NBA Team of the Week: March 14-20

The month of March is the business end of the NBA regular season. With the Playoffs just less than a month away, all teams look to gain some valuable momentum by registering key win under their belt.March is also that time of the year where the NBA schedule sees a majority of its big teams playing each other, as it is the only month the NBAs schedule does not coincide with other major USA sports leagues.Lot of big games from big names this week. Who do you think sealed their spot in our “Team of the Week”? Read on:

#1 Center: Karl Anthony Towns

Week averages: 21 points, 10.8 rebounds and 55.17% FG%

2015 Number 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns has quietly booked the Rookie of the Year Award for himself with consistent dominant performances in the small market of Minnesota with the Timberwolves. His team finished the week with a 2-2 record of the four games they played including an upset win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road, courtesy of a game winner by Ricky Rubio.

Towns’ positive development is huge for the Timberwolves as the franchise views him as a member of a young core they are looking to build a dynasty around. That young core consists of Towns and 2014 draftee’s Andrew Wiggins and Zach Lavine. Due to his presence in a small market team like the Wolves, his game has not received the same attention or appreciation as Kristaps Porzingis has in New York.

Towns is only the third player in the last 20 years to record 1000+ points, 5000+ rebounds and 100+ blocks before the 60th game of his rookie season. Previous two players were Tim Duncan (1997-98) and Pau Gasol (2001-02). He isn’t just any 7 footer because he can dribble the ball with ease up and down the floor, and can make crisp passes within the paint. He showcased this aspect of his at the All-Star Saturday night when he won the Taco Bell Skills Challenge beating a guard in Isaiah Thomas

#2 Power Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo

Week averages:16.5 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds and 64.9% FG%

The Milwaukee Bucks played just two games this past week and finished with a record of 1-1.Despite having a decent roster they have slipped way below Playoff contention but nobody in Milwaukee seems to have a problem with that because of the way the team is maturing and playing together. Post All-Star break with two of their point guards (Micheal Carter Williams and Grevis Vasquez) out for the season with injuries, the Bucks put the ball in the hands of versatile 6'11" forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

That experiment seems to have worked wonders for the Bucks has Antetokounmpo has registered four triple-doubles since February 22nd while having none before that. This week he did not register a triple double but he was very close to registering one in both games in the week. It's not just the points, rebounds and assists but the Greek national is also a very active player on the defensive end, adding a couple of steals or blocks to his box score almost every game.

Antetokounmpo is the only player from last week to keep his spot on the Team of the Week with no other power forward making any strides towards displacing him for this spot.

#3 Small Forward: Kevin Durant

Week averages: 26.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 52.8% FG%

The Oklahoma City Thunder were one among very few teams that went through last week undefeated. Thunder finished the week 4-0 picking crucial road wins against East Playoff teams in the Boston Cetlics and Indiana Pacers. The duo of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were key to each and every one of these four wins.

If your teams win and your a huge reason for the win, then you are in contention for your spot on the Team of the Week. In the four games, Durant played second fiddle only to Russell Westbrook, who went on to register three triple-doubles in these four games. As you can see Durant also flirted with the triple-double numbers in all four games, however, the biggest asset of his game is his shooting. At his height of 6'11” to shoot the ball with the kind of efficiency that he is, is mind boggling.

He provides the team with instant offense and creates a match-up problem for the opposition because he plays the small forward position but is easily much taller than the average player at that spot. He displaces LeBron James for a spot on the NBA Team of the Week. James also had four games but sat one out and the last one he played was an embarrassing blowout against his former team, the Miami Heat in Miami.

#4 Shooting Guard: Klay Thompson

Week averages: 22.8 points, 5 rebounds and 50% FG%

At the shooting guard spot, Houston Rockets guard James Harden puts up the most numbers and so he did this week as well averaging 25.5 points and 9.5 assists but the team finished the week with a record of 2-2 and moreover he averaged 6.3 turnovers over the four-game span. Can't earn your spot in the team of the week with those numbers. So NBA Champion Klay Thompson takes his place with his team going 3-1 for the week.

Thompson might not handle the ball and dish out assists like Harden does but he does well what his team asks of him, which is to provide instant offense with his shooting and to guard the opposition's best guard. In comparison Harden hardly plays any defense, there are multiple vines and videos on the internet to prove that.

Against Dallas, Klay Thompson just went crazy knocking down 10 three's en route to 39 points. Over the course of the game, he also became the second fastest NBA player to reach 1000 made 3’s (372 games), second only to teammate Stephen Curry (369). Klay Thompson's best performance of the week came against the Mavericks in Dallas.

#5 Point Guard: Russell Westbrook

Week averages: 18.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 11.3 assists

When you register three doubles in the week’s four games, it’s no surprise if your average a triple double for the week. With his performance this week, Russell Westbrook has pushed his triple double tally for the season to 14, something nobody has done in a single season since Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in 1988-89 season. He has also tied the record for most triple-doubles over a two years span with 25, also held by Jason Kidd (2006-08).

The last couple of games against Philly and Indiana, Westbrook didn't shoot it that well (12 of 37) but him getting a triple double works for the team. The Thunder are 14-0 this season when he registers a triple double.

John Wall with two triple-doubles has been outwardly for the past four games leading his Washington Wizards to a surprise four-game win streak. Stephen Curry didn’t have a bad week either except for the last game against the San Antonio Spurs but its hard to beat a man who gets back to back triple doubles and three in the last four games.

While he was efficient and dominant this past week to earn this post, Westbrook still needs to prove himself in the fourth quarters of big games against big name opponents.