Rajon Rondo and Pau Gasol earn player of the week awards
Boston Celtics’s rising star Rajon Rondo and Los Angeles Lakers’ veteran centre Pau Gasol were named as the Eastern and Western Conference’s best player, respectively, for the games played
during the opening week of the 2010-11 NA season.
The 24-year old point guard, Rondo, continues to emerge as the Celtics’ main man and one of the best guards in the league as he's led Boston to a 2-1 start this season.
Rondo opened the season with bang as he directed Boston’s offence by dishing out 17 assists in their season-opening win against the Miami Heat, 88-80, on 26 October. He followed it up with
18-point performance in the Boston’s surprising loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers, 95-87, on 27 October.
The 6ft 1in point guard capped of the week with an extraordinary performance as he recorded the season’s first triple-double in their 105-101 win over the New York Knicks with 10 points,
10 rebounds, and a jaw-dropping 24 assists, which was four away from Bob Cousy’s franchise-record of 28 dimes.
On the other hand, the Spanish centre, Gasol, led the defending champions to a perfect 3-0 start by tallying 25.3 points on 52.5 per cent clip from the field to go with 10.3 rebounds and
five assists per game.
The 30-year old centre kicked off the season on 26 October with a huge night as he scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, leading the Lakers to a pulsating 112-110 win over the Houston
Rockets.
Gasol followed it up with a 21-point performance in their 114-106 win over the Phoenix Suns on 29 October, before racking up 26 points and 12 boards in their comfortable victory against the
Golden State Warriors, 107-83, on Sunday 31 October.
"I think it always means that the team has won the games we've played," Gasol said upon hearing about the award. "When I or a teammate is named Player of the Week, it's a very good sign."
Gasol and the Lakers will gun for their fourth-straight win, as the Memphis Grizzlies visit them on Tuesday 2 November, and the Spanish centre is looking forward to his battle with his younger
brother, Marc.
"It makes it so much more special. It's always fun to go against your brother. It's always a very competitive game," Gasol said."It's not a new thing, but it's still intense, still very exciting."
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