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- March 6-8

Friday, March 6

James Harden (Houston SG)- Recorded his third triple-double with 38 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a 103-93 win over the Detroit Pistons. Harden knocked down 10 of 21 field goal attempts and 16 of 18 free throw attempts in the win. His passing has been exceptional of late, as he has dished out double digit assists in five of his past seven games.

Source

Victor Oladipo (Orlando SG)- Tallied 32 points, 10 assists and five steals in a 119-114 win over the Sacramento Kings. Oladipo is blossoming into a talented two-way guard, as he has scored 30+ points in two of his last three games, and has recorded 10 steals in those contests. He is averaging 17.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists a game.

Rudy Gay (Sacramento SF)- Scored 39 points in the Kings' 119-114 loss to the Magic on Friday night. It was his second-highest scoring game of the year, and came on an efficient 16 of 26 shooting from the field. Gay is averaging almost 21 points and six rebounds on the year, while dishing out just under four assists a game.

Source

Saturday, March 7

DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Recorded 27 points and 17 rebounds in a 114-109 loss to the Miami Heat. Cousins once again had an efficient night, as he shot 10 of 17 from the field, and 7 of 8 from the foul line. He is one of the best big men in the game hands down, and has three double-doubles in his last four games.

Source

Khris Middleton (Milwaukee SG/SF)- Exploded for a season-high 30 points, while also grabbing nine rebounds in a 91-85 win against the Washington Wizards. Middleton knocked down six 3-points in the win, showcasing his accurate long range abilities. He has scored in double-digits in his last 15 games, and is a talented defender as well, nabbing 1.6 steals a game for the season.

Damian Lillard (Portland PG)- Tallied 32 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in a 121-113 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lillard hit 11 shots in the game, including four 3-pointers, as the 32 points were more than he had scored in his previous two games combined.


Sunday, March 8

Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)- Another day, another triple-double for Westbrook. The Thunder point guard posted a line of 30 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds in a 108-104 victory versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook continued his surge towards a possible MVP award, hitting 9 of 21 field goal attempts and tallying his fifth triple-double in six games.

Source

Brandon Bass (Boston PF)- Notched a double-double of 19 points and 17 rebounds in a 103-98 loss to the Orlando Magic. Bass hit 9 of his 14 field goal attempts, and has now scored 15 or more points in four of his last five contests.

Pau Gasol (Chicago PF/C)- Tallied 23 points and 15 rebounds in a 116-105 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Gasol once again put up a double-double (His 4th in a row), and also blocked two shots in the loss to the defending champs. Gasol's play and numbers should have him in the hunt for a possible All-NBA selection come the end of the season.


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. 3

Top Performances

D.J. Augustin (Detroit PG)- Tallied 25 points and 13 assists in a 108-91 win over the Miami Heat. Augustin hit 8 of 14 shot attempts from the field, including all seven free throws, and didn't commit a single turnover. It marked the second consecutive double-double, and fourth time in five contests that he has scored 19 or more points.

DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento C)- Posted a monster line of 26 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a 121-96 loss against the Golden State Warriors. For Cousins, it was just another day at the office for the all-star, as he also blocked four shots and recorded three steals. He now has 10 double-doubles in his last 11 games.

Source

Hollis Thompson (Philadelphia SF)- Scored a career-high 23 points in a 105-98 win over the Denver Nuggets. Thompson hit an efficient 8-12 field goal attempts, including four 3-pointers in the 76ers' 11th win of the season. He has now scored in double-digits in his last three games.

Chris Bosh (Miami PF/C)- Recorded 34 points on 14-23 shooting in a 108-91 loss to the Detroit Pistos. Bosh had another big scoring game, but was unable to get much help from his teammates with Dwyane Wade out due to injury. His production remains impressive though, as he is averaging 21.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this year.

Source

Play of the Night

Portland Trail Blazers' guard Damian Lillard threw down a dunk over 7'1'' center Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night. Lillard finished with 25 points, six assists and four rebounds in Portland's 103-102 win over Utah.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mOS1uuhUDA

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN 

MLK Jr. Day Recap

Top Performances

James Harden (Houston SG)- Dropped 45 points, seven assists and four steals in a 110-98 win against the Indiana Pacers. Harden had a fantastic overall game once again, hitting 12 of his 18 shot attempts, including seven 3-pointers. It was a nice bounce-back game after he scored only 12 points against Golden State on Saturday.

Source

DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Tallied 22 points and 19 rebounds in a 98-94 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Cousins only shot 7 of 17 from the field, but blocked four shots in the loss. He continues to put up stellar numbers in wins or losses, and is one of the most talented centers in the league.

DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles C)- Scored 19 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked six shots in a 102-93 win over the Boston Celtics. Jordan scored 17 or more points for the third time in four games, and continues to be one of the best rebounders in the league, averaging 13.4 a game. His 2.36 blocked shots per game is good for second best in the NBA.

Source

Isaiah Thomas (Phoenix PG)- Recorded 24 points and five steals in a 115-100 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Thomas had a super-effecient game, shooting 9 of 12 from the field, and hitting four 3-pointers in the big win. It was the seventh time in the last nine games that he has scored in double-digits.

Play of the Night

Portland Trail Blazers' point guard Damian Lillard put the game on ice with a slam dunk in a 98-94 win over the Sacramento Kings. He finished the game with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpL-2qpQmPk

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN

Nightly Recap- Jan. 8

Top Performances

Kemba Walker (Charlotte PG)- Tallied 29 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in a 103-95 win over the Toronto Raptors. Walker scored 29 or more points for the fourth consecutive game, and is on a hot streak for the foreseeable future. Not surprisingly, the Hornets have won four straight games, and are beginning to turn their season around after a disastrous start, and it is in large part to Walker's impressive play.

Source

James Harden (Houston SG)- Recorded 25 points and nine assists in a 120-96 win over the New York Knicks. It was another day at the office for Harden, who has now recorded 20+ points and nine or more assists in back-to-back games for the Rockets, which have both been wins.

Source

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland PF/C)- Scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 99-83 win over the Miami Heat. Aldridge shot an efficient 11 of 20 from the field, and posted his third double-double in his last four games. He continues to be on of the best power forwards in the game, and combined with point guard Damian Lillard, makes up one of the best 1-2 punches in the league.

Source

Play of the Night

Houston SG James Harden crossed up New York Knicks point guard Pablo Prigioni Thursday night in the Rockets win over New York. Harden left Prigioni way behind, and ended up hitting a step-back jumper.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_fomXF1l-E

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. 5

Top Performances 

Damian Lillard (Portland PG)- Went off for 39 points (12-21 FG, 4 3PM) in a 98-94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Lillard tortured the Lakers throughout the game Monday, scoring 15 points in the final six minutes to seal the win for Portland. It was his third game of 30 or more points in the last three weeks, and he is starting to enter the conversation as one of the top point guards in the Western Conference.

Source

Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota C)- Put up a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds in a 110-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Dieng also blocked three shots, and continues to earn solid minutes in the rotation with Nikola Pekovic injured.

Brook Lopez (Brooklyn C)- Scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 96-88 overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Lopez was hot early, scoring 18 points alone in the first quarter, and he also blocked four shots in the loss. His playing time is likely to be up and down depending on how much Kevin Garnett plays going forward.

Source

Quincy Acy (New York PF)- Tallied 19 points and 14 rebounds in a 105-83 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Acy shot the ball well Monday, hitting 7 of his 8 field goal attempts, including two 3-pointers in the loss.

Pau Gasol (Chicago PF/C)- Recorded yet another double-double of 27 points and 14 rebounds in a 114-105 win over the Houston Rockets. He hit 10 of 16 from the field, and all seven free throw attempts in the win. Gasol has found the fountain of youth this season, as he his averaging 18.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game for the Bulls.

Source

Plays of the Night

Damian Lillard's 39-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers was one that kept the fans on their feet for most of the game. From acrobatic layups, to 3-pointers, the young point guard took over the game for Portland.

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

Dirk Nowitzki passed Moses Malone for 7th on the all-time scoring list Monday night. He now sits with 27,412 career points.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn0p5WrUcwY 

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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Daily Recap- Dec. 23

Top Performances

Damian Lillard (Portland PG)- Exploded for 40 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in a 115-111 overtime win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lillard was clutch once again Tuesday night, hitting a career-high eight 3-pointers, including the game-tying three with less than five seconds left in regulation. The Weber State product continues to dominate opposing defenses night in and night out, and is solidifying his spot among the top point guards in the game.

Source

DeMarre Carroll (Atlanta SG/SF)- Tallied 25 points and 10 rebounds in a 107-104 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Carroll had a great performance and has been instrumental in the Hawks success over the past two weeks.

Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)- Recorded 40 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in OKC's  overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. With Kevin Durant out for a third straight game, Westbrook was once again the focal point of the Thunder offense. He continues to put up big numbers, but the Thunder still struggle to win games without the reigning MVP in Durant.

Source

DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles C)- Grabbed 22 rebounds and blocked four shots in the Clippers' loss to the Hawks on Tuesday night. Jordan also scored 15 points, and has been a force like usual on the boards for head coach Doc Rivers this season. 

Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix PG/SG)- Posted a triple-double of 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a 124-115 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Bledsoe recorded his second triple-double of the month, and has grabbed 29 rebounds in his last three games combined.

Source

Play of the Night

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard came up clutch again on Tuesday, as he hit the game-ying 3-pointer with three seconds left in regulation. Lillard continues to build his reputation as a crunch-time shooter, and is only getting better.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzs5T2h_d-c

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Dec. 19

Who Was Hot

Blake Griffin (Los Angeles PF)- Tallied 32 points and 12 rebounds in a 109-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Griffin has scored 30+ points and grabbed 12 or more rebounds in back-to-back games, and appears to be playing more consistently for head coach Doc Rivers.

Source

Damian Lillard/LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland PG/PF)- Lillard scored a career-high 43 points, while Aldridge tallied 32 in a 129-119 triple overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Portland duo played fantastic once again, as Lillard hit game-tying shots at the end of regulation and double overtime, while Aldridge grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds in one of

Trail Blazers' biggest wins of the season.

Lillard now leads the NBA in game-tying or go ahead field goals in the last 15 seconds of the 4th quarter/overtime over the last three seasons.

Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)- Scored 31 points and dished out 10 assists in a 104-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Westbrook has been on a tear since his return from injury, and has scored 30 or more points in four of his last five games. If Durant continues to miss games, Westbrook could thrust himself into the MVP conversation quickly, as long as his consistent play holds up.

Source

Jimmy Butler/Nikola Mirotic (Chicago SG/PF)- Butler registered 31 points and 10 rebounds, while Mirotic tallied a career-high 27 points (7-8 3pt FG) in a 103-97 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Mirotic played extra minutes with Taj Gibson out due to injury, and made the most of his playing time, while Butler had a second straight 30 point game. The young shooting guard continues to have stellar season, and is likely to be an all-star as long as his play holds up in the future.

Play of the Night

Toronto's James Johnson threw down a terrific slam over Detroit Pistons' center Andre Drummond on Friday night. The dunk got the entire Toronto bench on their feet, and the Raptors went on to win by a score of 110-100.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW9gBpjqAjg

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Dec. 12

Who Was Hot

Damian Lillard (Portland PG)- Had a monster gamer of 35 points, six assists and five rebounds in a 116-105 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Lillard was motivated paling against his childhood idol Derrick Rose, and it showed, as he hit 13 of 21 field goals (7 3-pointers) in the tough loss. The young scoring point guard continues to make significant strides in the NBA, and is quickly moving up in the player rankings.

Source

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland PF)- Tallied 35 points on 15-24 shooting, and grabbed nine rebounds in a loss to the Bulls Friday night. Aldridge was on fire much like his teammate Lillard, as the duo combined for 70 points on 28-45 shooting in the loss. It was his highest point total since Dec. 2 agains the Nuggets (39 points).

Ryan Anderson (New Orleans PF)- Was on fire from deep, hitting eight 3's and scoring 30 points in a 119-114 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. When Anthony Davis left in the first quarter with a chest bruise, Andeson stepped into a bigger offensive role and got hot from long range. He has the potential to score in bunches on a daily basis, and is even more lethal when given extra shot attempts.

Source

LeBron James (Cleveland SF)- Recorded a team-high 41 points in the Cavs' loss to the Pelicans Friday night. James hit 17 of 24 shots from the field, and carried Cleveland for most of the game, but it wasn't quite enough as they fell short.

Tyreke Evans (New Orleans SG/SF)- Posted a double-double of 31 pouts and 10 rebounds in the Pelican's win over Cleveland. It was Evans' first double-double of his career, and it came in a big win over LeBron James and Co. The sixth-year guard from Memphis finally seems to be comfortable in a Pelicans uniform, as he is averaging a little over 15 points, five rebounds and five assists so far this season.

Source

Play of the Night

Los Angeles Lakers' guard/forward Nick Young hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 7.4 seconds left in overtime to beat the San Antonio Spurs. Young threw up a prayer in front of Spurs' guard Manu Ginobili, and it found its' way into the net. Swaggy P finished with 29 points and hit six 3-pointers in the Lakers' win

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

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Nov. 15.

Who Was Hot

Damian Lillard (Portland PG)- Scored 28 points and dropped 10 assists in a 97-87 win over the Brooklyn Nets Saturday. Lillard had an efficient night, hitting 8-14 field goals, and four 3-pointers for Portland.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/6606.png&w=350&h=254 

Kyrie Irving/LeBron James (Cleveland PG/SF)- The duo combined for 52 points (Kyrie- 20, James-32) in a 127-94 win over the Atlanta Hawks. James chipped in seven assists and six rebounds, while Irving hit four 3-pointers in the win.

Kevin Martin (Minnesota SG)- Scored 34 points on 12-17 shooting in a 131-117 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. It was arguably one of Martin's best games of the year, unfortunately coming in a loss.

Source- http://www.rantsports.com/nba/files/2013/11/KEVIN-MARTIN.jpg 

Who Was Not 

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Detroit SG)- Scored only two points on 1-11 shooting in a 95-88 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Marcus/Markieff Morris (Phoenix SF/PF)- The Morris twins combined to score eight points on 3-19 shooting in a 120-107 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kemba Walker (Charlotte PG)- Shot 3-14 from the field, scoring only eight points in a 112-87 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Daily Recap- Nov. 11.

Who Was Hot

Tobias Harris (Orlando SF)- Played his best game of the year in a 104-100 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Harris scored 23 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and recorded five assists, and is continuing to develop nicely for the young Orlando squad.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/6440.png&w=350&h=254 

Reggie Jackson (Oklahoma City PG)- Scored 29 points on 12-21 shooting in a 85-78 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Jackson has scored 20 or more points in all but one game this season, and should be in the market for a double-digit contract in the offseason.

Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland PG/PF)- Lillard scored 29 points and dished out seven assists in a 102-100 win over the Charlotte Hornets. He also hit five three-pointers in the comeback win for Portland. Aldridge posted a double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds on 10-21 shooting.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/2983.png&w=350&h=254 

Klay Thompson (Golden State SG)- Scored 29 points and hit five three-pointers in a 113-100 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

Who Was Not

Jeremy Lamb (Oklahoma City SG)- Posted a poor stat line (6 pts, 2-13 FG and 3 turnovers) in OKC's 85-78 loss to the Bucks. Lamb will need to provide consistent scoring for the injury-plagued Thunder going forward if they hope to remain in playoff contention.

Greivis Vasquez (Toronto PG)- Scored four points (1-8 FG) and failed to record an assist in Toronto's 104-100 win over the Orlando Magic. Coming off of a 13 point, six assist game, this was a bit of a downer for Vasquez, who has provided consistent minutes in backup of Kyle Lowry this season.

Lance Thomas (Oklahoma City SF)- Scored only five points on 2-10 shooting in the Thunder's loss to  the Bucks.

Daily Recap-Nov. 2

Who Was Hot

Source-Kelvin Kuo, USA Today Sports. Also http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/11/2/7147719/demarcus-cousins-stats-highlights-kings-clippers 

DeMarcus Cousins- Boogie was on top of his game on Sunday, finishing with 34 points, 17 rebounds and five assists in the Sacramento King's 98-92 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Dwyane Wade- Wade scored 19 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists in the Miami Heat's 107-102 win over the Toronto Raptors. The Heat star was efficient (7-11 FG), and also stepped up defensively, recording two blocked shots.

Source- http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2014/05/dwyane-wade-nba-playoffs-brooklyn-nets-miami-heat-590x900.jpg 

LaMarcus Aldridge- The Portland Trail Blazers' power forward notched his first double-double of the season in a 95-90 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Aldridge posted 26 points (10-20 FG) and 13 rebounds, and should continue to post solid numbers going forward.

Who Was Not

Matt Barnes- Barnes struggled shooting (7pts, 3-11 FG) in the Clippers' loss to the Kings on Sunday. He also committed three turnovers and missed his only free throw attempt.

Damian Lillard- The Portland point guard struggled in their loss Sunday, scoring only 11 points on 4-18 shooting. Lillard has struggled shooting the ball in his first three games (11-41 total FG), but his rebounding and assist numbers are right around where they are excepted to be.