NBA March in review: Top 11 Players – (Part 4)
2. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant and the two-time defending champions Los Angeles Lakers are finding their rhythm at just the right time. Bryant scored at a league fourth best this March with an average of 25.8 points. In doing so, he roped in a shooting percentage of 42.3 from
the court, 31.1 from the three-point range and 83 from the foul line to go with 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
Consequently, the Lakers have been a force to reckon with in the post All-Star stretch. Barring a loss at the hands of the red-hot Miami Heat at South Beach, the mighty Lakers have been unstoppable and boast a league best 12-1 record in March.
Kobe’s best performance of the month came against the Phoenix Suns on 22nd March. In a thrilling encounter that went right down to the wire, Kobe launched a 42-point, 12 rebound and nine assist foray, as the Lakers squeaked their way past the Suns 139-137
in triple overtime.
1. LeBron James – Miami Heat
In a topsy-turvy month, the Miami Heat started slowly, picked up pace midway and then plummeted again at the end. One thing that was constant throughout that stretch was the artistic brilliance of the two-time reigning MVP, LeBron ‘King’ James.
In the month under the spotlight, James led the league with a resounding average of 28 points per game on a 58 percent shooting from the field. He also grabbed 7.6 rebounds per game and was second only to Andre Iguodala, in terms of dishing out assists with
an average of 6.1.
To complement that, he also led the league in the player efficiency ratings, a feat he has held on to for four years running. Pitched up against his former franchise, the Cleveland Cavaliers on 29th March, James landed his fourth triple-double of the season
as he finished with 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in just over 43 minutes on court
However, the rest of the supporting cast failed to pick up the slack, as he had to face the embarrassment of losing at the Quicken Loans arena. On the very next night though, James vented his frustration by unleashing a 35-point, eight boards, eight assists
and five steals assault on the Washington Wizards.
James however, saved his best performance of the month for the game against Eastern Conference rivals Atlanta Hawks. In a game that witnessed point guard Mike Bibby’s homecoming for the very first time, James went berserk with 43 points on ridiculous 16-of-21
shooting from the field, 5-of-7 from downtown and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe.
James' only real struggle came in a home loss to Oklahoma City Thunder on 16th March, when he was reduced to 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
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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