March in review: Dirk nowitzki, Dwight Howard - Top 11 NBA Players – Part 3
5. Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
Although the Dallas Mavericks have been faltering in the month of March, the German giant Dirk Nowitzki has been as consistent as ever. Leading the Mavs to a 10-6 record on the month, Nowitzki was seventh in the league in scoring with an average of 24.6
points per game. To augment that, the dazzling forward also chipped in with 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 dimes per game.
Standing at 7 feet tall, the sharp-shooting power forward pulled off a percentage of 51.6 from the field and 35.3 from downtown in March. His most mind boggling feat in the month came from the free throw line, from where pinned the rim at an average of 96
percent.
His best performance of the month came against the Golden State Warriors on March 16. Playing for nearly 35 minutes in that game, Nowitzki 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in that fixture.
4. Russell Westbrook – Oklahoma City Thunder
With Kevin Durant in the team, it is not easy for anybody in the league to make a niche for himself, let alone a second year pro. Russell Westbrook has turned this impression on its head though. The 6ft-3in point guard, who was thought to be Durant’s understudy
throughout the season, has graced a league with such a spectacular brand of basketball that has left everyone bewitched and bedazzled.
Leading his franchise to a second best 12-2 record in the league during March, Westbrook took over the opposition with a scoring average of 22.1 point per game, shooting at an average of 0.476 from the field, 0.478 from beyond the arc and 0.81 from the charity
stripe. To complement that, Westbrook also handed out 8.1 assists and grabbed 2.19 steals during that stretch.
His best endeavour came in the game against the game against Phoenix early in the month (March 6), where he scorched the Suns with 32 points and 11 assists. However, ten nights later he had a shocker against the Miami Heat when he committed 6 turnovers and
went only 5-of-16 from the field.
3. Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic
There are very few examples of franchises in NBA that are totally hinged on the shoulders of one man. Orlando Magic is certainly one such franchise. So much so, that the matter of Orlando winning or losing is totally dependent on whether Dwight Howard fires
or not. No wonder he leads the team in virtually every facet of the game.
Of late, there haven’t been many occasions on which Howard has misfired, certainly not in the month of March. In the 14 games, Howard played this month; there was not even a single occasion when he did not notch up a double-double. The Daily-Double, as he
is commonly known, led the league in rebounding with a whooping 15.6 boards this March. To complement that, Howard also attacked the rim with a scoring average of 22.6 points on a 59.4 percent shooting from the field. In the month under the scanner, Howard
also improved on his free throw shooting, making 59 percent of his shots.
He led the league in the minutes played (41.5) during March and also roped in an average of 3.21 blocks and 1.57 steals per game. Howards however turned the ball at an alarming 4.7 time in the month. His best performances of the month came in a clash against
the Milwaukee Bucks on March 16.
Playing at the Bradley Centre, Howard erupted with a mammoth 31 points and 21 rebounds performance. The Magic needed every bit of his brilliance though as they barely managed to cross the line by four points in overtime.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in the article and the ratings assigned are the writer’s own personal views and has nothing to do with bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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