By: Donovan Holden
A couple of the best two-way players in the entire league get honored with Player of the Week this time around. Both apart of extremely talented duos on their respected squads, and can break defenders down with their handle, shoot the three in the defenders eye, and can even dunk over the top of their opponent if need be.
Western Conference: Paul George
- Team: Los Angeles Clippers
- Stats: 33.7 PTS, 4.3 REB, 5.7 AST
- Team Record: 3-0
Paul George has scored 30+ points in three straight games, and has helped lead the Clippers to a five-game winning streak. In a game against the Phoenix Suns on April 8th, George became the first player in Clipper’s franchise history to have 30 points and six three-pointers made in consecutive games.
During week 16 the California native was the only player league wide to shoot 60% from three-point land while attempting seven or more of such shots a game. On April 6th the seven time All-Star had 22 points in the first quarter and was the first Clipper to accomplish this since 2014.
George has now been in the league for a decade, and is still putting up All-Star numbers like everyone expects from him, including a career high in assists with 5.4. The Clippers are the 3 seed in the Western Conference winning 11 of their last 13 and look to keep it going while we are approaching the playoffs.
Eastern Conference: Jayson Tatum
- Team: Boston Celtics
- Stats: 31.5 PTS, 8.5 REB, 3.8 AST
- Team Record: 3-1
The Boston Celtic’s All-Star forward is taking home the Eastern Conference’s weekly award for the second time this season. He scored at a rate that was good for best in the entire Eastern Conference with 31.5 points per game, and he scored 53 points on Friday night on 16-25 shooting. This made him the youngest player in Celtics history to reach the 50 point mark in a single game. Tatum was also able to haul in 10 rebounds in this contest and was the first Celtics to score 50 points and grab 10 boards in a game since Larry Bird in 1989.
It is the St. Louis native’s fourth NBA season, and he seems to get better in every single game, he followed up his 53 point performance with a 28-point game against the Nuggets on the road for the Celtics third straight win. He was also able to tally 25 points and 10 rebounds in a career-best three consecutive games from April 7-11, which is the longest such streak by a Celtic since Paul Pierce in 2003.
The young Superstar is one of only five NBA players producing at least 25 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal during the 2020-21 season. The Celtics are the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference and look to keep climbing to get away from those play-in games.
Honorable Mentions:
Western Conference: Donovan Mitchell
- Team: Utah Jazz
- Averaged 34 PPG (Two 40-point performances)
Eastern Conference: Zach LaVine
- Team: Chicago Bulls
- Averaged 30.2 PPG
- Had a 50-point game on Friday April 9th
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