The NBA season is a month old, which means it’s time to take a look at the studs and duds of the month of November. Both player stats and team record play a part in how the teams are determined.
“EPG” is the efficiency per game as calculated by the following statistic:
EPG = ((Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks) – ((Field Goals Att. – Field Goals Made) + (Free Throws Att. – Free Throws Made) + Turnovers)) / (Games Played)
ALL-NOVEMBER TEAM
PG: Steve Nash – 23.1 epg, 20.0 ppg, 10.8 apg, 49.7% FG, 43.5% 3PT
The Suns have overcome a sluggish start thanks to Nash’s stellar play. He’s been able to bring Amare Stoudemire along at a reasonable pace.
SG: Kobe Bryant – 23.6 epg, 26.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 5.0 apg, 49.1% FG
This was a pretty close call between Kobe and D-Wade, but the Lakers 10-5 record and Bryant’s 52-point outburst last night put him over the top. The scary thing is that the guy isn’t even playing on two good legs.
SF: LeBron James – 26.7 epg, 27.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 6.7 apg, 47.0% FG
The Cavs are 9-6 despite King James losing Larry Hughes for the last couple of weeks. His free throw shooting (71.2%) is still suspect.
PF: Carlos Boozer – 28.2 epg, 22.2 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 3.1 apg, 57.6% FG
Boozer has raised his game this season and is the main reason that the Utah has started out so hot.
C: Yao Ming – 27.0 epg, 25.7 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 1.7 bpg, 54.4% FG
Hands down, the best center in the game. He’s playing so well, T-Mac is reserved to sidekick duty.
Honorable Mention (epg): Kevin Garnett (29.6), Carmelo Anthony (26.3), Dwayne Wade (26.3), Tim Duncan (26.0), Paul Pierce (25.3), Zach Randolph (24.4), Dwight Howard (24.3), Michael Redd (23.4)
ALL-BREAKOUT TEAM
PG: Deron Williams – 19.1 epg, 16.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 9.0 apg, 47.7% FG
Williams was decent last year, but his play in the first month is making the nice folks in Salt Lake forget about Chris Paul.
SG: Kevin Martin – 22.0 epg, 23.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 52.7% FG, 47.2% 3PT
Martin has a jacked-up shot, but you can’t argue with the results. He probably won’t be able to keep this accuracy up, but thus far his ppg has jumped 12.5 ppg this season, making up for the departure of Bonzi Wells.
SF: Luol Deng – 18.9 epg, 18.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 54.5% FG
Of the guys on this list, Deng certainly isn’t the biggest surprise. But if he continues to play like this, Andres Nocioni becomes expendable.
PF: David Lee – 17.8 epg, 10.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 63.6% FG
Lee had a great efficiency per minute last season and has earned more time this season. He’s a monster on the boards and should continue to fill in while Channing Frye is injured.
C: Andris Biedrins – 19.6 epg, 11.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 65.2% FG
No player has emerged from “out of nowhere” like Biedrins has, giving the Warriors a nice presence inside. That free throw accuracy (55.1%) needs work though.
Honorable Mention: T.J. Ford (15.7), Monta Ellis (15.5), Mo Williams (15.2), Jarrett Jack (15.1), Mickael Pietrus (14.9), J.R. Smith (13.0), Ryan Gomes (14.4), Sean May (12.9), Andrew Bynum (12.1)
ALL-“WHAT’S UP WITH _________?” TEAM
PG: Stephon Marbury – 9.1 epg, 10.1 ppg, 4.5 apg, 38.8% FG
Marbury is playing his way out of any trade value, which is going to make it difficult for the Knicks to move him. So far, Isiah + Marbury = Ugh.
SG: Ricky Davis – 12.9 epg, 13.5 ppg, 4.8 apg, 2.6 rpg, 44.8% FG
Davis’ points and rebounds are both down. He’s just not getting the shots he did last season.
SF: Gerald Wallace – 11.0 epg, 10.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 42.0% FG
Nobody has been more adversely affected by the arrival of Adam Morrison than Wallace. Last season, he was 53.8% from the field. Ouch.
PF: Boris Diaw – 11.9 epg, 9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, 64.3% FT
So is it the extra pounds or Amare that’s put last year’s Most Improved Player into a funk? Probably a little of both. Expect his numbers to rise some as he plays himself back into shape.
C: Chris Kaman – 9.7 epg, 8.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 40.0% FG
After taking a step forward in each of his first three seasons, Kaman has taken a step back thus far this season. His FG% is awful for a center, though he did show some life before missing time with an ankle injury. I wonder if the Clippers are regretting signing him to that big extension.
Dishonorable Mention: Mike James (10.1), Andrei Kirilenko (14.3), Channing Frye (8.0), Shaquille O’Neal (10.5)
