Team of the Week: Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets have enjoyed an incredible run of form of late, and look to be turning into a really good team. With six wins on the spin, they have improved their record from 16-28 to 22-28, moving to 11th in the Eastern Conference - just outside the play-in tournament spot.
Last week, they reeled off four wins from four, beating the Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. Despite their struggles prior to this month, the Hornets have been super strong in the attacking department all season, with the sixth-best offensive rating in the league.
One of the youngest sides in the NBA, they have got their best players fully fit, and a starting five of LaMelo Ball, Kon Kneuppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate is strong. They are going to be a dangerous side from now until the end of the season.
Underachievers of the Week: Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks looked to be improving recently, but a tough week has seen the negativity return. Four consecutive defeats to the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Hornets and Houston Rockets saw them fall even further from the play-in tournament spots.
Coach Jason Kidd was also far from happy, with an outburst towards the press summing things up.
"Criticism? That’s your opinion. You guys write that bullshit. That’s not - I’ve done this. I’ve played this game. I played it. I know what the f*ck I’m doing.
"I don’t give a f*ck what you guys write because you guys have never played the game. I build players, so I know what the f*ck I’m doing. So if I take criticism, it only makes me better, because if I wasn’t doing it right, you guys wouldn’t be poking holes in what I’ve done."
Player of the Week: Luka Doncic
Exactly a year on from the remarkable trade that saw Luka Doncic move from Dallas to Los Angeles, he continues to prove what a historically bad decision it was from those at the Mavericks.
Last week, the Lakers superstar had 46 points and 11 assists against the Chicago Bulls, 29 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers, 37 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists against the Washington Wizards, and 30 points and 15 rebounds against the New York Knicks.
Doncic is averaging the most points per game in the NBA this season (33.6), as well as the second-most assists (8.8), illustrating what a freakish attacking player he is.
Play of the Week: Peyton Watson
Denver Nuggets' Peyton Watson produced an incredible dunk on Chet Holmgren on Sunday evening, in his side's defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Story of the Week: Giannis Antetokounmpo
After spending 13 years at the Milwaukee Bucks and winning the franchise their first NBA title in 50 years, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is finally on the way out.
ESPN'S NBA insider Shams Charania reported last week that the Greek star is ready to leave the team after a tricky few years, and the Bucks are listening to offers.
The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Knicks, Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets are all interested in Giannis, and several teams are aggressively pushing to complete a trade before the February 5th deadline.
Whether a deal happens now or in the summer, it looks like his time in Milwaukee is coming to an end.