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The week 7 of the NBA is done and it had some stellar games for us. The Boston Celtics have finally started to slow down a bit, while the Cleveland Cavaliers win streak started getting a head of steam. The Houston Rockets continued to cement their status as the #1 team in the Western Conference while the Orlando Magic continue on their downward spiral, alongside the Wizards, who look increasingly lackluster with John Wall.
The bottom of the NBA seems more stable with the Bulls rooted to the boom of the Eastern Conference and the Hawks at a very close second bottom. The Western Conference has the Mavericks at the bottom with the Kings giving them fierce competition. We now have a look at the players from week 6 who either have been worth the hype or have been a bust:
LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers):
The King has started his 15th season in the NBA in fine fashion, even though it didn't translate to wins at the start of the season. The Cavaliers are on a 12-game win streak since their rough patch, with James leading them out of their rut.
He has been averaging 27 points this last week, along with 8 rebounds and almost 9 assists a game. An almost triple double average, leading the Cavs alone on the quest to catch the Celtics. He has been truly unplayable these past few weeks with blocks like these:
It is such a treat to watch LeBron put up such numbers time after time even in his 15th season in the NBA and carrying the Cavaliers into contention almost single-handedly, even after losing Kyrie Irving. With Isaiah Thomas coming back soon, watch LeBron move to a slightly more defensive role but nothing else but awesome from the King this week.
HYPE: 10/10
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns):
Devin Booker was one of the bright lights of Phoenix Suns last season and was expected to continue his improvement into this season. After Week 7, it is clear that he is still the go-to man for the Suns. He has been doing whatever is needed from him, either getting the rebounds or being the playmaker or just simply outscoring the other team, he is Mr. Reliable for the Suns.
Although he has been averaging 24 points per game this season, his week 7 was a stellar one, with him averaging 31 points per game along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists a game at 50+% shooting from the field. Recently back from an ankle injury which forced him to sit out of the Timberwolves game, he has shown us why he is still a clutch player for the Suns, with the play showing us his talent:
Although Booker is absolutely on fire, his team the Suns have been flirting with the bottom places, which was quite expected from them. Still, Booker seems like the only one capable of keeping them competitive in most games and the hype surrounding his new season was justified.
HYPE: 9.5/10
Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons):
Andre is a man out to prove everyone wrong. Starting from the Pistons' fans to the team management to every single critic out there that he can cut it with the best and be the franchise player they wanted him to be. Drummond was on the verge of being traded but the Pistons decided to keep their faith in him and my god how he has repaid them.
Drummond has improved his overall game to be among the elite big men playing at the moment. He has been averaging at least 15 rebounds per game, leading the charts in this category. But his most improved stat has got to be his free throw percentage. He was averaging a lowly 38% from the charity stripe last season, where all defenders did was foul him to prevent the bucket and then watch Drummond miss from the line. He has turned this into his strength, by landing 64.8% of his FTs this season, almost a double of his career average and punishing the defenders.
The week 7, Andre was averaging at least 15 points per game and almost 14 rebounds per game and at least a steal and block per game. He has also been averaging at least 75% from the line. His amazing comeback into the limelight and leading the Pistons into 3rd place just behind the Cavaliers is really worthy of applause. He is probably a favorite for the Most Improved Player of the year award.
HYPE: 8.5/10
Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers):
Turner was the breakout star for the Pacers last season, averaging almost 15 points and 8 rebounds per game. His blocks per game were at a mean 2 rejections per game, along with a steal. The Pacers only expected him to reach higher and build around their star big man. But things haven't been as rosy as they hoped.
He has been averaging just about 14 points per game, along with 8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, staying at about the same level as last season. His Week 7 also wasn't as great as the Pacers would've hoped for it to be, averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds per game, along with 2 blocks a game.
Even if he isn't exploding yet, Turner is a young big man who is destined for big things looking at his on-court smartness and awareness. I would still mark him as a bust for this week.
BUST: 3.5/10
Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves):
Andrew Wiggins had an amazing season last year, averaging almost 24 points per game. With Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague joining the Timberwolves, they were expected to reach new heights, Wiggins along with them. They were going to be a force to reckon with. But what is baffling is their high level of inconsistency and the lack of form that Wiggins has been showing.
Wiggins has been averaging 19 points and 4 rebounds per game this season, a down from his last season statistics. This has more to do with his lack of usage rate this season than his form. He is fourth in the order for the Timberwolves since Butler and Teague have joined. His assists have remained around the same for 2 assists a game.
With moves like these, an upward trajectory in form for the Timberwolves and Wiggins looks imminent, but as of this week, he has been heavily inconsistent, averaging 19 points and 4 rebounds per game. I have to classify him as a bust for week 7 but look for his slump to end soon.
BUST: 4/10
Robert Covington (Philadephia 76ers):
Robert Covington has been the go-to 3-point machine for the 76ers. He was shooting at least 6 per game last season, averaging 13 points per game. This number has increased to at least 7 per game, averaging 15 points per game this season. His usage rate has gone up as well and with Ben Simmons marshaling the point guard duty and making space, Covington will continue to get great looks from beyond the arc.
His week 7 has probably not been as good as his rest of the season, averaging only 15 points and 8 rebounds per game, averaging just about 30% from the 3 point line. He has been in the reckoning for the most improved player of the year this season but he has had better weeks than this one, a bust for me. Here is a video of how devastating he can be, even under such heavy contact. Look for him to bounce back soon from this slide.
BUST: 5/10
Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers):
Oladipo is a man reborn. He was averaging only 16 points per game at the Thunder, in Westbrook's MVP shadow. All he needed was to be traded to a team with no real franchise player and now Oladipo is putting up All Star numbers, averaging 23 points per game along with 4 assists and 6 rebounds per game.
His rapid rise to mainstream success has been a revelation. He was considered to be just one of those players who never rose to the level that they were expected to, just languishing in mediocrity. A trade sparked in him the player he was and pushed him towards playing at the level he is now, almost single-handedly making the Pacers matter.
He has been averaging 27 points in the 7th week, absolutely exploding at Orlando and on the Raptors. He also averaged 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals per game, 5 of those steals in one single game. He has been an amazing player for the Pacers and looks for him to continue this rise to stardom. His hype was justified and is real.
HYPE: 9/10
James Harden (Houston Rockets):
Many believe that Harden was wrongfully not awarded the title last season, even after averaging an insane 29 points and 11 assists per game, single-handedly leading the Rockets to the playoff semifinals almost alone. This season, he has Chris Paul by his side and vengeance to rightfully acquire what was his. He has been averaging a mind-boggling 32 points and 10 assists per game, with Paul injured.
He has led the Rockets to 1st place in the Western Conference, beating the Warriors in the first game of the season and continuing that form. His 32 points per game is a career high, leading from the front and 11 3 pointers attempted per game is just a statistic that cannot be explained. The game seems too simple for Harden at the moment with plays like these:
For the 7th week, The Beard has been averaging 34 points per game, 7 rebounds and 9 assists per game. With Paul back in the mix, Harden will probably get more chances to rest but don't expect him to slow down anytime soon. The hype before the season started surrounding the Rockets and Harden was immense but now they have proven everyone wrong and Harden leads them from the front.
HYPE: 10/10
