Sun Tzu Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/11/13/racetomvp.week2/index.html 1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers (7-1)G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%8 38.5 33.0 5.5 2.8 2.2 0.2 .500 .200 .840Last Week's Rank - 3Like so many of his opponents this year, Kobe has brought The Race to its knees. How can you not place him at the top, with Los Angeles' convincing 121-102 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday distancing him from his competitors. And Kobe is doing this without Pau Gasol. Like Jordan, Kobe can bring it on both ends of the floor. He is leading the league in scoring and dogs opponents relentlessly. He has incorporated Ron Artest into the offense, as he has done with so many other teammates. His work ethic is unparalleled and his talent is not debatable. It might be boring if he stays here the remainder of the season, but there is no question he should be here now. 2. Steve Nash, Suns (8-2)G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%10 32.3 17.1 11.8 2.4 0.1 0.3 .539 .500 .931Last Week's Rank - 6Nash looks rejuvenated and completely in his element. In one game last week, he had 21 points and 20 assists, helping to directly account for 61 points. Who knows how much that figure would swell to if the NBA employed the hockey assist. He also had a game with 16 assists and is currently leading the league in that department. Don't forget, his Suns are off to one the best starts in franchise history and Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire are working seamlessly together. 3. Paul Pierce, Celtics (8-1)G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%9 34.3 18.1 5.1 4.3 1.4 0.3 .515 .528 .864Last Week's Rank - 2Pierce dropped a spot by virtue of the Celtics' lone loss, which came to Phoenix and allowed Nash to leapfrog him. He still resides on the team that possesses the best record in the NBA and unquestionably draws the most attention from defenses. With the return of KG, his game seems to have become more efficient. The argument will always be made that he does not post enough numbers to warrant this high a ranking, but The Race likes winners. 4. LeBron James, Cavaliers (6-3)G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%9 38.1 28.2 7.3 7.4 1.7 0.8 .509 .400 .766Last Week's Rank - 10Watch out, LeBron seems to be settling into a rhythm with his teammates and is starting to look more comfortable with Shaq. It's an amazing thing to watch how much floor space a man his size can cover in such a short amount of time, but the guy is truly a freak of nature. 5. Dwyane Wade, Heat (6-2)G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%8 38.1 30.6 4.1 4.9 1.6 0.9 .450 .258 .783Last Week's Rank - 4Thursday night's outcome was the deciding factor in the rankings for Wade and LeBron. Incredible players, incredible accomplishments, and so the thing separating them -- at least for this week -- is the winner and loser in head-to-head play. Wade is playing extraordinarily well right now, throwing up a couple 40-plus point outings to keep hoops alive in south Florida. 6. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets (6-3)G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%9 36.9 30.2 6.6 2.9 1.6 0.4 .435 .375 .848Last Week's Rank - 1Ouch! Tough fall from the top spot for Anthony, whose Nuggets swiftly went from undefeated to a three-loss team, including dropping a game to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. Yes, they were on an extended road trip for the first time this year. But good teams should fare better. Carmelo posted numbers but struggled from the floor, shooting just 40 percent. He gets a chance to reclaim some stature when he faces Kobe and the Lakers on Friday. 7. Chris Bosh, Raptors (4-4)G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%8 35.8 28.9 11.5 1.8 0.8 1.0 .507 1.00 .781Last Week's Rank - 9Because he lives north of the border for at least a while longer, Bosh doesn't get all the ink he probably deserves. But this guy is putting up incredibly solid numbers on a nightly basis and The Race believes he is ripe for consistently being among the top five if his team can win more often. He averaged 28 points and 10 rebounds last week, plus had a 9-for-9 shooting night in a win over New Orleans. He has scored more than 20 points in 14 consecutive games, the longest streak in the NBA. He has a game next week against Carmelo that should be interesting. 8. Brandon Roy, Blazers (6-3)G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%9 35.4 20.8 3.9 5.1 0.4 0.3 .444 .324 .838Last Week's Rank - N/AThe Race remembers when Roy was coming out of Washington, and more than one scout questioned whether he was ever going to amount to more than a utility player. Hard to believe that same unheralded kid has emerged into one of the league's best players, making his debut on this board. Roy's numbers are never going to be outlandish because he does not play in a system that really promotes that -- and because Nate McMillan often likes to take the air out of the ball. But he is irrefutably the best player on a Blazers team that went 3-0 last week . 9. Dwight Howard, Magic (6-3)G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%9 31.2 18.4 10.6 1.4 0.8 1.4 .647 --- .629Last Week's Rank - 5The Race lost a little love for El Capitan this week after his Magic went 2-2 to sit at 6-3. He did zilch against Shaq in Wednesday's game -- though Shaq will never forget getting dunked on by Howard as a youngster and then Howard talking stuff. (Too bad Shaq was not that motivated every night.) Howard was solid but not spectacular in wins over Charlotte and Milwaukee. The Race needs more. On the floor -- not from his Twitter account. 10. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks (5-3)G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%8 38.4 26.5 8.9 2.6 1.2 1.5 .427 .360 .920Last Week's Rank - N/AThe Mavericks' mainstay makes his first appearance in The Race, though he was on the cusp last week. Nowitzki, solid as always, has his team atop the Southwest Division. The loss to a Duncan-less, Parker-less San Antonio didn't help him out, particularly since he was 9-for-27 in that game. Still, he averaged 27 points and 10 rebounds this week after hopefully putting his girlfriend troubles behind him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Check my Stats Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 Lol at the Suns rebounding when losing Shaq for NOTHING. This is a guy expected to put the Cavs over the top, and a team went seemingly from lotto to a possible western conference heavyweight while getting absolutely nothing in return for him. I love how the Suns roster is put together, I have always liked Amare and Nash and I like Richardson too. There is a good amount of talent on this team, and although they might still be a move or two away, I think they could be a big man like Tyson Chandler away from contending. Also Amare would be crazy to play on a team that doesn't have a PG like Nash on it, absolutely crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWaLL Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 LOL I'm pretty sure NBA.com mixed up Nash's rebound and assists stats... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Tzu Posted November 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 Lol, I didn't even notice that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poe Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 Damn, Nash is a beast on the boards. He needs to work on his passing, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MainEv3nt Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 bout time they put dirk on it. i mean ariza over dirk like for real? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Check my Stats Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 Damn Ariza is still putting up nice stats, I wouldn't have minded us getting him instead of Hedo for like half the price and 6 years younger, this in hindsight of course lol because I always thought of Ariza as a glorified spot up shooter who plays good D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andreusito Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 Well just look at his shooting percentages, Suns balance and a game of the Suns. Nash really is a MVP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleveland's Finest Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 Lol at the Suns rebounding when losing Shaq for NOTHING. This is a guy expected to put the Cavs over the top, and a team went seemingly from lotto to a possible western conference heavyweight while getting absolutely nothing in return for him. I love how the Suns roster is put together, I have always liked Amare and Nash and I like Richardson too. There is a good amount of talent on this team, and although they might still be a move or two away, I think they could be a big man like Tyson Chandler away from contending. Also Amare would be crazy to play on a team that doesn't have a PG like Nash on it, absolutely crazy. Well the Suns rebounded more so because Frye has been outstanding, Nash is fresh, and Amare is back. Not just because they lost Shaq. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alcstarheel Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 I didn't know Nash was such a beast on the boards: http://i34.tinypic.com/xnrm86.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWaLL Posted November 15, 2009 Report Share Posted November 15, 2009 I didn't know Nash was such a beast on the boards: http://i34.tinypic.com/xnrm86.jpgThat was pointed out twice already haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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