Wake up too early, open all your gifts too fast, take a nap too soon and then watch just the right amount of basketball.
Ah, Christmas Day.
In fact, the big day not only features five games but five guys from the latest OSPR list.
Notes: Season statistics are through games of Dec. 22
Any player who turns 33 during regular season can be added to rankings.
1. Dwyane Wade (34), Chicago Bulls
Last week’s rank: 1
Last week’s stats: 6 games, 17.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.3 apg
Season stats: 19.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.6 apg
After going over the 20-point barrier in six of his previous eight games, Wade has slowed, eclipsing the mark just twice in the last six. The shooting also has been off, connecting on just 43.6 from the field and 18.2 from beyond the arc. Of course, all it takes is one big game to get Wade going. Could that come on Christmas Day against the Spurs?
http://www.nba.com/video/2016/11/11/20161110heat-pay-tribute-wade/
2. Pau Gasol (36), San Antonio Spurs
Last week’s rank: 2
Last week’s stats: 6 games, 14.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.5 apg
Season stats: 12.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.7 apg
The big scoring numbers aren’t there (and probably won’t be all season), but everything else seems to be in check. In addition to shooting 54.7 from the field over the last two weeks, Gasol managed two blocks in three straight. He’s also snatched double-digit rebounds in three of his last five. Digging deeper, Gasol’s assist/turnover ratio of 2.11 is the best of his career.
3. Zach Randolph (35), Memphis Grizzlies
Last week’s rank: 3
Last week’s stats: 6 games, 10.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.0 apg
Season stats: 12.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.5 apg
Unspectacular as his two-week stint was, Randolph holds his spot because no one else did enough to bump him down. Of course the guy in that fourth slot may be one big game away from doing just that. Not only did Randolph shoot just 36 percent over the two weeks, he failed to break double-figure scoring in three of the six games.
4. Tyson Chandler (33), Phoenix Suns
Last week’s rank: 6
Last week’s stats: 7 games, 8.1 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 0.1 apg
Season stats: 7.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 0.5 apg
The big man continues to do impressive work on the boards, snatching 10 or more in five of his last eight games, including two 20-rebound efforts. Though not an offensive force, Chandler has been very efficient when he does shoot the ball, 70.3 percent for the season while not missing a shot (8-for-8) in his last three games.
5. Tony Allen (34), Memphis Grizzlies
Last week’s rank: 7
Last week’s stats: 6 games, 10.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
Season stats: 10.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.0 apg
It was a tale of two Allens over the last two weeks. In two road games, Allen managed 7.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 41.2 shooting in 26.4 minutes. In four home games, he averaged 12.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 48.9 shooting in 34.5 minutes. But one thing that has been consistent is the defense. Allen has gone 15 straight games with at least one steal and two or more in four of the last six.
6. Jamal Crawford (36), LA Clippers
Last week’s rank: 4
Last week’s stats: 7 games, 9.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.1 apg
Season stats: 11.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.1 apg
After starting the two-week period strong (22 points on Dec. 10 and 14 points on Dec. 12), Crawford went over 10 points in just one of the next five games. Like Allen, Crawford excelled at home, averaging 13.0 points, 60.0 FG% and 45.5 3PT% in four games. But in three road games, he averaged just 5.3 points, 25.0 FG% and 20.0 3PT%.
7. Tony Parker (34), San Antonio Spurs
Last week’s rank: Just missed
Last week’s stats: 6 games, 10.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 4.2 apg
Season stats: 9.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 4.3 apg
The above stats are anything but spectacular, which tells you something about the play from the rest of the 33-and-over guys. Parker’s two-week stint wouldn’t have looked so pedestrian if not for Thursday’s 1-for-8, 2-point effort against the Clippers. Before that game, he had scored in double figures in four of the previous five games while chipping in seven or more assists in three games.
8. Nene (34), Houston Rockets
Last week’s rank: NA
Last week’s stats: 7 games, 7.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.4 apg
Season stats: 7.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.8 apg
The big man managed to score in double figures in four of seven games while shooting 57.9 from the field. What makes that more impressive is that he did it averaging just 16.1 minutes per game. And while he may not be getting many blocks (just two in last seven games), Nene has gotten at least one steal in five of the last six games.
9. Manu Ginobili (39), San Antonio Spurs
Last week’s rank: 10
Last week’s stats: 5 games, 9.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.8 apg
Season stats: 7.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.5 apg
After going for double-figure scoring in just six of the previous 20 games, Ginobili has accomplished the feat in three of the last four. Over the last two weeks, he’s managed to shooting 48.5 from the field, which is a massive improvement on his season clip of 38.5. Same can be said for his shooting from beyond the arc: 58.8 over the last five games compared to 40.5 for the season.
10. Jameer Nelson (34), Denver Nuggets
Last week’s rank: 5
Last week’s stats: 6 games, 6.3 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 3.2 apg
Season stats: 9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.3 apg
The biggest reason for Nelson’s drop on our list has been the drop in his playing time. After getting more than 30 minutes in four of the previous eight games, he’s gone six straight games without eclipsing the mark. In fact, over the last two weeks, Nelson is averaging just 20.3 minutes. During that span, he’s gone for double-digit scoring in just one game.
Just missed the cut: Kyle Korver, Leandro Barbosa, Channing Frye
Will turn 33 this season: Andre Iguodala (Jan. 28), Zaza Pachulia (Feb. 10), Marcin Gortat (Feb. 17), Sasha Vujacic (March 8), Chris Bosh (March 24), C.J. Watson (April 17)
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