1. Andrew Wiggins – SF – Minnesota Timberwolves (15.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 APG) – It’s been quite the up and down week for the Rookie of the Year favorite. Wiggins showed the Cavaliers what they’re missing last Saturday, dropping a career-high 33 points on 14-of-25 shooting, although it came in another losing effort, as the Timberwolves fell 106-90 at home. Wiggins totaled just one assist and one rebound as he seemed intent on scoring the entire night, and he did just that. He was conspicuously absent during Minnesota’s 102-101 win against Miami on Wednesday, attempting only eight shots on his way to netting just six points. The team’s results after his polar opposite performances defy logic, especially when considering the fact that starting point guard Ricky Rubio made his return from an injury that’s kept him out since early November. Either way, the award is Wiggins’ to lose at this point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By32DWsteLU
2. Nerlens Noel – C – Philadelphia 76ers (8.1 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.7 BPG) – Noel has returned to form for the most part after a rough three-game stretch last week. He had a fantastic all-around game on Friday against Minnesota, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, six blocks, three assists, and four steals in a 103-94 win at home. Even better news was the fact that he made 7-of-8 field goal attempts, and seems well on his way to righting his poor shooting woes. The 76ers are actually a respectable 3-2 in their last five, largely in part to Noel’s ability to affect both ends of the floor. He’s still not getting to the line as much as a post player should (2.2 attempts per game,) but that will change in time.
3. Elfrid Payton – PG – Orlando Magic (7.8 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.6 RPG) – Payton had an undesirable two-game stretch prior to Wednesday that saw him accumulate just four points, eight assists and eight rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game while dealing with soreness in his knee. He seemed to be feeling ok again on Wednesday night, finishing with 14 points, nine assists, and six rebounds in 40 game minutes during a 110-103 loss to San Antonio on the road. Payton shot 6-of-8 from the field, raising his average on the year to 41 percent, but free-throws continue to be a problem. Rumors are swirling about head coach Jacque Vaughn’s looming dismissal, but Payton’s playing time should be unaffected no matter who is running the team, as long as his production remains steady.
4. Jusuf Nurkic – C – Denver Nuggets (6.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.3) – Nurkic has continued to deliver after landing a solid spot in the Nugget’s rotation in mid-December, and his January averages of 7.7 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 1.8 are rivaled only by Nerlens Noel. Nurkic has been a work in progress, but has displayed consistency on the boards, and is becoming more and more of a defensive force on the interior. He actually ranks 12th in the league in blocks per 36 minutes, placing him ahead of veteran shot-blockers such as Serge Ibaka and Andre Drummond. Nurkic’s 14-point, 7-rebound, 3-block outing against Boston on Wednesday night was enough to finally push him over the edge and into the top five.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OI_Y7g5gZQ
5. K.J. McDaniels – SG – Philadelphia 76ers (9.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.3 APG) – Poor shooting has been an anchor to McDaniel’s offensive production in his two games earlier in the week. McDaniels was just 3-of-19 while scoring a total of 10 points in losses to Atlanta and Cleveland, and seemed to be forcing shots up in an effort to snap out of his slump. He was much more patient during the 76ers’ win on Wednesday, scoring 11 points off of 4-of-8 shooting in just 18 game minutes. He continues to block shots at a consistent rate, and has been improving his off-the-ball defense on the perimeter, although it’s yet to award him more steals. The 76ers have a fast-paced offense, but McDaniels could benefit greatly if he exercised more caution in selecting his shots, which mainly means staying away from three-point range, where he is shooting a dismal 29 percent. In the meantime, his defense will continue to compensate for his bad shooting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfJR_Z2xZTs
