We take a look at who has been hot in the BBL during the month of February.
Scoring machines
February witnessed an incredible amount of points production with five players smashing the 20 points per game barrier and two of those finishing either side of the eye-popping 30 landmark. Veteran forward Charles Smith (Newcastle Eagles; pictured) managed to pour in an incredible average of 32.2 points per game and was closely followed by Michael Ojo (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders) who had a superb 29.2 points per game. Further back from these two runaway offensive express trains, were Chez Marks (Cheshire Phoenix) with 23.9 points per game whilst Kareem Maddox (Newcastle Eagles) and Alex Owumi (Worcester Wolves) also managed to rack up more than 20 points per game.
Sharp shooters
There were also some sensational and deadly shooting performances during the period too, and none more so than Jordan Spencer (London Lions) who shot the lights out, making an astonishing 81.3% from the floor. The only other player to surpass 70% during February is also not a headline BBL name, but like Spencer, has done a great job for his team. That man is Anthony Martin (Newcastle Eagles) who shot 71.4%. Donald Robinson (Glasgow Rocks) and Jamell Anderson (Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders) were the other two players to shoot above 65% in February.
Deadly from downtown
After a distinct drop off in players lighting it up from long-range during January, there was a considerable uplift during February with no fewer than five players managing to shoot more than 50% from beyond the arc. EJ Harrison (Glasgow Rocks) led the way with 55%, including a buzzer-beating game winning shot against London. Meanwhile Sterling Davis (Glasgow Rocks) is someone else from the Scottish club showing his prowess from downtown with 52.6%, but the player-coach must settle for third place with Stanley Ocitti (Worcester Wolves) taking second spot with 53.6%. Michael Ojo (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders) and Arnas Kazlauskas (Worcester Wolves) also converted at least one of every two attempts from three-point land.
On the line
There’s little doubt that February 2013 was the best month of the season from the free-throw line and one of the best months in BBL history. Michael Ojo (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders), Charles Smith (Newcastle Eagles), Stanley Ocitti (Worcester Wolves) and Stefan Gill (Manchester Giants) sunk a mind-blowing and absolutely perfect 77 of 77 combined. Ojo made 27 of 27, Smith sunk 23 of 23, Ocitti managed 15 of 15 and Gill continued his accuracy from the line this season with a flawless 12 of 12.
On the glass
Some five players managed to accumulate double-digits in rebounding during February and it was Molten BBL Player of the Month Kareem Maddox (Newcastle Eagles), who topped the chart with 13 boards per game. The forward narrowly edged out Frank Holmes (Surrey Heat) who had 12.4 rebounds per game and indeed the duo went up against each other last weekend in the paint. Mike Tuck (One Health Sharks Sheffield) has featured in the last two BBL Team of the Week line-ups and much of that has been due to his 11.8 rebounds per game. Andrew Keister (Durham Wildcats) and Charles Smith (Newcastle Eagles) both averaged an excellent 10.8 rebounds.
At the double
All five players who averaged double-figures in rebounding during the month managed to claim February double-doubles.
Dishing it up
Joe Chapman (Newcastle Eagles) may have had a few less than memorable moments during February as far as Eagles’ results were concerned, but he can turn to the fact that he has certainly performed well finding his team-mates on the court with a superb 7.6 assists per game. Veteran campaigner Ralph Bucci (Durham Wildcats) continues to roll back the years with 6.3 assists per game, whilst Carlos Fernandez (Worcester Wolves) has been instrumental in the upturn in fortunes for his side with 5.2 per game – the Wolves negotiating February without tasting defeat.
Steal merchants
Usual suspect Chavis Holmes (Surrey Heat) returns to top spot after coming up with 3.2 steals per game during February, despite his team suffering from a real slump in overall performance. Darius Defoe (Newcastle Eagles) showed it doesn’t need to be backcourt players near the top of the standings with the centre grabbing 2.2 steals per game. Gareth Murray (Glasgow Rocks), Charles Smith (Newcastle Eagles) and Zaire Taylor (Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders) all came up with two steals per game.
The swatters
There was a tie at the top of our swatters chart with regular block kingpin Alif Bland (Cheshire Phoenix) claiming 2.6 per game – the same as new chart entrant Andreas Schreiber (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders). Close behind in third place was Lithuanian big man Arturas Masiulis (Worcester Wolves) with 2.3 per game, whilst Kareem Maddox (Newcastle Eagles) was the only other player to block at least two shots per game.
