Whew. If anyone needs a TV timeout (a.k.a. All-Star break) it’s this group.
That’s especially true for a certain big fella in the desert, who has gone three straight games without registering double-digit rebounds.
At the other end of the spectrum, the hiatus might be a bad thing for a Denver guard, who seems to have found his groove.
Notes: Season statistics are through games of Feb. 16
Any player who turns 33 during regular season can be added to rankings.
1. Dwyane Wade (35), Chicago Bulls
Last week’s rank: 1
Last week’s stats: 3 games, 22.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.0 apg
Season stats: 19.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.8 apg
Wade’s firm grip on the top spot is loosening. Missing the previous three games with sore wrists, the All-Star break couldn’t have come at a better time for Wade, whose three-game two-week stint was certainly highlighted by Monday’s 31-point effort against the Kings. If you toss that game out, Wade averaged just 18.5 points on 39 percent from the field.
http://www.nba.com/video/2016/11/11/20161110heat-pay-tribute-wade/
2. Zach Randolph (35), Memphis Grizzlies
Last week’s rank: 2
Last week’s stats: 6 games, 13.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.2 apg
Season stats: 14.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.7 apg
It certainly was a mixed bag for Randolph. In three wins, the big man averaged 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 30.6 FG%. In three losses, Randolph went for 16.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 47.1 FG%. On the positive, the rebounding has stayed relatively consistent, grabbing nine or more boards in 13 of the last 19 games.
3. Tyson Chandler (33), Phoenix Suns
Last week’s rank: 3
Last week’s stats: 7 games, 6.6 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
Season stats: 8.4 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 0.6 apg
One has to wonder if the big minutes are starting to catch up with Chandler, who has gone three straight games with fewer than 10 rebounds — his first such streak since Nov. 30-Dec. 6. Maybe the Suns have recognized their big man may be slowing as he’s gone over 30 minutes in just one of the last seven games after eclipsing the mark in eight of the previous 11.
4. Jamal Crawford (36), LA Clippers
Last week’s rank: 4
Last week’s stats: 6 games, 15.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.8 apg
Season stats: 12.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.9 apg
Like Randolph, it was a hot-and-cold two-week stint for Crawford. Despite shooting a respectable 46.4 from the field and 41.7 from beyond the arc, Crawford went over 15 points in just three of the six games. But we like the fact he’s hitting from deep, nailing at least two 3-pointers in five of the last seven games.
5. Dirk Nowitzki (38), Dallas Mavericks
Last week’s rank: 6
Last week’s stats: 7 games, 17.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.0 apg
Season stats: 13.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.6 apg
After starting the period with two straight nine-point efforts, Nowitzki turned it around, going for 18 or more points in four of the next five games. He’s also connected on three or more treys in three of the last seven. If that’s not enough, Nowitzki has managed to snag at least one steal in four straight games for the first time this season.
6. Jameer Nelson (34), Denver Nuggets
Last week’s rank: 7
Last week’s stats: 8 games, 11.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 6.9 apg
Season stats: 9.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 5.0 apg
With Emmanuel Mudiay banged up, Nelson is running full bore with the starting reigns — and the numbers have been better than average. Averaging 32 minutes over the last two weeks, Nelson started slowly with just 22 points combined in the first four games. But the next four, Nelson went for double-figure scoring in all of them and eclipsed 10 assists in two of them.
7. Matt Barnes (36), Sacramento Kings
Last week’s rank: NA
Last week’s stats: 8 games, 10.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.6 apg
Season stats: 7.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.8 apg
Barnes shot a respectable 45.6 from the field and a decent 35.1 from long range (making at least one trey in seven straight). But the big reason Barnes reemerges on our list is his rebounding prowess over the last two weeks. In his last eight games, Barnes has gone for 10 or more rebounds four times, and twice went for 14 rebounds.
8. Kyle Korver (35), Cleveland Cavaliers
Last week’s rank: Just missed
Last week’s stats: 7 games, 14.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
Season stats: 10.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 apg
Despite a roller-coaster period in which Korver had two games of 20 or more and two games of six or less, he still managed 61.0 FG% and 65.0 3PT%. But the key appears to be not too much rest. In two games with no rest, Korver averaged 15.0 points and 73.3 FG%. In three games with one-day rest, he averaged 18.7 points and 66.7 FG%. But in two games with two-days rest, Korver averaged just 8.5 points and 35.7 FG%.
9. David Lee (33), San Antonio Spurs
Last week’s rank: 5
Last week’s stats: 7 games, 8.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.0 apg
Season stats: 7.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 apg
Yes, he may have shot 61.5 from the field (including 6-for-6 against Memphis on Monday), but we can’t overlook a pair of stinkers: one point on 0-for-5 shooting on Feb. 4 and two points on Wednesday. On the positive ledger, Lee did manage to score in double figures in four games and snatched seven or more rebounds in three of the seven games.
10. Joe Johnson (35), Utah Jazz
Last week’s rank: NA
Last week’s stats: 7 games, 11.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.6 apg
Season stats: 8.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.7 apg
Johnson finds himself back on the list on the strength of two games: 18 points on 7-for-12 shooting (4-for-7 3-pointers) on Feb. 4 and 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting (6-for-8 3-pointers) on Wednesday. In four wins, Johnson averaged 15.3 points, 55.0 FG% and 61.9 3PT%. In three losses, he averaged just 5.3 points, 33.3 FG% and 37.5 3PT%.
Just missed the cut: Channing Frye, Nene, Tony Parker, Tony Allen
Will turn 33 this season: Chris Bosh (March 24), C.J. Watson (April 17)
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