The 5 Best NBA Performances From Last Week: Rodney Hood Destroys the Lakers
If you haven't checked out numberFire Live, it's time for you to do that.
With Live, you can follow games in a very unique way, with live win probabilities at your disposal before and throughout the game. And you even have the ability to go next level on each play and each player.
The numberFire Live "Leaders" tab allows you to look at the night's best showings with a list comprised of each night's top NBA performers and performances on a scale of 1 to 100, according to production and efficiency.
All five performers below, each in his own way, earned a rating of 100 -- a perfect score -- for their respective performances. They're listed from highest to lowest nERD (a measure of a player's total contribution, based on efficiency) for their given performances.
5. Kawhi Leonard vs. Toronto Raptors
Saturday night, Kawhi Leonard showed us that he is far removed from the nagging quad injury that forced him to miss three games a week ago.
In 40 minutes of action, Leonard went for 33 points on an efficient 10 of 17 from the floor and 11 of 11 from the free throw line while also showing off his crazy versatility, contributing 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. He proved once again that he can be a primary playmaker for the Spurs, tallying an Assist Rate of 36.4% with dimes that would make Magic Johnson proud.
4. Marcus Morris vs. Dallas Mavericks
You could make an argument that Marcus Morris has been one of the hottest player in the NBA over the last 10 games or so. In addition to being a solid defender, Morris has been scoring very efficiently from inside and outside the arc as of late. His game against Dallas was no different.
In a game in which Detroit ultimately fell short, Morris was one of the bright spots, as he torched
Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks for 31 points, including 6 three-pointers on 8 attempts. Both his outstanding Offensive Rating of 168.6 and True Shooting Percentage of 86.7% were game highs but just weren't enough to carry Detroit to a victory.
3. J.J. Hickson vs. Golden State Warriors
You know those puzzles that ask you which one is not like the others? That's J.J. Hickson.
Over his time with Denver and Washington this season, Hickson is averaging a paltry 12.5 minutes per game with 6 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest. To say he's a borderline rotation player would be kind. But this past week, Hickson showed what he can do with his talent (when he puts his mind to it) in little time as he tallied nine points and five rebounds in five minutes. That's a different kind of efficient for you.
2. LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Like Morris, LaMarcus Aldridge could very well be the single hottest player in all of basketball. Since hitting his stride with Tim Duncan on the mend, the first-year Spur is hooping with a purpose. Aldridge had one of his best days at the office a week ago, when he put up 31 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks on the Grizzlies.
How he's been scoring his points is what separates him from so many other players lately. As a prime example, Aldridge went 11 for 16 from the field and 9 of 11 from the charity stripe on Monday. His Defensive Rating of 93.2 really shows the huge value the star forward provides on the other end of the floor.
1. Rodney Hood vs. Los Angeles Lakers
With a nERD of 84.18 -- more than 20 points higher than Aldridge, the next closest player -- Rodney Hood did much more than take advantage of a swiss cheese Lakers defense. He flat out destroyed it.
This is just 3 of Hood's 30 points and one of eight threes he splashed in on Kobe Bryant and company Monday night. In 28 minutes, Hood earned an Offensive Rating of 220.2 points per 100 possessions on an otherworldly True Shooting Percentage of 115.4%. It was the Lakers, sure -- nonetheless, Hood's shooting exhibition was one of the best performances of the NBA season.
