the season, as teammate Jared Sullinger is out for the year. Bradley makes for a nice complimentary guard to the newly-acquired Isaiah Thomas in head coach Brad Steven's lineup.

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Dominated with 30 points and 10 assists in a 90-87 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Paul shot 13-22 from the field in what was his fifth double-double in his last six games. His scoring has been right around his season average in those contests, but he will need to do even more with teammate Blake Griffin out for an extended period of time with an injury.

Source

Goran Dragic (Miami PG)- Dropped 23 points and 10 assists in a 119-108 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. In only his second game for Miami, Dragic controlled the pace from start to finish, hitting 9 of 14 field goal attempts. Pat Riley and the Heat will do everything in their power to keep the Slovenian point guard long-term, as he can be an extremely valuable asset to them moving forward.

Play of the Night

Clippers' center DeAndre Jordan dunked one home over Marc Gasol of the Grizzlies on Monday night. Jordan finished the game with nine points and 17 rebounds.

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN 

Nightly Recap- Feb. 9

Top Performances

DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles C)- Tallied 22 points and a career-high 27 rebounds in a 115-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Jordan had free reign in the paint after Tyson Chandler went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter, and grabbed every rebound in sight for the Clippers. He was also efficient from the field, hitting 8-12 field goal attempts, and 6-9 free throw attempts.

Source

Gordon Hayward (Utah SG/SF)- Posted a line of 32 point, eight assists and seven rebounds in a 100-96 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Hayward shot 10-22 from the field, and hit three 3-pointers in the comeback win for the Jazz. Over his last five games, the 24-year-old is averaging 25.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game on 53.4% shooting from the field (54.2% from 3pt range).

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City SF)- Dropped 40 points in a 124-114 win agains the Denver Nuggets. Durant was on fire form the beginning, and hit 13-19 field goal attempts, along with seven 3-pointers in the crucial win for the Thunder. He has scored at least 27 points in all three games since returning from injury.

Source

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Tallied 25 points, 13 assists and six rebounds in a 115-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Paul controlled the game from start to finish, hit 7 of 15 shot attempts, as well as all 10 free throws. The Clippers' floor general has taken on a larger scoring role with Blake Griffin out due to injury, and has scored 43 points in his last two games combined.

Play of the Night

San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich recorded his 1,000th win of his career in a 95-93 win over the Indiana Pacers. Marco Belinelli hit the game-winning jumper with 2.1 seconds to go, receiving the pass from Kawhi Leonard.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciL6yehyW6U

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN 

Nightly Recap- Jan. 25

Top Performances

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Registered 23 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in a 120-100 win over the Phoenix Suns. Paul rebounded nicely after only scoring 15 points combined in his last two games, and his near triple-double is a sign that he is still one of the best point guards in the game.

Source

Hassan Whiteside (Miami C)- Recorded his first career triple-double in a 96-84 win over the Chicago Bulls. Whiteside scored 14 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked a franchise-record 12 blocks, while hitting 6 of 10 shot attempts. His growth is coming faster than anyone could have expected, and is a shining light for the struggling Miami Heat.

D.J. Augustin (Detroit PG)- Scored a season-high 35 points in a 114-110 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Augustin started in place of the injured Brandon Jennings, and lit it up, while adding in eight assists. He grabbed four rebounds and hit five 3-pointers, and will see starting minutes with Jennings out for the year.

Source

Ty Lawson (Denver PG)- Tallied 31 points and 12 assists in a 117-115 loss to the Washington Wizards. Lawson had an excellent game one day after being arrested on suspicion of a DUI, hitting 10 of 20 shot attempts, including three 3-pointers.

Play of the Night

Check out Hassan Whiteside's first career triple-double.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUKZaRnFYdo

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN

Nightly Recap- Jan. 7

Top Performances

Greg Monroe (Detroit PF)- Recorded his fourth straight double-double, a 27 point/18 rebound outing in a 108-95 win over the Dallas Mavericks.  Monroe hit 11 of his 16 shot attempts, and also dished out six assists in what was the seventh consecutive win for the Pistons.

Source

Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- Had another monster game, this time scoring 32 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 98-94 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Davis took more shots (24), than he had in his previous two games combined (19 total), and hit 15 of them in the loss. It was an all too familiar night for the young superstar, who continues to put up impressive numbers, only to see his team falter late in the game.

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Tallied 24 points and 11 assists in a 114-88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul was in complete control from start to finish, hitting four 3-pointers and recording three steals in the process. It was his third consecutive double-double, and his 17th overall on the season.

Source

Mo Williams (Minnesota PG)- Scored 23 points and dished out 11 assists in a 113-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Williams scored in double-digits for the third straight game, while reaching double-digit assists for the first time in a week and a half.

Klay Thompson (Golden State SG)- Erupted for 40 points in a 117-102 win over the Indiana Pacers. Thompson hit 14 of 25 from the field, including six 3-pointers in the big win for Golden State. He is now shooting 56% from the field, 59% from 3-point range, and 91% from the foul line in the month of January, which bodes well for the Warriors moving ahead.

Source

Blake Griffin (Los Angeles PF)- Posted a stat line of 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Griffin continues to fill up the stat sheet almost every night, and is averaging 22.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 2015 for the Clippers, who have now won four out of their last five contests.

Play of the Night

Charlotte Hornets' point guard Kemba Walker scored 31 points, with no three points coming at a better time then with the game tied at 94 with 1.4 seconds remaining against the New Orleans Pelicans. Walker drove into the lane and connected on an and-one shot that went high off of the glass and through the net.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOsJkpxyHg8

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN

First MVP Rankings of 2015

As we head into the new year, let's take a look at my current MVP rankings in the NBA. The rankings are based off of team success, individual performances/numbers, as well as any other intangibles that have been seen this season. Be sure to click the links and/or the photos for video highlights of the players.

Outside Looking In

Other notables- Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard

Jimmy Butler (Chicago SG)- 21.9 ppg, 6.2 rbp, 3.3 apg (48% FG, 34% 3PT, 83% FT)

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- 17.9 ppg, 9.5 apg, 4.6 rpg (47% FG, 40% 3PT, 89% FT)

Marc Gasol (Memphis C)- 20.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.8 apg (50% FG, 81% FT, 1.7 BPG)

Top 5

5. James Harden (Houston SG)- The Houston shooting guard has taken over the last few weeks, and was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for his efforts in December. Harden is scoring 27.0 points, and dishing out 6.5 assists, to go along with 1.9 steals per game this season. His biggest game recently came in a 110-95 win over the portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 22. Harden scored 44 points (14-26 FG), dished out seven assists and recorded five steals in the big win. Expect Harden to continue receiving attention as long as his production stays the same, and Houston continues to win games.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5tXLoaRtWI

Source

4. DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Cousins missed some time due to illness, but has returned to form over the last two weeks, and is averaging 23.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game for the season. His offense and improving defense make him one of the better two-way players in the league, but in order to climb higher in the rankings, he will need to lead the Kings to more victories. However, his PER of 26.60 (Fifth in the NBA), along with his numbers/skill set. does help provide a solid case for Cousins.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KgTz9hVr8g

Source

3. Kyle Lowry (Toronto PG)- The recently announced Eastern Conference Player of the Month has been continuing to play at a high level for the 24-10 Toronto Raptors. In the month of December, Lowry averaged 22.3 points, 8.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds, all while shooting 46% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. His grit and tenacity fuels the Raptors night in and night out, and makes him a legitimate MVP candidate at this point in the season.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40_Aapo7Biw

Source

2. Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- The 21-year-old power forward/center continues to shine on both ends of the court, and is averaging 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season. His PER of 31.26 continues to lead the league, and Davis has shown he can compete against the best teams in the league, as evidence by his 29 points, 11 rebound and six block performance against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 27. Barring an injury or for some bizarre reason, a slump, expect Davis to maintain his spot in the MVP conversation for the rest of the season.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N_QDxZD-qk

Source

1. Stephen Curry (Golden State PG)- Curry continues to shoot lights out from all areas of the court, and the Warriors are looking like top title contenders which each game. His defense has remained consistent and his passing, scoring and rebounding have helped the Warriors to an NBA-best 27-5. His PER of 26.9 is good for fourth in the league, and his 23.0 points and 7.8 assists per game are good for ninth and sixth respectively.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz2vrQ7EtIE

Source

Stay tuned for more MVP, as well other award rankings in the future, as we head move into the second half of the season.

*All stats are courtesy of ESPN

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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Nightly Recap- Jan. 3

Top Performances

Ty Lawson (Denver PG)- Tallied 25 points and 11 assists in a 114-85 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Lawson had a strong shooting night, hitting 10 of 14 shots from the field, including three 3-pointers in the win. He continues to dish out assists at a top-notch rate, and has scored 20 or more points in four of his last six games.

Source

Trey Burke (Utah PG)- Recorded 28 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 101-89 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was a season-high in points for Burke, who also recorded five or more assists for the fourth straight game. He appears to be playing more consistent, and should be scoring more as Alec Burks is out for the season.

Pau Gasol (Chicago PF/C)- Scored 29 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 109-104 overtime over the Boston Celtics. With Jimmy Butler out, Gasol stepped up in the scoring department, hitting 9 of 16 shots, including 10 of 11 free throw attempts. He added five blocks, giving him 14 total in his last two games.

Source

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Posted a line of 24 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in a 127-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Paul was efficient in his 30 minutes of playing time Saturday night, hitting 7 of 11 shots, including all seven free throws and three 3-pointers. It was a nice bounce-back night for the Clippers' point guard, who had scored only five points on 2 of 11 shooting against the Knicks in his last game.

Play of the Night

Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris posterized Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of the Charlotte Hornets Saturday night. Harris slipped towards the basket on an in-bounds play midway through the first quarter. He finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the 98-90 loss.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CxwoWRpQzQ

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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Daily Recap- Dec. 29

Top Performances

DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 107-99 loss to the Nets. Cousins had yet another strong performance, hitting 9 of his 12 field goal attempts, and 6 of 9 free throw attempts in the loss. It was his fourth double-double in his last five games, and is becoming the norm for the Kentucky product.

Source

Bradley Beal (Washington SG)- Dropped 33 points, including five 3-pointers in a 104-103 win over the Houston Rockets. Beal went toe-to-toe with James Harden, and outplayed him for a decent chunk of the game. He hit all 10 free throws and grabbed five rebounds in the statement win, and when healthy, give Washington one of the best backcourts in the league.

Danny Granger (Miami SG/SF)- Hit six 3-pointers and scored 20 points in a 102-102 loss to the Orlando Magic. His 20 points was a season-high, and he continues to play more minutes as a result of  various injuries to the Heat lineup. His outside shooting and overall scoring ability could prove valuable for the Heat moving forward.

Source

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Posted a stat line of 20 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals in a 101-97 win over the Utah Jazz. Even though his assists were a little lower than usual, Paul contributed an all-around game in the win. He continues to produce in many categories, and is limiting his turnovers better than most point guards in the league.

Play of the Night

Kings' center DeMarcus Cousins showcased his pure strength and desire to score, powering through two Nets' defenders for the slam on Monday night. It was a throwback to the Shaquille O'Neal days, and a welcomed sight for Kings' fans.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab3_nm3bvrQ

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Dec. 22

Top Performances

James Harden (Houston SG)- Tallied 44 points on 14-26 shooting in a 110-95 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Harden was on fire the entire game, and also filled up the stat sheet, recording seven assists and five steals.

Source

Klay Thompson (Golden State SG)- Registered 25 points in a 128-108 win over the Sacramento Kings. Thompson lit up Sacramento's defense early and often Monday night, hitting 10 of 16 shot attempts. He commited only one turnover and has scored 20+ points in nine of the last 10 games for the Warriors.

Jimmy Butler (Chicago SG)- Posted a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds in a 129-120 win over the Toronto Raptors. Butler had another double-double, and is having a career year for the Bulls.

Source

Boris Diaw (San Antonio PF)- Scored 23 points on 9 of 11 shooting in a 125-118 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Diaw came out of nowhere to have a great game, as he played big minutes in the second half.

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Recorded 25 points, nine assists and four rebounds in a loss to the Spurs on Monday night. Paul did everything he could to give the Clippers a chance to defeat the defending champion Spurs, but it was just not enough, as San Antonio shot over 63% from the field in the win. Paul has had back-to-back games of 25+ points and nine or more assists, and appears to be trying to score more on an inconsistent Clippers team.

Source

Kyle Lowry (Toronto PG)- Posted a line of 34 points, six rebounds and three assists in a 129-120 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Lowry did everything he could to give Toronto a chance to win the game, but it wasn't enough as the Raptors fell just short. The Villanova product is nonetheless having an excellent season, and is living up to the 4yr/48 million dollar contract he signed in the offseason.

Play of the Night

Houston Rockets' guard James Harden erupted for 44 points in a win over the Trail Blazers, a rematch of last years' first round matchup in the Western Conference. Below is a video highlight package of his phenomenal night.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljFUzEzw7Ag

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Nov. 24

Who Was Hot

James Harden (Houston SG)- Scored 36 points, and hit seven 3-pointers in a 91-86 win over the New York Knicks. Harden was firing on all cylinders, shooting 11-22 from the floor, and also added six rebounds and six assists.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/3992.png&w=350&h=254 

LeBron James (Cleveland SF)- Recorded a double-double of 29 points and 11 assists in a 106-74 win over the Orlando Magic. Cleveland managed to halt its losing streak at four, as James hit 9 of 17 shots from the floor, and added in three steals in the win.

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Had a monster game of 22 points, 15 assists and five rebounds in a 113-92 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Aside from getting crossed up be Kemba Walker late in the second quarter, CP3 had another fantastic all-around game and continues to perform as one of the best point guards in the league.

Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix PG/SG)- Tallied 25 points on 8-16 shooting in a 104-100 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Bledsoe scored 25 points for the first time this season, and filled up the rest of the stat sheet, grabbing seven boards and dishing out six assists.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/4238.png&w=350&h=254 

Who Was Not

Lance Stephenson (Charlotte SG)- Scored only three points on 1-8 shooting in Charlotte's loss to the Clippers on Monday. Stephenson only played a few minutes in the second half, and might be moved to a sixth man role if Charlotte keeps struggling.

Evan Fournier (Orlando SG)- Tallied eight points on 2-9 shooting in a loss to the Cavaliers. It was the first time all season that Fournier failed to scored 10 or more points, as the Cleveland defense stepped up and held Orlando to 74 points.

Play of the Night

Kemba Walker came down court, and crossed up Chris Paul late in the second quarter. Walker added the cherry on top by hitting the mid-range jumper, but Paul would get the last laugh, as the Clippers would get the win 113-92.

Daily Recap- Nov. 20

Who Was Hot

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Had a monster game, scoring 26 points and dishing out 12 assists in a 110-93 win over the Miami Heat. Paul was in complete control the whole game, helping L.A. race out to a 39-15 lead after the first quarter, and never looking back.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/2779.png&w=350&h=254 

Darren Collison (Sacramento PG)-  Posted a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 103-88 win over the Bulls. Collison also pulled down six rebounds and hit all seven free throws, as the Kings handed the Bulls their first road loss of the season.

Blake Griffin (Los Angeles PF)-  Scored 26 points on 12-18, while grabbing seven rebounds in the Clippers' win over the Heat on Thursday night. Griffin also recorded three steals, and did not commit a turnover.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/3989.png&w=350&h=254 

Chris Bosh (Miami PF/C)- Tallied 28 points (9-17 FG) and seven rebounds in Miami's loss to the Clippers.

Who Was Not

Jamal Crawford (Los Angeles SG)- Shot 1-6 from the field, scoring only five points in the Clippers' win over the Heat. Crawford did recorded nine assists however, which compensated for his shot being off.

Mike Dunleavy (Chicago SG/SF)- Scored 12 points, but hit only 4 of 13 shots in the Bulls' loss to the Kings on Thursday.

Daily Recap- Nov. 8.

Who Was Hot

Stephen Curry (Golden State PG)- Posted a stat line of 34 points (13-19 shooting, 6 3PM), 10 rebounds and five assists in the Warriors' 98-87 win over the Houston Rockets. By defeating Houston, Golden State is now the only undefeated team in the NBA at 5-0.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/6583.png&w=350&h=254 

Kyle Korver (Atlanta SF)- Korver shot 7-12 from the field, with six three-pointers, in a 103-96 Hawks win over the New York Knicks. The Atlanta small forward has been on fire from deep to start the year, hitting 61.3% of his three-point attempts (19-31).

Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- Dominated the Spurs, scoring 27 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking six shots in a 100-99 Pelicans win. It was just another day at the office for the young star, as he is averaging 24.4 ppg and 12 rpg on the year.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/6583.png&w=350&h=254 

Chris Paul/ J.J. Redick (Los Angeles PG & SG)- The Clippers' backcourt combined for 52 points in a 106-102 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Paul posted his fifth straight double-double (22 points, 11 assists), while Redick scored 30 points on 11-13 shooting.

Who Was Not

Klay Thompson (Golden State SG)- Had his worst shooting night of the season (11 points on 3-16 FG) in Golden State's 98-87 win over the Rockets. It was the first time all season that Thompson failed to hit a three-pointer, but consider it a rare off night for the sharpshooter.

Chris Copeland (Indiana SF)- Scored 14 points, but needed 19 shots to reach that number (6-19 FG) in a 97-90 loss to the Washington Wizards.

Mike Conley (Memphis PG)- Scored only seven points on 2-8 shooting in Memphis' first loss of the season, a 93-92 result, to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Daily Recap- Nov. 3

Who Was Hot

Chris Paul/Blake Griffin- The Los Angeles Clippers' duo shined in a 107-101 win over the Utah Jazz. Griffin scored 31 points (14-21 FG), grabbed nine rebounds and recorded four assists. Paul recorded the NBA's first triple-double of the season, with 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

Griffin and Paul are in sync to begin the season. Source- http://www.foxsports.com/content/dam/fsdigital/RSN/West/2014/2/10/021014-West-NBA-Blake-Griffin-Chris-Paul-PI.jpg 

Trevor Ariza- Scored 24 points (8-13 FG, 6 3PM), pulled down six rebounds in Houston's 104-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jeff Green- Scored 35 points on 14-28 shooting, while also pulling down seven rebounds in a 113-108 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Dirk Nowitzki- Nowitzki showcased some vintage play, scoring 27 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and hitting four three-pointers in a 118-113 win over the Boston Celtics. He also dished out four assists and is off to a very efficient start to the season.

Source- http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/83/files/2014/01/8098650.jpg 

Who Was Not

Lance Thomas- Scored only two points on 1-10 shooting from the field in a 116-85 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. It was a tough night for the Thunder, who are looking for players to step up with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant out for a few weeks.

Derrick Favors- Favors put up a dud in a high profile matchup against the Clippers, scoring only six points (2-4 FG), and grabbing three rebounds. The Georgia Tech product cooled off after a strong first three games, but should get back to form in his next contest.

Jameer Nelson- Scored six points on 2-7 shooting, and committed five turnovers in 23 minutes of action Monday night.

Source- http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2014/10/jameer-nelson-nba-indiana-pacers-dallas-mavericks-850x560.jpg