Top 10 Individual Performances Of NBA Season's First Half
By Bobby Burack
The NBA awarded the fans with one of the most breathtaking offseasons that never allowed the fans to take their eyes off the rumor mill for more than 12 hours, and the first half of the regular season may have just topped it.
While the fans can only dream that the second half will deliver more electrifying action nightly, here is a look back at the top 10 performances so far:
10. Russell Weststrongrook – 23 Pts, 20 Ast, 9 Rstrongs (01/20 @CLE)
This performance was overlooked strongecause it was the official start of the Cav’s panic meter exploding, strongut the attention should have strongeen on Russell Weststrongrook’s game. The most impressive stat from Weststrongrook’s 20-20 performance is that his teammate Steven Adams scored 25 points. And why did he? Weststrongrook. Weststrongrook has displayed his astrongility over the years to impact the game in the three most important phases – points, assists, restrongounds – and this was peak-Russ scoring 148 on LeBron’s crew.
9. DeMar DeRozan – 52 Pts, 8 Ast, 13-13 FT (1/01 vs. MIL)
Performances like this are the reason why the Toronto Raptors have the best record in the East and are a legitimate threat. On New Year’s Day, most tuned in to see Giannis Antetokounmpo, but DeMar DeRozan absolutely took it to him. In an OT thriller, DeRozan was a man on a mission. DeRozan didn’t just score when he wanted to total 52 points, he did so by an effortless 17-29 from the field, and unlike most 50+ points performances, he was superb on the defensive end as well. This is historically a day dedicated to College Football, but someone forgot to tell DeMar.
8. LeBron James – 37 Pts, 15 Ast, 10 Rbs, 16-22 FG (02/07 MIN)
The final two plays alone insert this performance into the top 10 – a ferocious black on Jimmy Butler then a buzzer-beater to end the bleeding in Cleveland – but LeBron was marvelous from the tip. Playing nearly the entire game, LeBron was feeling it from the 3-point line (5-7), but that was not all of it, as he was a wizard dishing assists and re-defined the word “clutch” in the process.
7. Anthony Davis – 48 Pts, 17 Rbs, 4 Stl, 3 Blk (01/14 @NY)
Atmosphere matters right? Well, there is no better place to pour it on than the MSG. Anthony Davis showed the Mecca why he is one of the best basketball players in the world. When being defended late in OT by Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis, Davis went off-balance and embarrassed him. As for Davis’ stature in the league: “If you don’t know, now you know” – Biggie.
6. Joel Embiid – 46 Pts, 7 Ast, 15 Rbs, 7 Blk (11/15, @LAL)
There was a great deal of hype coming into this game to witness the three young phenomsJoel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Lonzo Ball all on one court. In the end, it was hard to even pronounce the three in the same sentence. Embiid was in complete domination mode and it must have been terrifying to the entire league knowing that he is just 23-years-old. Long story short: the Lakers could not score on him; they could not stop him from scoring. He also impersonated Hakeem Olajuwon’s blocking ability. Where do we fit in his 7 assists?
5. James Harden – 56 Pts, 13 Ast, 19-25 FG, 7-8 3pt, 11-12 FT (11/05 UTA)
This was ridiculous. At the time James Harden set a career-high in points, and he did so by hardly missing … anything. 56 points is an achievement, going 19-25 is impressive, 7-8 from the 3-point line is mythical. And to add in 13 assists is just mean. Oh, he did it all in one night. Spoiler alert- this wasn’t even his top performance of the first half.
4. Steph Curry – 49 pts, 16-24 FG, 8-13 3pt (1/27 BOS)
In what may go down as the game of the year, the NBA on ABC showcased an epic battle between Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving. And Curry won. This was a back-and-forth clinic that left the crowd in awe every time one of them topped the other with yet another clutch bucket. But, in the end, Curry’s brilliance was just too much. Curry scored 13 points over final 1:42 including a go-ahead 3 at the exact mark. The Oracle went from speechless to “M-V-P” chants.
3. DeMarcus Cousins – 44 pts, 10 Ast, 23 Rbs, 4 Stl (01/22 CHI)
It would be an understatement to sayDeMarcus Cousins’ season-ending injury was devastating. And his performance here is exactly why. To see a big man dominate like this is simply not normal. Just look at his stat sheet, and imagine a near 7-footer who is the team’s top playmaker, can score at will, force turnovers, and just add 20+ boards for fun, because that is what occurred. He was the first player sinceKareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1972 to record at least 40 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game.
2. LeBron James – 57 pts, 7 Ast, 11 Rbs (11/03, @WSH)
There was just no way he was going to not going to make the cut twice, right? LeBron James so early on in the season went absolutely berzerk on a Friday. In one night, LeBron not only became the youngest player to ever to score 29,000 points, but he also tied the franchise record (Kyrie Irving) with 57 points in a game. LeBron was so sensational his absurd 23-34 FG% was overshadowed by just how he did it. With only making two 3-pointers, he scored this insane total by making 14 baskets in the restricted area…
1. James Harden – 60 pts, 11 Ast, 10 Rbs (01/30 ORL)
This was ridiculous (again), The top performance of the first half is not even up for debate heading into the All-Star Break. Thanks to James Harden, we were spectators to history in late January. For the first time ever, the NBA recorded its first ever 60-point triple-double. Harden not only made history this night, he did so with his top running mates – Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, Trevor Ariza – sidelined and literally would not let his team lose going 19-of-30 from the field and 17-of-18 from the free-throw line. What didn’t he do this night?!? This performance was so sensational it created at least three “pinch me” and “did he really just do that” moments. Harden looked like a character from NBA 2K18 with virtual graphics.