January’s Player of the Month – Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder – 28.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.7 blocks per game in January.
January’s Rookie of the Month – Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers – 19.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per game in January.
Still no trades for everyone else and I’m pumped about this coming month because everyone is healthy and have had time to gel.
@ Denver – 111-101 W (18-29) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 26 points, 4 assists
@ Utah – 89-77 W (19-29) Bobcats best – Paul Millsap – 15 points, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 steals
Vs Atlanta – 105-70 W (20-29) Bobcats best – Jordan Crawford – 20 points, 5 rebounds
@ Miami – 85-108 L (20-30) Bobcats best – Paul Millsap – 18 points, 13 rebounds
Vs Los Angeles Clippers – 103-81 W (21-30) Bobcats best – Marcus Camby – 12 points, 12 rebounds, 7 blocks, 6 assists
Vs Washington – 89-69 W (22-30) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 16 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds
It’s All Star time! We have Derrick Brown in the Slam Dunk contest and made it to the final, but lost to Golden State’s Dominic McGuire 75-66. Kyle Korver was the best shooter by far in the Long Distance Shootout and dominated the field, beating Raja Bell and Daniel Gibson in the final.
Kemba Walker is invited to play in the rookie team while Jordan Crawford is a starter for the sophomores, with the second year team winning easily, 132-104. John Wall is crowned MVP with 32 points, 12 assists and 6 rebounds while Walker had 4 points in 6 minutes while Crawford has 23 points and 8 rebounds in 34 minutes.
Paul Millsap is a surprising All Star starter as the East wins the game 140-128 with Dwight Howard being named the best with 34 points and 17 rebounds in a dominant display. Millsap has 12 points and 7 rebounds before fouling out.
Great news for Paul, Kemba and Jordan, especially Paul who was a freaking starter in the All Star game! It’s still early but don’t be surprised if he is a Bobcat for life.
Finally a couple of trades.
Toronto trade:
PG Jose Calderon
Orlando trade:
SG JJ Redick
Winner – Orlando. They may have taken on heaps of contract but Calderon is a great point guard and they bolster their bench by moving Jameer Nelson there.
Memphis trade:
SG Tony Allen
Los Angeles Lakers trade:
PF Josh McRoberts
Winner – The Lakers. They get a fantastic wing defender to back up Kobe for a scrub.
Vs Indiana – 108-82 W (23-31) Bobcats best – Jordan Crawford – 33 points
Another trade, which makes so much sense.
Utah trade:
PF Boris Diaw
Orlando trade:
PG Jameer Nelson
Winner – Orlando. They get a starter and an expiring contract for a redundant player now Calderon is running the show.
Vs Orlando – 96-116 L (23-32) Bobcats best – Jordan Crawford – 34 points
@ Houston – 73-103 L (23-33) Bobcats best – Kemba Walker – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
@ Phoenix – 108-121 L (23-34) Bobcats best – Paul Millsap – 22 points, 14 rebounds
@ Sacramento – 75-115 L (23-35) Bobcats best – Paul Millsap – 28 points, 10 rebounds
It was a bittersweet month as we started out 6-2 but finished with a four game losing streak. I guess which such a team we have to take the good with the bad as long as there is more good than bad. It puts us 11th in the conference, still only two and a half games out of that eighth playoff spot. Cool.
The top three of the East are New Jersey (40-18), Miami (38-18) and Orlando (38-19) with Toronto still last at 12-47. What’s funny is that the Raptors are 11-17 at home but an embarrassing 1-30 in America.
The West is a little more wide open with the Spurs holding a two game lead over Denver who has a 1.5 game lead over the Lakers. Sacramento is 16-43 and falling behind everyone as their ‘lead’ for last has grown to five games over Minnesota.
Charlotte Top Points
Jordan Crawford – 17.9
Paul Millsap – 17.1
Kemba Walker – 16.9
Charlotte Top Rebounds
Marcus Camby – 10.7
Paul Millsap – 10.3
Kemba Walker – 4.4
Charlotte Top Assists
Kemba Walker – 5.4
Marcus Camby – 3.0
Cory Higgins – 2.4
Charlotte Top Efficiency
Paul Millsap – 22.1
Marcus Camby – 21.4
Kemba Walker – 16.7
League Top Points
Kobe Bryant (LAL) – 28.2
Lebron James (MIA) – 27.0
Dirk Nowitzki (DAL) – 25.3
League Top Rebounds
Dwight Howard (ORL) – 14.0
Andrew Bynum (LAL) – 11.6
Andrew Bogut (GSW) – 11.5
League Top Assists
Steve Nash (PHO) – 11.6
Chris Paul (LAC) – 11.3
Deron Williams (NJN) – 9.4
League Top Efficiency
Lebron James (MIA) – 29.7
Chris Paul (LAC) – 27.2
Deron Williams (NJN) – 27.1
Rookie Top Efficiency
Ricky Rubio (MIN) – 17.2
Kemba Walker (CHA) – 16.7
Kyrie Irving (CLE) – 16.5
Third round of future prospects
1. (1) Ketevan Abashidze (SF), 6’10”, 225lbs, 19 years old, Estonia, 25.7 ppg, 4.4 apg, 10.6 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 2.5 spg
2. (2) Rick Allen (C), 6’10”, 264lbs, Freshman, Kansas State, 12.2 ppg, 2.3 apg, 8.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 1.2 spg
3. (NR) Gorazd Spaho (PG), 6’2”, 158lbs, 18 years old, Bosnia, 23.3 ppg, 7.6 apg, 10.4 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 2.3 spg
4. (NR) Raphael Filho (C), 6’10”, 267lbs, 19 years old, Brazil, 15.9 ppg, 4.7 apg, 9.2 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 1.3 spg
5. (NR) Marlon Largent (SF), 6’8”, 234lbs, sophomore, Michigan State, 11.8 ppg, 2.9 apg, 5.8 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 1.2 spg