Week 6
Posted Dec 12 2006 2:08PM
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December 12, 2006 -- Point guards are fashionable again. Everyone knows basketball is a tall player's game but this season, especially in the past week, the little guys have been grabbing the headlines.

For starters, congratulations to Jason Kidd, who on Monday moved into sole possession of third place ahead of Wilt Chamberlain for career triple-doubles, registering his 79th with 12 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds.

Kidd is playing some of the best ball of his career, averaging 13.3 points, a career-high 8.7 rebounds and 9.6 assists. Although it came in a loss, he has never been better than he was last Thursday when he erupted for 38, 14 and 14 against the Suns.

Line of the Week
Jason Kidd (Nets)
December 7 vs. Suns
38 points, 14 boards, 14 assists, 13-26 FG, 9-9 FT

Phoenix's Steve Nash jumped from ninth to first in the player rankings after putting together a truly remarkable stretch since returning from a back strain on Nov. 20th.

During that time, he has posted at least 15 assists three times and scored at least 20 five times. In the perfect illustration of providing exactly what his team needs, he gave out 20 assists on Dec. 5 and followed that up by scoring 42 on Dec. 7.

Utah has the top record in the league and, although a lot of the credit goes to the frontline of Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko, Deron Williams has been the driving force of the offensive attack.

He is averaging 17 points and nine assists -- numbers that are more than comparable to Hornets star guard Chris Paul (19 points and nine assists).

In Detroit, no Ben Wallace, no problem. Chauncey Billups is firing in 18.1 points and 8.3 assists for the Pistons, who are in first place in the Central.

And then there is Allen Iverson ...

Here are the player rankings for the week of Dec. 5 through Dec. 11.

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    Race to the MVP - Overall Player Rankings
    1. Steve Nash, Phoenix
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    20.3 3.0 11.8 0.9 0.1 .528 .908
  • Last Week's Rank - 9 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily
    He scores when needed, drains clutch treys, hands out assists by the dozens and his team is riding an 11-game win streak. What more can the two-time MVP do?

    • 2. Carlos Boozer, Utah
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    22.4 12.2 3.1 0.6 0.4 566 .700
  • Last Week's Rank - 1 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily
    How does a top-notch MVP candidate bounce back from a subpar performance like the one Boozer had Friday against the Timberwolves? By posting 31 points and 11 boards against Dirk Nowitzki three days later.

    • 3. Yao Ming, Houston
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    25.5 9.5 2.1 0.5 2.0 .529 .851
  • Last Week's Rank - 6 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily
    Whether or not Tracy McGrady is in the lineup, Yao is still the driving force behind the Rockets' success. For proof, ask the Wizards, who Yao lit up for 38 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks on Saturday.

    • 4. Tim Duncan, San Antonio
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    21.3 10.5 3.6 0.6 1.7 .563 .628
  • Last Week's Rank - 4 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily
    With 11 assists in the past two games, Duncan is showing that he can do more than score and board.

    • 5. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    24.6 9.8 3.0 0.6 0.9 .493 .906
  • Last Week's Rank - 2 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily
    Just when Dirk looked ready to take over the No. 1 spot, the Mavericks went out and lost two out of three, including a defeat at the hands of Boozer's Jazz.

    • 6. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    26.4 4.7 4.4 1.5 0.2 .495 .845
  • Last Week's Rank - 8 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily
    Kobe showed no ill effects of a sprained right ankle that caused him to miss the Lakers' win over the Hawks on Friday, tallying 34 points and eight boards on Sunday.

    • 7. LeBron James, Cleveland
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    26.7 6.7 6.8 1.7 0.9 .476 .703
  • Last Week's Rank - 7 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily
    Who was the guy wearing No. 23 for the Cavaliers in Monday's loss to the Hornets? LBJ scored only 15 points and went scoreless in the fourth quarter.

    • 8. Carmelo Anthony, Denver
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    30.9 5.4 4.1 1.6 0.3 .498 .826
  • Last Week's Rank - 5 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily
    Denver went 1-2 this week with Carmelo's 18 against Dallas his lowest output since he scored 15 on opening night.

    • 9. Dwight Howard, Orlando
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    17.5 12.6 1.5 0.7 1.8 .603 .661
  • Last Week's Rank - 3 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot daily
    Four points and three rebounds against Amare and the Suns on Monday - ewww. Come on Dwight, you are way better than that even in a game when you were in foul trouble.

    • 10. Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    21.6 12.0 3.7 1.6 2.0 .503 .821
  • Last Week's Rank - 12 | All-Star Game: Fill out a ballot
    KG could use some much-needed help in the form of A.I. He had his best week of the season, highlighted by his 31-point, 14-rebound outing against the Jazz. Minnesota has won four straight.

    • Close But No Cigar (season averages)
    11. Dwyane Wade (MIA): 28.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 8.1 APG
    12. Zach Randolph (POR): 25.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.5 APG
    13. Chauncey Billups (DET): 18.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.4 APG
    14. Jason Kidd (NJN): 13.3 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 9.6 APG
    15. Gilbert Arenas (WAS): 27.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.3 APG
    16. Lamar Odom (LAL): 18.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 5.1 APG
    17. Chris Paul (NOH): 18.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 9.0 APG
    18. Vince Carter (NJN): 27.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.7 APG
    19. Joe Johnson (ATL): 28.7 PPG< 5.1 RPG, 3.7 APG
    20. Paul Pierce (BOS): 26.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 4.0 APG

    Running the Floor

    Bosh
    The Raptors' Chris Bosh has missed the past two games because of a bruised left knee and is expected to miss at least one more.
    Eddy Curry is arguably the hottest player in the league right now. The Knicks big man has scored 20 or more in 10 straight games, including 36 on Saturday and 30 last night.
    Amare Stoudemire looks fully recovered from microfracture surgery. He posted a season-high 30 points on Monday night.