Each month during the 2006-07 season, The Japan Times will select bj-league Offensive and Defensive Players of the Month.

Scoring maestro John "Helicopter" Humphrey of the Tokyo Apache is the winner of the November Offensive of the Month honor.

Humphrey, who led the league in scoring a year ago at a 23.2 points-per-game clip, has raised the bar this season.

He enters the season's second month with a league-best 29.0 ppg. It breaks down this way: 20 or more points in each game and 30-plus efforts in four games, including 38 in the Apache's 87-86, last-minute victory over the Toyama Grouses last Sunday.

Humphrey showed his cool composure and his shooter's touch at the free-throw line in that contest, hitting all 18 of his free-throw attempts.

The 26-year-old has carried the Apache on his big shoulders this season, scoring more than double the points of the team's No. 2 option, Jeremee McGuire. He has put 232 points on the board compared to McGuire's 107.

The Apache have needed every one of Helicopter's points. And he's delivered game after game.

Remember this: The former Middle Tennessee State and Boston Frenzy (ABA) player has scored 34.8 percent of Tokyo's points.

In a post-game interview Sunday, Apache coach Joe Bryant praised Humphrey for his productivity and his ability to lead the team to victory.

Toyama Grouses forward/center Jerod Ward is also gaining serious attention for his scoring skills. He is scoring 27.6 ppg, which also includes four 30-point outings.

Ward is scoring 40.3 percent shooting from 3-point range and is equally adept at hitting a mid-range jumper or cutting through traffic for a layup (49.3 percent on 2-point shots). He's been no slouch on the defensive end, either, swatting 13 shots and picking up a steal or more in every game.

He received consideration for both awards.

DEFENSIVE WINNER: Niigata Albirex BB standout Nick Davis commands attention in the lane.

A 203-cm center, Davis' long limbs can cause problems for opponents at both ends of the floor.

He is first-place Niigata's leading scorer (16.8 ppg), but has also been a monster on the boards, averaging 14.2 rebounds per contest.

Effort is the key to Davis' success.

Davis didn't post seven double-double games in an eight-game span by simply going through the motions.

In other words, you've got to be aggressive, nasty and outwork your foe to put up 23-point, 24-rebound games like Davis did on Nov. 19.

With 89 defensive rebounds, 14 blocked shots and eight steals on his stat sheet to date, Big Nick has been a big menace for other bj-league players.