Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook crowned NBA Players of the Week
Chicago Bulls’ ace shooting guard Derrick Rose, and the corner stone of an explosive Oklahoma City Thunder offence, Russell Westbrook have been named the NBA's Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week respectively. They were acknowledged for their
brilliant performances from 10-16 January, 2011.
The duo of Rose and Westbrook prevailed over an elite group of nominees featuring game-breaking stalwarts like Charlotte Bobcats’ D.J. Augustin, Golden State's Monta Ellis, Los Angeles Clippers' prodigious rookies Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin, and Memphis'
Zach Randolph.
The list also included New Orleans' David West and Emeka Okafor, Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, Orlando's Dwight Howard, Phoenix's Steve Nash, San Antonio's Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, Utah's Deron Williams and Washington's Nick Young.
Derrick Rose
Perhaps the biggest individual success story of the season, Derrick Rose, is handling ball with a fury that can topple some of the best defences in the League.
The prolific forward who has scorched the NBA courts with a sizzling average of 24.5 points, 8.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.05 steals per game has been simply unstoppable this week. Rose has been pivotal in sparking the men from the windy city to third
spot in the Eastern Conference, only two games behind the mighty Miami Heat.
Marshalling the Bulls to a 3-1 outcome in the week, the second-year pro has pounded 27.3 points - tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference - wrapped with 6.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds. His conversion rate in the week under the scanner has been impressive
too. The explosive guard shot 44.7 percent (38-of-85) from the field, 31.25 percent (5-of-16) from beyond the arc and a staggering 96.55 percent (28-of-29) from the charity stripe.
Rose jump-started the week with a 29 point and seven assist performance in a 95-82 win over the Houston Rockets. However, in the next match he only managed 17 points and seven assist, as the Bulls went down 96-91 to the Charlotte Bobcats.
The inspirational guard however, bounced back with a double-double in the very next encounter as he scored 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a 99-86 win over the Indiana Pacers. Rose however, saved his best for the last match against the red hot
Miami Heat. In a nerve wrecking thriller that witnessed an old fashioned shootout between Dwyane Wade and Rose, Chicago had the final laugh as Rose tallied 34 points, eight assists, four rebounds and three blocks in a 99-96 win.
The award marks the second time Rose has won the laurel this season.
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook has been one of the key players in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s campaign this season. His impressive play and Oklahoma’s recent success were recognized, as he garnered the honour of being the best player in the Western Conference this week.
Westbrook, who has won this laurel for the third time in 12 weeks thus far, got the Western Conference nod after nearly averaging a triple- double in wins over Houston and Orlando. He scored an average of 27.5 points, 13.0 assists and 9.0 rebounds in those
two contests.
The forward who leads his team in overall assists and steals, started the week with a 23 point effort, complemented with 13 assists, eight rebounds and two steals to guide his team to a 118-112 win over the Houston Rockets. He followed it up with 32 points,
13 assists, 10 rebounds and two blocks as the Thunder squeaked past the Orlando Magic 125-124.
In the week under the spotlight, Russell shot 18-of-41 from the floor, 0-of-2 from downtown and 19-of-25 from the free-throw line.
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