MVP Rankings Week 1
Dec 6, 2013 23:45:52 GMT
Post by runsNgoses on Dec 6, 2013 23:45:52 GMT
For the MVP Rankings, I was taking into consideration not only stats, but the team's record as well. There are a lot of players that are having monster years but it isn't reflecting with what the team is doing, and to me, an MVP is a player who not only is playing out of his mind, but is making a huge impact on his team. Feel free to critique or even make your own if you'd like. Can't guarantee that I'll be able to write up an article for this every week.
1) Kevin Durant: Brooklyn Nets 6-0, (36.5ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.2spg, 1.8apg, 1.5bpg)
Kevin Durant is having himself the best year of his career. The Nets remain the only undefeated team in the league with big thanks to Durant. It appears as if he's also stepped up his game on the defensive side of the court as well. It's going to be a tough race for MVP this year with division rival LeBron James...But in my opinion, whoever has the best record after the season is over, should win it.
2) LeBron James: Boston Celtics 7-1, (35.1ppg, 4rpg, 3apg, 2.8spg, .5bpg)
No shocker to see LeBron in the top 2 for MVP race, but he's having himself a great year and is leading his team to the second best record in the league (first in the Week 1 Power Rankings). The battle for MVP is more than likely going to be a two way race the entire year between LeBron and Durant...unless someone comes out of nowhere and rocks NAH, but for the time being, the rest of the rankings aren't close to either of these two.
3) Rajon Rondo: Utah Jazz 5-2 (22.6ppg, 10.1apg, 6.1rpg, 1.1spg)
Rajon Rondo is doing it all on the court this season. And he's leading the Jazz to a great start, despite injuries trying to get in the way (Shumpert playing on a bum ankle, key bench players going day to day). Rondo is taking games over, passing when he needs to pass, getting others involved in the offense, and locking down his opponent. He's doing it all, don't sleep on this Jazz team, I wouldn't want them in the first round of the playoffs.
4) Derrick Rose: New Orleans Pelicans 5-1 (23.7ppg, 7.7apg, 3.2rpg, 2.5spg, .3bpg)
Derrick Rose is leading his team to a great start so far and it's mainly due to Rose. After coming back from his major injury a couple of years ago, he's playing like the MVP that he once was...and he lands in the top 5 with ease. If he continues to play like this all while getting his team more wins...he may sneak up on Durant and LeBron...maybe.
5) Dwyane Wade: Philadelphia 76ers 5-2 (22.4ppg, 5.3apg, 5rpg, 1.4spg, 1bpg)
Wade has been doing a great job leading his 76ers to a 5-2 record to start the season, what sucks though, is they're in the tough Atlantic Division. I don't see them winning the division but they'll for sure be in the playoffs. Wade is also playing pretty good defense as well, doing a little bit of everything. I don't see Wade going any higher in the rankings, but he'll likely stay in the top 10 during the season.
6) Kyrie Irving: Chicago Bulls 5-3 (20.9ppg, 8.6apg, 4.1rpg, 1spg, .3bpg)
After being doubted by a couple of GMs around the league, Irving is showing that he's the real deal. The Bulls are a fun team to watch, and it's because it starts with "Uncle Drew". He's able to throw lobs up to anyone in the starting five and be confident they'll be able to throw it down...especially [DeAndre] Jordan and [Courtney] Lee. Like Wade, Irving wont crack the top 3 in the rankings but he'll be in the top 10 likely during the season, if the Bulls keep playing this way.
7) Andre Iguodala: Golden State Warriors 6-2 (19.1ppg, 5.5apg, 5rpg, 1.9spg, .4bpg)
I know I'll hear it from other GMs in the league about Iggy cracking the top 10 in these rankings, but the Warriors are winning and its starting with Iguodala. Being a part of the scrappy Warriors, their defense is pretty darn good. The Warriors don't need a lot of scoring if they keep playing defense the way they have been. He's the heart of the defense too, always stressing it to his teammates. So for that, he cracks my top 10.
8) Kobe Bryant: Charlotte Hornets 5-2 (21.4ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.3apg, 1.9spg, .6bpg)
Kobe Bryant still has game. He struggled greatly during the preseason but he's picked it up a bit during the season. While he doesn't need to score 25+ anymore now that he has [Dirk] Nowitzki and [Danny] Granger to help with the scoring load, he's the heart and soul of the Hornets defense, and they're playing some great defense so far. Kobe wants ring number 6.
9) Kevin Love: Washington Wizards 3-2 (26.8ppg, 12rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4spg, .3bpg)
It's no surprise that Kevin Love is off to the great start that he is, but despite that great start from him, the Wizards are barely above .500 (although they haven't played many games, so this could change). If the Wizards had a bit of a better record, Love would probably be ranked higher. So for now, we'll have to be patient and see how the Wizards turn out.
10)Carmelo Anthony: Atlanta Hawks 3-3 (28.7ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.3apg, 1.2spg, .3bpg)
Anthony is in the same boat as Love right now, would definitely be ranked higher if his team had a better record. He is playing some great ball so far this year and if the Hawks could win some more games, I could see Anthony cracking the top 3 easily and competing with Durant, LeBron, and Rondo. Luckily, it's still very early in the season and anything can happen at this point.
Honorable Mentions:
Blake Griffin: Los Angeles Clippers (26.6ppg, 12rpg, 1.9apg, .4bpg, .3spg)
Ty Lawson: Los Angeles Lakers (22.7ppg, 5.7apg, 3.2spg, 3rpg)
Kris Humphries: Orlando Magic (23.9ppg, 14.4rpg, 1bpg, .6apg, .4spg)
Greg Monroe: Denver Nuggets (22.6ppg, 9.3rpg, 2.3spg, .9apg, .6bpg)
1) Kevin Durant: Brooklyn Nets 6-0, (36.5ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.2spg, 1.8apg, 1.5bpg)
Kevin Durant is having himself the best year of his career. The Nets remain the only undefeated team in the league with big thanks to Durant. It appears as if he's also stepped up his game on the defensive side of the court as well. It's going to be a tough race for MVP this year with division rival LeBron James...But in my opinion, whoever has the best record after the season is over, should win it.
2) LeBron James: Boston Celtics 7-1, (35.1ppg, 4rpg, 3apg, 2.8spg, .5bpg)
No shocker to see LeBron in the top 2 for MVP race, but he's having himself a great year and is leading his team to the second best record in the league (first in the Week 1 Power Rankings). The battle for MVP is more than likely going to be a two way race the entire year between LeBron and Durant...unless someone comes out of nowhere and rocks NAH, but for the time being, the rest of the rankings aren't close to either of these two.
3) Rajon Rondo: Utah Jazz 5-2 (22.6ppg, 10.1apg, 6.1rpg, 1.1spg)
Rajon Rondo is doing it all on the court this season. And he's leading the Jazz to a great start, despite injuries trying to get in the way (Shumpert playing on a bum ankle, key bench players going day to day). Rondo is taking games over, passing when he needs to pass, getting others involved in the offense, and locking down his opponent. He's doing it all, don't sleep on this Jazz team, I wouldn't want them in the first round of the playoffs.
4) Derrick Rose: New Orleans Pelicans 5-1 (23.7ppg, 7.7apg, 3.2rpg, 2.5spg, .3bpg)
Derrick Rose is leading his team to a great start so far and it's mainly due to Rose. After coming back from his major injury a couple of years ago, he's playing like the MVP that he once was...and he lands in the top 5 with ease. If he continues to play like this all while getting his team more wins...he may sneak up on Durant and LeBron...maybe.
5) Dwyane Wade: Philadelphia 76ers 5-2 (22.4ppg, 5.3apg, 5rpg, 1.4spg, 1bpg)
Wade has been doing a great job leading his 76ers to a 5-2 record to start the season, what sucks though, is they're in the tough Atlantic Division. I don't see them winning the division but they'll for sure be in the playoffs. Wade is also playing pretty good defense as well, doing a little bit of everything. I don't see Wade going any higher in the rankings, but he'll likely stay in the top 10 during the season.
6) Kyrie Irving: Chicago Bulls 5-3 (20.9ppg, 8.6apg, 4.1rpg, 1spg, .3bpg)
After being doubted by a couple of GMs around the league, Irving is showing that he's the real deal. The Bulls are a fun team to watch, and it's because it starts with "Uncle Drew". He's able to throw lobs up to anyone in the starting five and be confident they'll be able to throw it down...especially [DeAndre] Jordan and [Courtney] Lee. Like Wade, Irving wont crack the top 3 in the rankings but he'll be in the top 10 likely during the season, if the Bulls keep playing this way.
7) Andre Iguodala: Golden State Warriors 6-2 (19.1ppg, 5.5apg, 5rpg, 1.9spg, .4bpg)
I know I'll hear it from other GMs in the league about Iggy cracking the top 10 in these rankings, but the Warriors are winning and its starting with Iguodala. Being a part of the scrappy Warriors, their defense is pretty darn good. The Warriors don't need a lot of scoring if they keep playing defense the way they have been. He's the heart of the defense too, always stressing it to his teammates. So for that, he cracks my top 10.
8) Kobe Bryant: Charlotte Hornets 5-2 (21.4ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.3apg, 1.9spg, .6bpg)
Kobe Bryant still has game. He struggled greatly during the preseason but he's picked it up a bit during the season. While he doesn't need to score 25+ anymore now that he has [Dirk] Nowitzki and [Danny] Granger to help with the scoring load, he's the heart and soul of the Hornets defense, and they're playing some great defense so far. Kobe wants ring number 6.
9) Kevin Love: Washington Wizards 3-2 (26.8ppg, 12rpg, 1.4apg, 1.4spg, .3bpg)
It's no surprise that Kevin Love is off to the great start that he is, but despite that great start from him, the Wizards are barely above .500 (although they haven't played many games, so this could change). If the Wizards had a bit of a better record, Love would probably be ranked higher. So for now, we'll have to be patient and see how the Wizards turn out.
10)Carmelo Anthony: Atlanta Hawks 3-3 (28.7ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.3apg, 1.2spg, .3bpg)
Anthony is in the same boat as Love right now, would definitely be ranked higher if his team had a better record. He is playing some great ball so far this year and if the Hawks could win some more games, I could see Anthony cracking the top 3 easily and competing with Durant, LeBron, and Rondo. Luckily, it's still very early in the season and anything can happen at this point.
Honorable Mentions:
Blake Griffin: Los Angeles Clippers (26.6ppg, 12rpg, 1.9apg, .4bpg, .3spg)
Ty Lawson: Los Angeles Lakers (22.7ppg, 5.7apg, 3.2spg, 3rpg)
Kris Humphries: Orlando Magic (23.9ppg, 14.4rpg, 1bpg, .6apg, .4spg)
Greg Monroe: Denver Nuggets (22.6ppg, 9.3rpg, 2.3spg, .9apg, .6bpg)