'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After eight weeks of NBA action, the Western Conference is a mess and we are still not in a position to predict which teams would eventually make it to the playoffs. While the Toronto Raptors continue their dominance at the top of the ladder in the East, the same cannot be said about the West.
In the stacked western conference, there cannot be any off-nights and the teams know that and the players are bringing out their best every night. In this article, let us take a look at the top five points per game leaders through week eight.
#5 Anthony Davis
Stats: 26.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 3.0 blocks per game on 50.2 % shooting
Anthony Davis is one of the top 3 two-way players in the league and after finishing as one of the finalists for Defensive Player of the year and Most Valuable Player last year, he continues to shine and is putting up monster numbers.
'The Brow' has been stuffing the stat sheet since day 1 of the season and is averaging a league-leading 3.0 blocks per game. Despite Davis' heroics, the New Orleans Pelicans are once again struggling to get wins and this should definitely be bothering the franchise.
Using his size and height, Davis is dominating the opposition in the paint and posing problems to the defenders. He is doing a great job from the free-throw line as well and it is high time that others showed up for the Pelicans. With the kind of talent that this team has, the sky is the limit and the sooner they realize their potential, the better.
The 25-year old's highest-scoring game of this season came against the New York Knicks at home. He scored game-high 43 points that night to lead the Pelicans past the Knicks.
#4 Damian Lillard
Stats: 27.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game on 44.5 % shooting
People continue to sleep on Damian Lillard and he continues to put on a show scoring heavily everytime he steps his foot on the court. After averaging 26.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game last season, Lillard picked up where left off and the Blazers are currently at the seventh spot in West.
Lillard started the season hot and averaged close to 30 points in October. Though his numbers fell a bit in the last month, those numbers are still enough to put him on this list. Also, he has been exceptional this month and is averaging 30.8 points per game.
Although the 4-time All-Star has been putting numbers like these from the last 3-4 years, people still somehow seem to turn blind eye to him.
#3 LeBron James
Stats: 28.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per game on 52.1 % shooting
Playing for a new team does not seem to bother LeBron James or his numbers as he has been stellar so far and is putting up big numbers. The Los Angeles Lakers currently sit on the fifth spot in the Western Conference Standings and the reason is one and only, LeBron James.
He put this team on his back and is carrying every single-night with some breath-taking performances. LeBron, who struggled shooting the ball from behind the arc (27.3 %) in October, is back to being his usual self and shot 42.4 % from long range last month.
The 4-time NBA MVP also had a 50-points game against his former team, Miami Heat. Even though the Lakers struggled early in the season, they are now slowly figuring out things and it will be interesting to see how they perform this season.
#2 Kevin Durant
Stats: 29.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game on 51.1 % shooting
There is no answer for Kevin Durant in the league and he continues to dominate the league. Warriors guard Stephen Curry was absent for the most of November and Durant took care of business in his absence.
Even though Warriors missed Curry and lost several games they would not have lost if they had Steph, the two-time finals MVP was stellar and put on some explosive performances. He had three straight 40 or more points games, including his 51 points performance against the league leaders, Toronto Raptors.
His mid-range jumper has been absolute money so far this season and with Curry back in the lineup, even though his numbers might take a dip, he will definitely be able to express himself more freely.
#1 James Harden
Stats: 30.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.6 blocks per game on 44.2 % shooting
It took some time but he is back at the top. Even though the Rockets have been struggling this season, one man has been doing what he does the best and that is James Harden. He had 4 40-point games so far, including his 54 points performance against the Washington Wizards on the road.
James Harden struggled from the three-point line in November but that did not stop him from going for 30-points like it is nothing. The defending MVP has been known for drawing contacts all his NBA career and this season is no different, as he is attempting close to 10 free-throws every game.
ALSO READ: 5 Best NBA Draft classes of all time
The Rockets have not enjoyed much success so far this season and they need to trade for some role players if they want to give themselves a shot at challenging the Golden State Warriors like they did last year.
