LeBron James, Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant and the Top 10 NBA Players in March

Talk about March Madness.

The East is on edge. The Knicks are under fire. The Bulls are flying. And the Heat have recovered. At least for now.

On the other side of the country, the Lakers and Thunder are dominant. The Nuggets are reignited.

And the Spurs might just live to tell us how the West was lost.

Which star shone brightest?

Here are the top 10 NBA players for the month of March.

Honorable Mention: Carmelo Anthony

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NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the game against the New Jersey Nets at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 2011 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloadi

New York Knicks: 7-11

Can you justify a player appearing in a losing month? You'd have to be good. Seriously good.

Al Jefferson didn't even get a second look.

But 'Melo? 'Melo was close.

The Knicks' latest addition single-handedly pulled his team over the line with back-to-back 39 point, 10 rebound performances to end a six-game slide.

Big ups to you Mr.Anthony.

That should get the Garden off your back.

Hot

39 points on 15 of 26 shooting to go with 10 rebounds, 5 assists in victory over the Nets March 30.

Cold

6 points on 2 of 12 shooting in 37 minutes @ Detroit March 18.

10. LaMarcus Aldridge

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MIAMI, FL - MARCH 08: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots over Joel Anthony #50 of the Miami Heat during a game at American Airlines Arena on March 8, 2011 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees tha

Portland Trailblazers: 10-6

Aldridge has been a model of consistency for Nate McMillan and the Trailblazers all season. With bigger names missing serious gametime through injury, LMA has been the shining light all along.

Hit 50% of his field goals in March to go with 20 points, seven boards and a couple dimes.

Hot

26 points and no turnovers in win at Miami March 8.

Cold

Just 9 points, 3 rebounds in 37 minutes at San Antonio March 28.

9. Ty Lawson

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DENVER, CO - MARCH 21: Ty Lawson #3 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against Jerryd Bayless #5 of the Toronto Raptors at the Pepsi Center on March 21, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Raptors 123-90. NOTE TO USER: User express

Denver Nuggets: 10-3

The pint-sized Lawson has been a revelation for the Nuggets. Averaged 16.3 points a game on 53% shooting for the month of March, well up on his career figure of 9.9.

Fell one point short of a 4-game double-double streak in wins against Phoenix, Detroit, New Orleans and Atlanta and has seen considerably more minutes since the departure of Chancey Billups.

Hot

23 points on 13 shots, 10 assists in victory at New Orleans March 14.

Cold

9 points and 4 turnovers in loss at Orlando March 18.

8. Dwyane Wade

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 1: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket against Wesley Johnson #4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of a basketball game at Target Center on April 1, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER:

Miami Heat: 9-6

Wade averaged a league second-best 26.6 points through the month on 49% shooting. He went for 30 or more on six occasions and easily led all guards with a staggering 1.8 blocks per game.

He struggled to find his way to the line early in the month, before shooting at least 10 free throws in 5 of his last 6.

Hot

Had arguably the biggest individual performance of the month with 39 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 blocks in a come-from-behind win against Philly March 25.

Cold

Struggled from the field, going 7 of 21 in 40 minutes in loss to Oklahoma City March 16.

7. Kevin Durant

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PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 30: Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots a free throw shot during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on March 30, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Thunder defeated the Suns 116-98. NOTE TO USER:

Oklahoma City Thunder: 12-2

The Thunder were hot but scoring-champion Durant wasn't quite as dominant, recording a league 6th-best 25.5 points per game.

Shot the lights out from distance, going 46% from beyond the arc and made clutch buckets in surprise win at Miami March 16.

Hot

39 points in OT win against Golden State March 29.

Cold

Just 20 points in 39 minutes in home loss to Toronto March 20.

6. Derrick Rose

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CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 25: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls drives against the Memphis Grizzlies at the United Center on March 25, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Grizzlies 99-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees tha

Chicago Bulls: 13-3

It may surprise some to see Rose outside the top five, given his clear favoritism to pocket the league's MVP honor.

While the Bulls were dominant, Rose's rebound and assist numbers dropped off in the month of March. He also shot just 41.6% from the field and 29.6% from range.

Made it to the line a crazy 21 times at Indiana March 18.

Hot

30 points, 17 assists in victory at Milwaukee March 26.

Cold

Season-high 10 turnovers in loss to Philly March 28.

5. Dirk Nowitzki

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Dirk Nowitzki #41 and Jose Barea #11 of the Dallas Mavericks react to a foul during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on March 31, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowle

Dallas Mavericks 10-6

The German giant was as consistent as ever in March averaging 24.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists a game as the Mavs continued to get the job done.

Was 7th in the league in scoring, making 52% of his field goals and a breathtaking 96% from the line.

Hot

34 points, 13 rebounds in 35 minutes in win at Golden State March 16.

Cold

15 points on 6 of 19 shooting, in 39 minutes at Phoenix March 27.

4. Russell Westbrook

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 14: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half against the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center on March 14, 2011 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by down

Oklahoma City Thunder: 12-2

Westbrook had the hot hand for the team returning the second best record in the league during March. Hit 48% from the field and from beyond the arc, for 22 points in 34 minutes a night.

Went for at least 10 assists on four separate occasions and came up just shy of a triple-double against Golden State March 29.

Hot

32 points, 11 assists in victory over Phoenix March 6.

Cold

6 turnovers and 5 of 16 shooting at Miami March 16.

3. Dwight Howard

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PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 13: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic puts up a shot against the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game at US Airways Center on March 13, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Magic defeated the Suns 111-88. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknow

Orlando Magic: 9-6

Superman led the league in rebounding, 15.9 boards per game to go with his 22.6 points on 59% shooting. Showed little improvement at the stripe, making 59% of his free throws and this could prove critical to the Magic's post-season chances.

Turned the ball over an alarming 4.7 times a game, while also leading the league with 41.5 minutes played.

Went a perfect 14 of 14 in the double-double column.

Hot

31 points from 12 shots, to go with 21 rebounds in win at Milwaukee March 16.

Cold

Season-high 9 turnovers in loss at Lakers March 14.

2. Kobe Bryant

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after his basket and a foul in a 110-82 win over the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center on March 31, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges

Los Angeles Lakers: 12-1

The Black Mamba led his side to a league-best record for the month, the only blemish being a road loss to the Heat March 10. Averaged an NBA 4th-best 25.8 points a game to go with 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

Was more than happy to share the load with the healthy-again Andrew Bynum, who contributed 12.7 points and 13.3 boards a night.

Kobe and the Lakers are hitting their straps at the perfect time, and could yet clinch the number one seed in the West over the Spurs.

Hot

42 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists in triple-OT win against Phoenix March 22.

Cold

16 points on 6 of 20 shooting at Dallas March 12.

1. LeBron James

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CLEVELAND - MARCH 29: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket in front of J.J. Hickson #21 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game on March 29, 2011 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges an

Miami Heat: 9-6

The Heatles were down, then up, and then back down again. But James was the NBA's dominant player all month.

Led the league in scoring at 28 points a game on a ridiculous 58% from the field. Was second to Andre Iguodala in assists for all forwards with 6.1 a night and led the league in efficiency.

Suffered an embarrassing loss to former teammates at Cleveland March 29, but recorded his 4th triple-double for the season.

James' only real struggle came in a home loss to Oklahoma March 16.

Hot

43 points on 16 of 21 shooting, in 31 minutes in victory at Atlanta March 18.

Cold

19 points on 8 of 21 from the field against Oklahoma March 16.