Timberwolves Duo Kevin Love and Michael Beasley Lead Early NBA All Surprise Team
There have been a number of pleasant surprises in the early NBA season, so we've decided to put together our 2010-2011 NBA All-Surprise Team.
This year's team is led by a pair of Minnesota Timberwolves—Kevin Love and Michael Beasley. While there were a number of deserving candidates, we have narrowed the final list to a starting five...
C Kevin Love
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Kevin Love is the MVP of our All-Surprise team after getting off to an absolutely incredible start this season. Love leads the NBA in rebounding at 15.6 per game, a whopping 3.5 more rebounds per game than Dwight Howard—the NBA's rebounding champ for the last three seasons.
As if the 15.6 boards weren't enough, Love is pouring in 20.5 points in just under 35 minutes per game. He's also shooting an astounding 88.5 percent from the free throw line, good for third in the league for players who attempt at least six free throws per game.
Love got off to a fairly slow start due to the bizarre decision by head coach Kurt Rambis to limit his minutes early in the season. However, Love announced himself as a dominant force in this league for years to come with the first 30-30 game in the NBA since Moses Malone in 1982. Love had 31 points and 31 rebounds in a 112-103 win over the Knicks on November 12th.
To top it all off, as of this past weekend, Love was responsible for FIVE of the 10 20-20 games in the NBA this season...not to mention several recent efforts of 25 and 18, 28 and 19 and 27 and 18.
SF Michael Beasley
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Our second member of the All-Surprise team is also a member of the Timberwolves, small forward Michael Beasley. Beasley is averaging 21.3 points and six rebounds per game during his first year in Minnesota after spending two, mostly underachieving, seasons in Miami.
Beasley has solidified himself as the No. 1 scoring option in Minnesota, and is the perfect example of a player who simply needed a change in scenery to blossom into one of the league's bright young stars.
Beasley struggled in Miami having to play a second fiddle to Dwayne Wade, but is now excelling as a go- to-guy in the NBA, a role he was destined to fulfill after being selected with the second overall pick by the Heat in 2008.
Beasley made his presence felt early this season during a six game stretch where he averaged over 31 points per game, including a career high 42 points in a 98-89 win over Sacramento on November 10th.
PF Blake Griffin
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The first overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft is considered a rookie in 2010 after sitting out the entire 2009 season with a knee injury he suffered in the preseason.
Many analysts predicted Griffin to be above average in his first season as a professional, but no one had any idea he would surpass LeBron James as the leader in highlight reel thunder dunks.
Griffin is averaging 20.3 points, 11.9 rebounds (fourth in the league), and three assists in just over 36 minutes per game.
Griffin has put his amazing athletic ability on display for the entire world to see as he has become the NBA's definition of must see TV on a nightly basis.
SG Eric Gordon
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This brings us to our fourth member of the All-Surprise team, another Los Angeles Clipper, Eric Gordon. Similar to Love, Gordon benefited greatly from spending his summer on Team USA under the direction of Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski while winning a gold medal in the process.
Many felt Gordon was a long shot to make the team, but Coach K realized the need for a long distance shooter during international play and not only selected Gordon, but played him a considerable amount during the tournament and finished fourth on the team in scoring.
Gordon struggled through a number of nagging injuries during his first two seasons in LA, but has managed to stay healthy in his third season and is finally showing us that he will be an elite scorer at this level for many years to come.
Gordon was selected seventh overall by the Clippers in 2008 and is currently sixth in the NBA in scoring at 24.5 points per game. Gordon's upper body strength allows him to get to the free throw line 9.2 times per game (second in the NBA) where he is shooting 81.5 percent for the season.
PG Russell Westbrook
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Russell Westbrook has taken the leap from an explosive athlete who often struggled with his shot, to a bona fide NBA All-Star. Westbrook is ninth in the league in scoring at 23.6 points and sixth in assists with 8.8 per game.
He is one of only two players in the NBA to rank in the top 10 in both categories along with Derrick Rose. Westbrook also contributes 5.3 rebounds a game from the point guard position.
Similar to his fellow All-Surprise teammate Blake Griffin, the 6'3" Westbrook has become a human highlight reel on a nightly basis, often showcasing his length and athleticism with a wide array of high flying and acrobatic drives to the hoop.
Well folks, there you have it, your 2010-2011 NBA All-Surprise Team.
