BY: Donovan Holden
The top players in week 9 have both been honored with this award already this season, and are considered two of the most deadly scorers on the planet when they have the rock in their hands. One is thriving in a new situation with a different scenery, and the other is continuing to play at the top of their game for the team who drafted him 9 years ago. “The Beard” and “Dame Dolla” were even more exceptional then they usually are during week 9 in the NBA.
Eastern Conference: James Harden
- Team: Brooklyn Nets
- Stats: 31.8 PTS, 9.0 REB, 10.8 AST
- Team record during this stretch: 4-0
James Harden was recognized for this award at the end of January, and now he is back again at the end of this month, Harden is the first Net to win the award twice in the same season since Brook Lopez in the 2014-15 season. He helped the Nets coast to 4-0 during week 9 in the NBA, and he did this in a lot of games without Kevin Durant, and one game without Durant and Kyrie Irving. He almost averaged a triple-double during this stretch of games, and Harden’s first game of this West Coast sweep that was played last Sunday was actually not included in Week 9, but for reference, he posted 19 points and 16 assists in a win over the Warriors
The former Arizona State Sun Devil had his best performance on Feb. 16th against the Phoenix Suns where the Nets crawled back from a 24 point deficit. Harden did not have his partners in crime during this game as Durant and Irving watched from the sidelines, but this simply did not matter for the Beard. He posted an insane 38 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds in 37 minutes of game action as he held off Phoenix single-handedly.
As great as James Harden has been this season I don’t think he or the Brooklyn Nets will be satisfied with Player of the Week honors. Harden and everyone around him in Brooklyn have championship aspirations, so even though this is a great accomplishment it can’t really mean all that much to the 31 year old who asked to leave Houston earlier this season to join Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. The Nets are currently on a six-game winning streak, and Harden will look to remain humble until they are playing on the biggest stage.
Western Conference: Damian Lillard
- Team: Portland Trail Blazers
- Stats: 36.3 PTS, 5.7 REB, 12.7 AST
- Team record during this stretch: 2-1
The Blazers have won six of their last seven games, and Dame carried them to a 2-1 record during this past week. This is the second time this season that Dame has been named the Western Conference Player of the Week, and the 11th time of his career. He now has the most Player of the Week honors in team history, passing Clyde Drexler who had 10.
On February 17th Lillard scored 43 points, hit 7 huge shots from downtown, and matched his career high in assists finding his teammates 16 different times for baskets. He closed out the week with 35 points, 6 rebounds, and twelve assists against Washington on February 20th. Lillard has now posted at least 30 points, 10 assists, and five three-pointers in each of his last four games, which ties a mark he set for the longest such streak in league history.
Lillard may have been honored properly for his play in week 9 across the league, but many out there in the NBA world think that he got robbed of being an All-Star starter this year. Luka Doncic beat him out for votes at the point-guard position, and this has many fans, and sports personalities extremely upset. Doncic’s statistics are slightly better at the moment, but Dame is shooting better, hitting game winners on a weekly basis, and has the Trail Blazers at the 5 seed out West while Luka and the Mavericks are not even in the playoff picture.
Donovan’s Honorable Mentions:
Eastern Conference: Joel Embid
- Stats: 35.3 PTS, 15 REB, 5.3 AST
- 50-point game in win against Chicago
Western Conference: Jamal Murray
- Stats: 35 PTS, 6.3 REB, 2.5 AST
- 50-point game in win against Cleveland
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