Your NBA MVP is in the Eastern Conference But it’s Not Who You Think

Melo and James are the only guys from the East in the top ten in scoring.

There are several guys in the National Basketball Association’s Eastern Conference who are having really good years to this point in the season but there is one guy in particular that is in I guess what we would call “beast mode.” Yes, LeBron James is having a nice season, but the guy up talking about resides up the coast about 1,200 miles in New York City.

Carmelo Anthony is having what many would say is by far his best season right now for the surprising New York Knicks. In roughly 36 minutes per game, ‘Melo is averaging 27.7 points per game which is three full points higher than his career average. His field goal percentage and three point percentage are both just under 50%. Over his last 10 games Anthony is averaging more than 31 points per contest and is over 34 points per game in the month of December. That 45 he had in the win over the Nets helped a bit too. Not bad for a guy playing with a bad finger.

Anthony will get another shot to be in the country’s viewing prime tonight as the struggling LA Lakers come to Madison Square Garden. At 16-5, the Knicks have gotten off to a tremendous start and with Brooklyn, Boston and Philadelphia in the Atlantic with them, they’ll need Carmelo to continue putting up the ridiculous numbers he is at the moment.

Irving returned for Cleveland and scored 28 in beating the Lakers.

News Around the East… Of the top ten players in scoring right now only two are from the Eastern Conference. Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. In the top 15, only Monta Ellis and Brook Lopez crack that list from the East. Not surprising therefore that the West is just a little more powerful right now… Kyrie Irving returned from his broken finger to deliver 28 points as the Cavs kept the struggling Lakers at bay… At a combined 7-30, the Wizards and Hornets hooked up Tuesday night in New Orleans where Washington picked up their third win of the season… Amir Johnson of the Raptors was ejected the other night after he got into a tug-of-war over the ball with the official and then threw his mouthpiece at him. Johnson admitted he ‘lost his cool’ and was “rejected” from the game. I think you mean “ejected” Amir.

Games I like Tonight

Charlotte at Atlanta – The Bobcats are suddenly starting to look more like the Bobcats of last season rather than the team that started out so nicely this year. Atlanta meanwhile has recovered from a slow start to win eight of their last ten heading into last night’s game in Orlando. Both teams in fact are coming off games last night so fatigue will be an issue for both perhaps. Either way, I like the way the Hawks are playing right now so take them big over Charlotte.

LA Lakers at New York -  At the rate Kobe Bryant is going, he is going to be completely worn out by the All-Star Break. He poured in 42 points in the team’s loss to Cleveland Tuesday night but got little help from anyone else. Now the reeling Lakers head into MSG to play one of the best team’s in the NBA in the Knicks. You know about Carmelo, but don’t forget about Tyson Chandler either. He leads the league in field goal percentage at just under 70% and is a leader in rebounding and blocked shots. Until I see something different from LA, take the Knicks and whoever else they are playing against right now.

San Antonio at Portland – The Spurs travel to Portland on the back-end of back-to-back set that started last night in Utah. I certainly hope the Spurs don’t try to rest their star players or else they’ll be fined again by David Stern. The Blazers are hanging tough in the Northwest Division at 9-12, but with Oklahoma City so far out already, thoughts must turn to just getting into the playoffs. Portland is coming off a game where they defeated Toronto yet set a dubious NBA record by going 0 for 20 on the their three-point attempts. San Antonio is playing well right now and I see no reason they don’t win in Oregon.