|
James, Brand named as top NBA players for Nov
(Sports Network)
Updated: 2005-12-02 13:43
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James and Los Angeles Clippers forward
Elton Brand were named the top NBA players for the opening month of the season.
Los Angeles
Clippers Elton Brand (42) attempts to block a shot by Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James in the first quarter of their NBA game in Cleveland, Ohio,
November 30, 2005. James scored 28 points to lead the Cavaliers to a
112-105 overtime victory against the Clippers. Both of the two are named
the top NBA players for the opening month of the
season.[Reuters] |
|
James led the Cavaliers to a record of 10-4 during the month, marking the
first time since the 1977-78 season that the club reached double-digit victories
in November. He averaged 28.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists during the
month to garner Eastern Conference honors.
In 10 of the 14 games James scored 25 or more points. On November 19, he also
recorded a triple-double with 36 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 123-120
victory over Philadelphia.
Brand, who took home the Western Conference award, averaged 23.7 points, 10.7
rebounds and 2.7 blocks for the surprising Clippers, who led the Pacific
Division after the first month with a 10-5 mark. He shot 56 percent from the
floor and is the only player to rank in the top 10 in both points and rebounds.
With 10 double-doubles already this season, Brand became the franchise's all-
time leader in that category with 182. On November 18, he posted 23 points and
14 rebounds with five blocks and three assists in a 97-91 win over the Lakers.
Other nominees for the honors included Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, Denver's Marcus
Camby, Detroit's Chauncey Billups, Golden State's Jason Richardson, Houston's
Yao Ming, Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal, Miami's Dwyane Wade, Minnesota's Kevin
Garnett, Orlando's Dwight Howard, Philadelphia's Allen Iverson and San Antonio's
Tony Parker.
Coaches of the month for November were Detroit's Flip Saunders and Dallas'
Avery Johnson.
Saunders, in his first season with the Pistons, has the club off to an 11-2
start. He became the first Pistons coach to begin his tenure 8-0.
Johnson's Mavericks are off to a 10-4 start. Dallas has beaten Phoenix, San
Antonio, Detroit and Miami to become the first team since 1962 to defeat all
four conference finalists from the previous playoffs in the opening month of the
season.
|
