Indazone
11-03-2008, 09:51 PM
1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Stats: PPG -- 19.5; RPG -- 9.5; APG -- 4.0; SPG -- 1.5; BPG -- 0.0; FG% -- .483; FT% -- .833
Comment: Love him or hate him, Kobe's greatness can't be denied. He's talented, he works hard and he plays hurt. For anyone other than Kobe to win MVP this season, they'll need to take it from him. Think he'll let that happen easily? His initial individual numbers for this season aren't eye-popping, but his Lakers have won their first two games by an average of 29 points.
2. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Stats: PPG -- 20.5; RPG -- 6.5; APG -- 10.5; SPG -- 3.0; BPG -- 0.5; FG% -- .484; FT% -- .833
Comment: Paul is rapidly becoming the best 6-foot-and-under player in NBA history. No, seriously. After a breakout season, Paul picked up where he left off last season. Digits for the first two games -- 20.5 points, 10.5 dimes and 6.5 boards. Impressive for a man of any height.
3. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
Stats: PPG -- 27.0; RPG -- 3.0; APG -- 4.0; SPG -- 1.0; BPG -- 0.0; FG% -- .526; FT% -- .625
Comment: So what if he cried at the Celtics ring ceremony as if he'd watched a Beaches and Steel Magnolias double feature? It was his banner party and he could cry if he wanted to. You would cry too if it happened to you. Dropping 27 on Tuesday against the Cavs' D after that emotional opener was equally impressive.
4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Stats: PPG -- 22.0; RPG -- 8.0; APG -- 7.5; SPG -- 1.0; BPG -- 1.0; FG% -- .444; FT% -- .600
Comment: LeBron may be the most physically gifted player not only on the planet, but also in NBA history. To be 6-9 and 250 and move like he does? Otherworldly. But dude's got to get his mind right late in games. Yes, he can take over, but you can't miss four free throws down the stretch as he did opening night in Boston.
5. Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
Stats: PPG -- 27.0; RPG -- 11.0; APG -- 4.0; SPG -- 1.0; BPG -- 1.0; FG% -- .563; FT% -- .900
Comment: The addition of one Jermaine O'Neal means less wear and tear for the sixth-year forward out of Georgia Tech. I know it's only one game so far, but if Bosh can play as he did in the Raptors' opener (http://www.nba.com/2008/news/features/john_schuhmann/10/29/sixers.raptors/index.html), the rest of the East needs to beware.
6. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Stats: PPG -- 25.5; RPG -- 11.5; APG -- 1.5; SPG -- 0.0; BPG -- 1.5; FG% -- .586; FT% -- 1.000
Comment: Who knows if Yao will be here when Race to the MVP turns out the lights on another season in April, but I believe no one is more important to the Rockets' success than the 7-6 center. He got off on the right foot this season, especially with a 30-13-3 performance in a win in Dallas on Thursday. Speaking of feet, it'd be nice if Yao stays healthy for a change.
7. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Stats: PPG -- 22.0; RPG -- 15.0; APG -- 1.0; SPG -- 5.0; BPG -- 5.0; FG% -- .533; FT% -- .462
Comment: Howard has a world of talent and the Magic should take the Southeast. His 22-point, 15-rebound, five-block and five-steal performance was one for the ages. But the Magic still lost to the Hawks on Wednesday. Can a guy get some help, please? Oh, and can a guy get some help with his free throw shooting? Yikes!
8. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
Stats: PPG -- 21.5; RPG -- 10.0; APG -- 3.0; SPG -- 0.5; BPG -- 0.5; FG% -- .630; FT% -- .750
Comment: In his first two games, STAT has put up impressive stats with 21.5 points and 10 boards per, but the most impressive may be this one: .630 from the field. Yeah, I know, it's early, but with Shaq demanding the opposing center stick to him, Amare has free reign on pick and rolls.
9. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Stats: PPG -- 32.0; RPG -- 6.0; APG -- 3.0; SPG -- 0.0; BPG -- 0.0; FG% -- .619; FT% -- .600
Comment: Really? This is Duncan's 12th season? Hard to believe, but the man can still bring it on a nightly basis. It's true that the Spurs lost their opener to the Suns, but Duncan tallied 32 to go with six boards. He may not spend much time in the top 10 this season, but we needed to pay our respects to Mr. Duncan early.
10. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
Stats: PPG -- 0.0; RPG -- 0.0; APG -- 0.0; SPG -- 0.0; BPG -- 0.0; FG% -- .000; FT% -- .000
Comment: He may miss the first two games of the season with an ankle sprain, but the reason Williams is here is because he's the best player on one of the West's best teams. That, and he and Chris Paul will forever be linked as the two premiere guards in the 2005 Draft. Who's better? Paul is right now, but in head-to-head matchups, Williams has owned Paul. And that has to count for something.
Stats: PPG -- 19.5; RPG -- 9.5; APG -- 4.0; SPG -- 1.5; BPG -- 0.0; FG% -- .483; FT% -- .833
Comment: Love him or hate him, Kobe's greatness can't be denied. He's talented, he works hard and he plays hurt. For anyone other than Kobe to win MVP this season, they'll need to take it from him. Think he'll let that happen easily? His initial individual numbers for this season aren't eye-popping, but his Lakers have won their first two games by an average of 29 points.
2. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Stats: PPG -- 20.5; RPG -- 6.5; APG -- 10.5; SPG -- 3.0; BPG -- 0.5; FG% -- .484; FT% -- .833
Comment: Paul is rapidly becoming the best 6-foot-and-under player in NBA history. No, seriously. After a breakout season, Paul picked up where he left off last season. Digits for the first two games -- 20.5 points, 10.5 dimes and 6.5 boards. Impressive for a man of any height.
3. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
Stats: PPG -- 27.0; RPG -- 3.0; APG -- 4.0; SPG -- 1.0; BPG -- 0.0; FG% -- .526; FT% -- .625
Comment: So what if he cried at the Celtics ring ceremony as if he'd watched a Beaches and Steel Magnolias double feature? It was his banner party and he could cry if he wanted to. You would cry too if it happened to you. Dropping 27 on Tuesday against the Cavs' D after that emotional opener was equally impressive.
4. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Stats: PPG -- 22.0; RPG -- 8.0; APG -- 7.5; SPG -- 1.0; BPG -- 1.0; FG% -- .444; FT% -- .600
Comment: LeBron may be the most physically gifted player not only on the planet, but also in NBA history. To be 6-9 and 250 and move like he does? Otherworldly. But dude's got to get his mind right late in games. Yes, he can take over, but you can't miss four free throws down the stretch as he did opening night in Boston.
5. Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
Stats: PPG -- 27.0; RPG -- 11.0; APG -- 4.0; SPG -- 1.0; BPG -- 1.0; FG% -- .563; FT% -- .900
Comment: The addition of one Jermaine O'Neal means less wear and tear for the sixth-year forward out of Georgia Tech. I know it's only one game so far, but if Bosh can play as he did in the Raptors' opener (http://www.nba.com/2008/news/features/john_schuhmann/10/29/sixers.raptors/index.html), the rest of the East needs to beware.
6. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Stats: PPG -- 25.5; RPG -- 11.5; APG -- 1.5; SPG -- 0.0; BPG -- 1.5; FG% -- .586; FT% -- 1.000
Comment: Who knows if Yao will be here when Race to the MVP turns out the lights on another season in April, but I believe no one is more important to the Rockets' success than the 7-6 center. He got off on the right foot this season, especially with a 30-13-3 performance in a win in Dallas on Thursday. Speaking of feet, it'd be nice if Yao stays healthy for a change.
7. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Stats: PPG -- 22.0; RPG -- 15.0; APG -- 1.0; SPG -- 5.0; BPG -- 5.0; FG% -- .533; FT% -- .462
Comment: Howard has a world of talent and the Magic should take the Southeast. His 22-point, 15-rebound, five-block and five-steal performance was one for the ages. But the Magic still lost to the Hawks on Wednesday. Can a guy get some help, please? Oh, and can a guy get some help with his free throw shooting? Yikes!
8. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
Stats: PPG -- 21.5; RPG -- 10.0; APG -- 3.0; SPG -- 0.5; BPG -- 0.5; FG% -- .630; FT% -- .750
Comment: In his first two games, STAT has put up impressive stats with 21.5 points and 10 boards per, but the most impressive may be this one: .630 from the field. Yeah, I know, it's early, but with Shaq demanding the opposing center stick to him, Amare has free reign on pick and rolls.
9. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Stats: PPG -- 32.0; RPG -- 6.0; APG -- 3.0; SPG -- 0.0; BPG -- 0.0; FG% -- .619; FT% -- .600
Comment: Really? This is Duncan's 12th season? Hard to believe, but the man can still bring it on a nightly basis. It's true that the Spurs lost their opener to the Suns, but Duncan tallied 32 to go with six boards. He may not spend much time in the top 10 this season, but we needed to pay our respects to Mr. Duncan early.
10. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz
Stats: PPG -- 0.0; RPG -- 0.0; APG -- 0.0; SPG -- 0.0; BPG -- 0.0; FG% -- .000; FT% -- .000
Comment: He may miss the first two games of the season with an ankle sprain, but the reason Williams is here is because he's the best player on one of the West's best teams. That, and he and Chris Paul will forever be linked as the two premiere guards in the 2005 Draft. Who's better? Paul is right now, but in head-to-head matchups, Williams has owned Paul. And that has to count for something.