The Top 10 NBA MVP Candidates, Vol. 5

Last week, LeBron James reminded us all why he’s a three-time MVP winner and the most dominant player in the NBA. Becoming the youngest player to 20,000 points, while locking in 5,000 career assists (ironically in the same game) was an indication of what makes him so great. The key to LeBron’s success has been his unmatched versatility. Kevin Durant scored a career-high last week and is having arguably the best month of his career, but it still wasn’t enough to eclipse LeBron for the top spot on the ladder. KD has been on a tear and the Thunder have the best record in the NBA. Had last week been just another week for LeBron, KD would be sitting in the top spot. However that milestone is a reminder that although KD has been the better scorer, he’s still got a way to go to get on LeBron’s level.

With the All-Star teams now set for action, some of our MVP candidates were snubbed while others were well deserving of their selections. While guys like David Lee and James Harden were rewarded for the great seasons they’ve been having, it came as a surprise to everyone that Stephen Curry didn’t make the cut. After writing about why he deserved to make the team, we were convinced Curry would be suiting up in Houston for All-Star Sunday. Unfortunately, the coaches didn’t realize that he’s been one of the more valuable players in the entire league this season.

He’s been a familiar face on our MVP ladder in recent weeks and has anchored the biggest turnaround from last season for any team in the NBA. If some extra love on the MVP ladder can make Curry feel a little bit better about his ridiculous All-Star snub, we’re happy to help.

Here are our rankings for Volume 5 of our NBA MVP Ladder.

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10. JAMES HARDEN – Last week: 19.5 ppg/5.5 apg/6.0 rpg
Vol. 4 rank: 5
It was a rough week for James Harden’s Rockets. After winning four straight to start off the month, they lost their next seven. Harden didn’t exactly have his hottest week of the season last week, either. He had 23 points against the Clippers, shooting 8-for-20 from the field, then he went 5-for-23 against the Mavericks scoring only 17, and 5-for-19 against the Pacers on Friday while scoring only 17 points.

Despite having a rough week, Harden is still playing MVP-caliber basketball. He’s averaging about 26/5/5 on the season, and the Rockets are currently right at .500. If Harden can continue putting up big-time scoring numbers and climb the Rockets into safe playoff territory, he’ll find himself in the MVP conversation at the end of the year. Although he got a bit of a reality check this week – learning that it’s not always easy being your team’s best player – James Harden has done a remarkable job adjusting to a leadership role on his new team, and couldn’t be more deserving of his first All-Star selection.

9. KOBE BRYANT – Last week: 25.5 ppg/4.5 apg/3.0 rpg
Vol. 4 rank: 8
Things haven’t gotten any better in Laker land, and with the trade deadline approaching, the drama continues to get more and more intense. Kobe’s been doing the best he can to try and turn things around by getting Dwight Howard his touches and defending the best player on the opposing team, but he’s taking himself out of rhythm by doing that. After playing well in convincing back-to-back wins against Cleveland and Milwaukee at the beginning of last week, Kobe went back into a funk. He struggled against Miami, shooting 8-for-25 from the field, and then against Toronto, scoring 26 points on 10-for-32 shooting.

With the Lakers inching closer and closer to falling out of playoff contention as opposed to making forward progress, Kobe finds himself at the bottom of the ladder. They’re currently 2-12 in the month of January and unless Kobe can find a way to get them some wins, and fast, he’ll continue to fall.

8. DAVID LEE – Last week: 19.0 ppg/4.6 apg/1.0 rpg
Vol. 4 rank: NR
David Lee has been having a better season than he’s been given credit for. In the month of January, he’s only been held short of a double-double in two games. He’s averaging about 20 and 11 on the season, and the Warriors are currently the fifth-best team in the West. Factor in all of that and it’s hard to believe Lee hasn’t moved up on the ladder all season. It’s about time he gets some well-deserved respect. After being named to his second All-Star team, it’s becoming no secret that Lee is having one of the best seasons out of anyone in the league this year. The crazy part about that is he’s still not the most important player on his own team.

7. STEPHEN CURRY – Last week: 24.5 ppg/7.0 apg/2.5 spg
Vol. 4 rank: 9
The Warriors missed Curry against Miami and San Antonio last week. Without him on the floor, they lack that go-to perimeter scorer and it showed, especially against the Heat, who held the Warriors to a season-low 75 points. Although the game was closer against San Antonio, the Warriors still weren’t able to come out victorious without their lead guard. While he was a bit rusty in his return against New Orleans, Curry was able to get his team right back on track with a W, scoring 20 points on 5-for-17 shooting.

Curry’s value to the Warriors is so underrated. After being snubbed from the All-Star team, it’s pretty evident that his efforts have gone undervalued. While many would argue that David Lee has been the best player for the Warriors this season, it’s clear to see that they’re a different team without Curry on the floor. He’s been averaging about 21/7/4 for the Warriors this season, and those numbers put him in a group with Russell Westbrook and LeBron James as the only three players averaging at least 20 points, six assists and four rebounds.

6. ZACH RANDOLPH – Last week: 13.0 ppg/1.0 apg/12.0 rpg
Vol. 4 rank: 6
Randolph’s dip in production has been a direct result of his back issues. After exiting early in Wednesday’s loss to San Antonio, and sitting out against Sacramento on Friday, it’s clear his back strains have been catching up with him. Although he returned on Saturday against Chicago and grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds, he shot 6-for-20 from the field and finished with only 13 points.

Randolph still leads the NBA in double-doubles and the Grizzlies are still the fourth-best team in the Western Conference. He’s averaging about 16 and 12 for the Grizzlies this season, and if they plan on reaching the top of the West at some point (they’re now five games back from first place), they’ll need Z-Bo to keep it up.

5. RUSSELL WESTBROOK – Last week: 30.6 ppg/6.6 apg/6.4 rpg
Vol. 4 rank: 7
After struggling against Portland on Sunday, scoring only 18 points on 21 attempts, Westbrook drew the typical “he shoots too much” criticism from the haters. But then he turned right around and dropped 30-plus in his next four games. While people are so quick to criticize Westbrook for shooting too much whenever he has a bad game, weeks like these continue to shut the haters up. The fact of the matter is, when him and Durant are both going off, it puts defenses in such a dilemma and that’s when the Thunder are at their best. They currently have the best record in the league, and while many would credit Durant for their success, a lot of it has to do with the play of Westbrook as well.

It’s not often that there are two MVP candidates on the same team, but with the way Russell Westbrook has been playing this season, he deserves some love on the ladder as well. Durant receives most of the credit for the Thunder’s success, and a lot of what Westbrook does goes unnoticed. Yet he’s averaging nearly 23 points, and over eight assists and five rebounds on the season for the best team in the NBA. That makes him more worthy of MVP consideration than half the guys on the ladder, even if he is playing with Kevin Durant every night.

4. CARMELO ANTHONY – Last week: 26.5 ppg/4.0 apg/5.0 rpg
Vol. 4 rank: 4
In his two games last week, Carmelo Anthony lead the Knicks to two wins, scoring 27 against the Hornets and 26 against the Pistons. The month of January has been a good one for him – he’s averaging about 31 points, six rebounds and five assists in the new year. The Knicks currently have the second-best team in the East. However, the Nets, Bulls, Pacers and Hawks are all within three games of New York’s finest, who haven’t been able to find that same consistency they started the season off with.

At 26-14, ‘Melo’s MVP chances are still very much alive. There’s still a ton of basketball left, and the Knicks are in great standing. ‘Melo’s averaging about 29 and six on the season, so there’s still a possibility that he can finish with the scoring title and the best record in the East. If he can make that happen, he’ll be closer to winning his first MVP award than he’s ever been. Although it’ll be tough for him to eclipse Durant and take the award out of LeBron’s hands, it’s still very much a possibility.

3. CHRIS PAUL – Last week: 22.0 ppg/11.0 apg/4.0 rpg (1 game played)
Vol. 4 rank: 3
In his only game last week, Chris Paul put up a double-double in a win against Washington. His knee injury sidelined him for the majority of last week, but the Clippers have done a decent job holding it down without him. While it’s clear that they miss him on the court, it’s also clear that Paul’s leadership has rubbed off on the rest of the team. They were able to win all three of the games he sat out last week (even as they lost three since then, two of them without CP), including a 26-point win over a tough Grizzlies team.

Paul is averaging about 17 and 10 on the season, which are excellent numbers, but if he wants a chance at the MVP he’ll have to get his team back on top out West. After going all last month without losing a game, the Clippers have gone back to looking average, going 7-6 this month. When Paul returns, the Clippers will likely pick up where they left off with him healthy. But they can’t afford to have him out much longer with the Spurs and Thunder both playing their best basketball of the season.

2. KEVIN DURANT – Last week: 36.6 ppg/4.2 apg/5.4 rpg
Vol. 4 rank: 2
Kevin Durant is playing the best basketball he’s ever played this month. He’s averaging 32 points, six rebounds and five assists in the month of January, not to mention he posted a career-high 52 points in a recent overtime win against Dallas. What can separate Durant from the rest of the pack is scoring at the high clip. At 29.6 points per game, he currently leads the NBA and is on pace for another scoring title. Durant has taken his game to a new level in the absence of James Harden, and while many think the lack of a third playmaker will haunt the Thunder at some point, they aren’t missing him as much as people thought.

The Thunder currently have the league’s best record at 33-10. If Durant can hold on to the best record in the league and continue to play at the high level he’s playing at this month, it’ll be really tough not to give him the award over everyone else.

1. LeBRON JAMES – Last week: 32.0 ppg/8.0 apg/6.0 rpg
Vol. 4 rank: 1
LeBron James upstages Kevin Durant last week by reaching a couple of new milestones. In his win over Golden State on Wednesday, LeBron became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points, in addition to joining the 5,000 assists club in the same game – achievements that remind everyone he’s still the best and most complete player in basketball. After his career night in Golden State, LeBron went over to L.A and shut both Kobe and the Staples Center down with a line of 39/8/7. The odds are against him to double-up on MVPs for the second time, but if anyone can make it happen, it’s LeBron James.

What really makes LeBron the absolute most valuable player in the NBA isn’t exactly team wins or his individual numbers, but the fact that he fills whatever void Miami has against an opponent on any given night. If they need him to guard a big man and get rebounds, that’s what he’ll do. If they need him to slow down Chris Paul and run the point, that’s what he’ll do. If they need him to go off for 30-plus and get a triple-double while doing it, that’s what he’ll do. No other player in the NBA can offer that to their team.

If LeBron wins his fourth MVP this year, it won’t be a landslide. Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony will make it a really close race, but LeBron should have the edge, and at the end of the day it’s his award to lose.

Will LeBron win the MVP again this year?

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