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Team of the Week: Boston Celtics
With talisman Jayson Tatum missing the whole season with an ACL injury, it wasn't clear what sort of team the Boston Celtics would be, and whether this would simply be a gap year. However, that has not been the case at all.
Joe Mazzulla continues to demonstrate what a fine coach he is, and all the players are so well-rounded on both ends of the floor.
Jaylen Brown, in particular, has been excellent in the absence of Tatum, declaring himself the 'best 2 way player in the game' on social media a few days ago, before he went on to drop a joint career-high 50 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. He is now averaging 30.1 points per game this season.
Boston claimed emphatic wins over the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings and Clippers last week, moving up to third in the Eastern Conference and just three games behind the number one seeds.
They are looking dangerous.
Underperformers of the Week: Memphis Grizzlies
It has been a rollercoaster season for the Memphis Grizzlies. After a really torrid start, which saw them claim two wins in their first 11 games, they began to find their feet and really improve their record. However, that took a hit last week with three losses on the spin.
They were defeated by the Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers, which really showcased just how much they missed the seven-foot-three-inch Zach Edey.
Edey was averaging 11.1 rebounds per game this season, and his skills on the defensive end of the floor make the Grizzlies a significantly better team. He has been out for nearly four weeks now, so he should be making his return soon.
Player of the Week: Tyrese Maxey
The 76ers' Tyrese Maxey has been enjoying an utterly stellar season, taking the mantle as the franchise's best player.
Last week, the American had 34 points and 12 assists against the Grizzlies, 34 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists against the Dallas Mavericks, and 36 points and eight rebounds against the New York Knicks.
He has firmly established himself as one of the best guards in the league, averaging 31.1 points per game this season. Only Luka Doncic (33.6) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.1) average more.
Play of the Week: Matas Buzelis
2026 is just underway, and the Chicago Bulls' Matas Buzelis has already put himself right in contention for the dunk of the year, producing this incredible poster on Jalen Suggs.
Story of the Week: Nikola Jokic's injury
When Nikola Jokic dropped to the ground, clutching his knee in pain during the Denver Nuggets' defeat to the Miami Heat, fans of the franchise - and all basketball lovers out there - had their hearts in their mouths.
As well as being the best player in the world, Jokic is also one of the most durable players in the league. The big Serb has missed just 36 games over the last five seasons and has only played fewer than 70 games in a season once before.
Jokic left the game, and there was genuine concern that he may have suffered an ACL injury, which would keep the Nuggets' talisman out for the rest of the campaign.
Thankfully, however, it was revealed the next day that Jokic's ligament remained intact, and he had suffered a hyperextension of the knee. Denver fans breathed a sigh of relief, but it meant he would still miss four weeks, with his MVP hopes taking a hit as a result.
Since that game, the Nuggets have won one and lost two, as they look to survive during a period where key players like Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cam Johnson are also injured.
