With the level of drama and volume of games, it feels like the NBA season has been going on for a lot more than two and a half weeks. These are five players that have been surprisingly unforgettable: 5. Kevin Love, Minnesota » That he’s leading the NBA in rebounding (14.9 a game) comes as no surprise. But adding a 3-point stroke — Love’s 41.3 percentage is sixth in the NBA among players with 40 or more attempts — heck, why not put him on the ballot for most improved again?
4. Kyle Lowry, Houston » It’s one thing to be second in the NBA in assists (10.0 a game). It’s another to be ahead of both Steve Nash and Chris Paul. It’s still another to get charged with battery in Las Vegas. Things could turn out good or bad for the sixth-year Villanova product.
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3. Ryan Anderson, Orlando » Anderson is second on the Magic in scoring at 18.0 points a game — nearly double a career-best 10.6 last year — but he could be what Orlando might have to trade away to keep Dwight Howard. He’s shown that what Howard aims to leave behind ain’t half bad.
2. Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia ?» In his second season with the Sixers, Hawes has moved inside and become a force, averaging 12.5 points and 10.3 rebounds a game. (An honorable mention goes to rookie Nikola Vucevic, who has played well enough to earn Marreese Speights a ticket out of town.)
1. Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers » He’s making it easy to forget the image of him walking off the court in Dallas last spring disgusted and shirtless by averaging a career-best 18.8 points and 15.7 rebounds in his first six games after being suspended for the first four. Count the Lakers out at your own peril.
– Craig Stouffer
