Zach Randolph crowned Western Conference ‘Player of the Week’
The Memphis Grizzlies Zach Randolph, one of the most intimating power forwards in the league, has been crowned the Western Conference Player of the Week for his awesome performances last week (Jan 3-9).
Randolph has been pivotal to the Memphis Grizzlies campaign this season, and won the laurel ahead of Los Angeles Clippers prodigy Blake Griffin, Oklahoma City Thunders’ Kevin Durant and the Portland Trail Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge.
Randolph is playing with a fury that can topple some of the League’s best defences. Feared for his prolific shooting and fast-break runs, the 6ft 9in forward has set the courts on fire this season, notching up an average of 19.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and
0.4 blocks per game.
In the week under the spotlight, Randolph has simply been unstoppable. Marshalling the Grizzlies to 2-1 week, the sizzling forward has lit up the opposition defences with 28.0 points per game, while shooting 51.78 percent (29-of-56) from the field and 62.5
percent (10-of-16) from the free throw line.
His endeavours placed him fourth in the league in terms of scoring. To complement that, Randolph has also been cleaning the glass at a prolific 14.3 rebounds per game, which is also ranked fourth. Randolph posted point-rebound double-doubles in all three
contests during the week.
He kick-started the week with a 31 point and 16 rebounds performance, which saw the Grizzlies topple the mighty Oklahoma City Thunder 110-105 on 4 Jan. He then poured in 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 110-99 victory over the Utah Jazz.
The end of the week for the nine-year pro was not ideal though. In a re-match with the Thunder, Randolph posted 27 points and added 16 rebounds and two blocks to lead the Grizzlies. However on the night, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook
stood in the way of his brilliance, as they exacted revenge with a 109-100 win.
One of the NBA’s most dazzling post scoring stalwarts and rebounders, Randolph is averaging a double-double in points and boards for the fifth season in a row, which is the second longest active streak in the NBA behind Orlando’s Dwight Howard (seven from
2004-11). Building on his All-Star campaign from last season, Randolph is on the cusp of breaking his own franchise record for rebounds (11.6), set in his first outing with the Grizzlies in 2009-10.
With this award, Randolph has managed to bag an honour that has often eluded the Grizzlies in the past. He is just the second Grizzlies player ever to earn Player of the Week laurel, ever since Pau Gasol roped it in March 2006.
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