LeBron James named Eastern Conference Player of the month
LeBron James, the dazzling sharp-shooter, who has won the last two consecutive Most Valuable Player titles, made huge strides towards a third straight, when it was announced by the National Basketball Association on Friday night that he has been crowned
the Player of the Month for a second time running.
The torch bearing forward of the Miami Heat, who has lit up the courts this season with a spectacular average of 26.4 points and 7.3 rebounds has been simply unstoppable this month. During the month of January, LeBron led the league in scoring, pounding
an average of 30.6 points per game, the sixth highest monthly average in Heat history.
LeBron complemented his offensive artistry with 8.4 rebounds while also dishing out 7.4 assists per game and is placed fifth in East with 1.75 steals. For his heroics, the exciting small forward was named twice as the Eastern Conference Player of the Week
in January.
James has scorched the NBA courts this month with a shooting average of 47.9 per cent from the field, 34.8 per cent from three-point range and 75 per cent from the charity stripe. He has also logged the most minutes in the conference and has been pivotal
in sparking the Heat to a 9-5 record.
In addition to that, LeBron he has now scored at least 20 points in 15 consecutive games, surpassing the sixth best streak in the franchise history.
LeBron has been a play-making revelation ever since he adorned the Miami colours. In the month under the scanner, the 6ft 8in forward posted seven double-doubles. Leading his team in assists this season, with a team-high 11 times this month. In scoring,
steals and minutes played as well, James led the pack seven times each.
In January, James was in his groove very early on. He started with a 25-points, 10-assists performance against the Golden State Warriors. Shooting at 46.7 percent from the field, James sparked the Heat to 114-107 win to set the tone.
There was no looking back after that, as he sprung with 38 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in the very next encounter against the Charlotte Bobcats. LeBron pulled off his best performance of the season on 9 January, 2011
when he torched the Portland Trail Blazers with 44 points, 13 boards and 6 assists.
However, he got injured in the very next game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The winning spree of the Miami Heat also departed with his departure as the men from South Beach slipped to a four match losing streak.
James returned after a gap of two games and it did not take him long to propel Miami to winning ways. The first win came over the Toronto Raptors as James scored 38 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes of play. He then led the Heat to victory
in two nail- biting thrillers against the Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Against the Thunder, James spearheaded the Heat with 23 points to go along with 13 rebounds, four steals and a season-high three blocks. He then rounded off the month
by inflicting 24 points, 8 assists decision on his former franchise the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The month witnesses James scoring one 40 plus point game, five 30 plus point games, nine 25 plus point games and twelve 20 plus point games. The award marks the 12th time in franchise history a Heat player has earned Player of the Month honours.
James won the battle of being the East's best, prevailing over players like Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Charlotte's D.J. Augustin and Orlando's Dwight Howard.
Tags: