NBA March in review: Top 11 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 during 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 assists per game.
Standing at seven 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 impressive feat this month came from the free-throw line, from where he pinned the rim at an average of
96 percent.
His best performance of the month came against the Golden State Warriors on 16th March. Playing for nearly 35 minutes in that game, Nowitzki finished with 34 points and 13 rebounds.
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 the league with 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 managed an impressive scoring average of 22.1 points 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 performance came in the game against the Phoenix on 6th March, where he scorched the Suns with 32 points and 11 assists. However, 10 nights later he had a shocker against the Miami Heat, when he committed six 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 totally depend on a single player; but the Orlando Magic is certainly one such franchise. So much so, that the matter of Orlando winning or losing depends 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, Howard notched a double-double on each occasion.
The Daily-Double, as he is commonly known, led the league in rebounding with a whooping 15.6 boards in 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. Howard also improved
on his free-throw shooting this month, making 59 percent of his shots.
He led the league in terms of minutes played (41.5) during March and also roped in an average of 3.21 blocks and 1.57 steals per game. Howard however, turned the ball at an alarming 4.7 times in the month. His best performance in March came in a clash against
the Milwaukee Bucks on 16th March.
Playing at the Bradley Centre, Howard erupted with a mammoth 31-point and 21 rebound 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 this article are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of bettor.com
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