Dirk Nowitzki remains on top of my NBA MVP Power Rankings here at TSJ for week eight and if there was any doubt as to how integral Dirk is to the Mavericks success hopefully those questions were answered after last night’s loss to the Spurs and their previous loss against Toronto. Derrick Rose is right on his heels with Amare Stoudemire, Manu Ginobili, and Deron Williams rounding out the top five.
Why is Dirk number one? Without Nowitzki the Mavs can compete and actually fared pretty well without their MVP against San Antonio.
With him? They have a legitimate shot at a title this season. Stay healthy, Dirk!
After a sublime performance on Christmas in a win over the Nuggets Kevin Durant has supplanted his teammate Russell Westbrook in the rankings. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Westbrook climb back into the top ten though. He’s that good and was performing at an insane level earlier this year so anything is possible.
As usual several outstanding duos, such as Westbrook/Durant, Wade/James, and Bryant/Gasol are on the outside of the top five due to the other half.
Oh, and Kobe would be on the outside anyway right now - stop shooting and play within the offense, please!!! Thirteen consecutive missed shots (many forced) will never guide your team to victory in the short or long-term.
This promises to be one of the most intriguing MVP races in recent memory and while there are plenty of weeks for candidates to separate themselves until the end of the season I’m thinking the voters are going to be sweating bullets come playoff time.
I’ll provide commentary and statistics for the top five.
Click on each player’s name (bold) to view their career statistics via Basketball-Reference.com.
Also check out our NBA Power Rankings HERE to see where each star’s team ranks.
(NOTE: All statistics are accurate as of December 31, 2010)
THE TOP FIVE
**1. Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks **
GP
FG%
FT%
SPG
BPG
RPG
APG
PPG
29 .545 .879 0.7 0.8 7.4 2.4 24.1
Nowitzki is currently day-to-day with a mild knee sprain and the Mavs sure could have used his offense in their 99-93 loss to the Spurs last night.
With Dirk in the lineup the Mavs won seventeen of eighteen. Without him they lost to the Raptors. Enough said.
2. Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls
GP
FG%
FT%
SPG
BPG
RPG
APG
PPG
29
.455
.764
1.2
0.6
4.8
8.5
24.0
Chicago has won eleven of their past thirteen behind Rose’s brilliance and the return of Carlos Boozer. While Rose hasn’t shot the ball particularly well of late he’s been dishing the rock consistently off his lightning quick penetration and has played an underrated brand of defense for coach Tom Thibodeau.
He just needs to start getting to the line! Just ONE free-throw attempt against the Bucks, Derrick?!
3. Amar’e Stoudemire - New York Knicks
GP
FG%
FT%
SPG
BPG
RPG
APG
PPG
32
.524
.780.
1.0
2.3
9.1
2.4
26.4
While the Knicks have lost two straight (Magic and Heat) Amare continues to carry this team on his back. Stoudemire has now scored thirty or more points in eleven of his past fifteen and has swatted two shots or more in a staggering eleven consecutive games.
Despite the two-game slide Amare deserves a top-five berth here - big tests coming up as the Spurs and Lakers are on tap soon.
4. Manu Ginobili - San Antonio Spurs
GP
FG%
FT%
SPG
BPG
RPG
APG
PPG
32
.448
.864
1.7
0.4
3.6
4.9
19.0
Manu continues to prove that stats are misleading. There are few players I love watching more than Manu and his ability to orchestrate the offense while brimming with white-hot intensity and effort on defense have helped these Spurs post thirteen wins in their last fourteen games.
Thanks for teaching us how deceiving statistics can really be.
GP
FG%
FT%
SPG
BPG
RPG
APG
PPG
33
.471
.850
1.2
0.2
4.0
9.4
22.3
We have been blessed with some extraordinary point guard play this season and Deron Williams has been spectacular. In leading Utah to a 22-11 record Williams has become much more of an offensive threat by earning far more trips to the foul line (a career high 7.1 attempts per game) and converting them at a career-high mark.
His ability to run the pick-and-roll is uncanny and has helped Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson have very productive seasons thus far.
THE BEST OF THE REST
6. LeBron James - Miami Heat
The Heat have won seventeen of nineteen and James has been at his multi-talented best throughout, recording two triple-doubles in the process and if it were not for Wade and Bosh playing outstanding as well I might have placed LeBron in the top five.
**7. Kevin Durant - Oklahoma City Thunder **
The Kevin Durant we know and love is back and has the Thunder in a tie with Utah for the Northwest Division’s best record. His 44 point masterpiece on Christmas now registers as the seventh-highest scoring performance on that day in history.
8. Kevin Garnett - Boston Celtics
We’re about to find out just how valuable Garnett is to these Celtics - his strained calf muscle might keep him out for up to two weeks. Get well quick!
9. Dwight Howard - Orlando Magic
The Magic have won five straight after adjusting to their new acquisitions and Dwight has been a beast as usual. He posted three straight games of twenty-or-more rebounds and the Magic may only improve. Scary stuff.
10. Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers
Alright Kobe, it’s finally time to start trusting your teammates. I know you’re upset at recent performances but hold things together, will you! Shooting your team out of games is not the answer - you may need their help more than ever.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
-
Russell Westbrook - I haven’t forgotten about you! You’ve been playing well just not at an MVP level
-
Chris Paul - New York is looking better and better these days, huh Chris?
-
Blake Griffin - The Clippers may have a terrible record but you are simply fantastic. Twenty straight double-doubles and counting
-
Steve Nash - Same situation as Chris Paul right now - amazing point guard play without results to show for it.
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**1. Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks **
GP
FG%
FT%
SPG
BPG
RPG
APG
PPG
28 .544 .876 0.7 0.8 7.6 2.4 24.5