For the second consecutive week, Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. He’s the first player to win back-to-back Player of the Week honors in the first two weeks of the season since LeBron James did it back in 2011-2012. Joining him from the Western Conference this week is James Harden who, after a slow start to the season, has come on strong of late with a streak of blistering performances.
Drummond has been a double-double machine, putting up monster stat lines like 25 points and 29 rebounds versus the Pacers and 29 points and 27 rebounds against the Trail Blazers. Those two performances placed him in elite company, as he became the only current NBA player with three games of at least 25 points and 25 rebounds. He currently leads the league in rebounds with a ridiculous 24.3 per game, and his Pistons are off to a surprising 5-1 start.
Harden led the Rockets to an undefeated week while averaging 38.5 points per contest. Those four games included a 37-point outing in a win over OKC, and consecutive 40-plus point games against the Kings and Clippers. He poured in 43 points, 13 assists and six rebounds in Sacramento and then 46 points on the second night of their back-to-back in Los Angeles. When, after that second performance, a sideline reporter asked whether he had his rhythm back, Harden had this sassy response.
Things aren’t going to get any easier for Detroit as they face the Golden State Warriors – and last week’s Western Conference Player of the Week Steph Curry – at Oracle Arena on Monday night, while Houston has a couple of days rest before hosting the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
