The National Basketball Association today named Clippers’ center Chris Kaman as the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, November 2nd through Sunday, November 8th.
Kaman led the Clippers to a 3-0 week, averaging 24.3 points on .574 shooting from the field, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Kaman, who is currently in the midst of a career-long six-game streak with 20 or more points, tallied a high for the week with 25 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in a 93-90 win over Minnesota on November 2nd.Kaman followed up his performance against the Timberwolves with a 22 point, nine rebound and three block night in the Clippers’ 118-90 win at Golden State on November 6th. He closed the week out with by tallying 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists in a 113-100 win over Memphis on November 7th.
In seven games played this season, Kaman has tallied 23.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 38.6 minutes per game.
Atlanta’s Joe Johnson received the award for the Eastern Conference.
In crunching the numbers yesterday, we highlighted Kaman’s uncanny numbers:
- An Estimated Wins Added number of 1.5 – tops in the Western Conference centers and second only to Dwight Howard in the NBA among centers.
- True Shooting Percentage: 62.3 percent. That’s especially impressive given Chris’ skyrocketing usage rate, which stands at 22.3. This number demonstrates just how integral Chris has been to the Clippers’ offense. It’s one thing to put up a high shooting percentage when you’re subsisting off putbacks and easy buckets, but Kaman is the Clippers’ first option and is working for every shot.
- Early evidence that it isn’t just Chris’ offense that’s making him invaluable. Check out the defensive numbers. Though the standard error on early-season calculations are notoriously high, Kaman finds himself up at the top of the list with defensive stalwarts like Andrei Kirilenko, Ron Artest, Andre Iguodala, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant.
- Turnovers, which have traditionally been an Achilles Heel for Chris, are down precipitously. Prior to his season, his turnover rate had never been lower than 15.0. This season? A very respectable 13.4.
11 Responses
Undoubtedly deserves the award. Nice to see the league as a whole is giving some reconition to us. Hope he can spin it into Player of the Month.
Not sure about season and age requirements, but if Kaman keeps this up, can’t he be considered for Most-Improved?
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D.J. Foster Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Sure can – as far as I know, there are no requirements at all.
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Posted on November 9th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Kevin, any idea who the last Clipper was to get this award? Was it Cassell or F-Elton?
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D.J. Foster Reply:
November 9th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Elton was the last Clipper to be named player of the week, as far as I can tell. He won it 3 times in 05-06.
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Posted on November 9th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Kudos to Chris. I’ve been hard on the big guy in the past but he seems to have finally found himself and his game. He realizes he is the main threat offensively for this team and is attacking as one. Lets see if he can sustain this for more than a few weeks. I hope so.
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Posted on November 9th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I must admit that before the season started I was pushing for a Kaman for Prince trade. I have a 4 yr old Kaman Clipper Jersey and has giving up hope – but I’m glad I’m not the Clipper GM.
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Posted on November 9th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Wow … NBA.com ranks the Clippers 16. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AmG6ZACP0JHMvVx2ONmgpsm8vLYF?slug=nba_com-week2-20091109&prov=nba_com&type=lgns
Not bad…
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Posted on November 9th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I like how much effort and energy Chris is putting in this year, but consistency hasnt been a hallmark of his game and if an opportunity presents itself to trade up…I think we should do it. Regardless of Chris winning player of the week honors, I think we should still entertain moving him so we can give more minutes to our young guys. *cough*DeAndre*cough*
Hes like a stock that finally moved above the price we bought him at 3 years ago, I think the team should get out while the going is good. Sure the possibility exists that Kaman keeps getting better and totally dominates, or it could just be a fluke. If we use history as a guide, the signs all point to trading up if possible.
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Posted on November 9th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Too bad we can’t vote for him for the All Star Game…he isn’t even on the ballot!
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Posted on November 10th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
[...] More from Kevin Arnovitz of ClipperBlog: [...]
Posted on November 10th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
http://the-kid.spreadshirt.com/la-clippers-chris-kaman-t-shirt-A5309101
We have new Chris Kaman t-shirts.
“So Easy a Kaman can Do it”
Get one to wear when he’s playing at this years NBA all-star game
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Posted on November 12th, 2009 at 9:17 am
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