Amare Stoudemire and Derrick Rose deserve your MVP consideration as they have been carving up the competition recently and have risen to the top of our NBA MVP rankings for week seven. Dirk Nowitzki has the Mavericks operating in high gear and Deron Williams continues to enhance his MVP credentials with each passing game. Also, as Pau Gasol has fallen off a bit Kobe Bryant makes his way on my list for the first time this year as he has played superbly during Gasol’s struggles and Kevin Garnett re-enters the race behind his spectacular defensive play.

No LeBron James this week, folks. Dwyane Wade has been carrying the Heat equally during their scintillating nine-game run so James is on the outside looking in.

For info on how these stars’ teams are performing check out this week’s NBA Power Rankings HERE.

Now onto the top ten.

1. Amare Stoudemire, Knicks (26.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.0 BPG)

I can’t possibly include enough praise here to describe how phenomenal Stoudemire has been this season, particularly in the past eight games. The Knicks star has poured in thirty or more points in eight straight, all New York wins, to set a new Knicks record. An NBA MVP should not only be the most important player on a winning squad but also, in most cases, the most dominant player in the game at his position. Stoudemire has fit that criteria.

2. Derrick Rose, Bulls (24.7 PPG, 8.3 APG, 1.0 SPG)

Rose has led the Bulls to six consecutive victories, including impressive home wins over the Thunder and Lakers. Remember all that talk of Rose not being able to connect from downtown? He has nailed 19-31 three-pointers in his last six games for a scorching .613 percentage. The only visible negative in Rose’s game at the moment is his inability to get to the line - he is averaging just 3.1 free-throw attempts per game so far this year. If those rise, look out.

3. Deron Williams, Jazz (23.0 PPG, 9.8 APG, 1.3 SPG)

Another point-guard extraordinaire, Williams has led the Jazz to a stellar 18-8 start and keeps on piling up the stats, including thirty points, ten assists, and six rebounds in Utah’s win over Golden State on Monday. The Deron Williams - Al Jefferson pick-and-roll continues to improve and I see no reason why Williams gives up a top five rank for the rest of the season.

4. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks (25.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, .564 FG%)

Please raise your hand if you have seen Dirk Nowitzki ever play this well. No, I haven’t either. Nowitzki’s shot release borders on perfection now and his shot selection has been fantastic. The Mavs had their twelve-game winning streak snapped by Milwaukee on Monday but Dirk still poured in thirty on efficient percentages. Nowitzki has shot an insane .649 from the floor during his past eight and is clearly benefiting at times from the quality of players dotting the Mavs roster. Who do you guard, folks?

5. Russell Westbrook, Thunder (23.6 PPG, 8.8 APG, 2.1 SPG)

Westbrook continues to surge and the Thunder are as well, winning four of their last five. Westbrook has averaged more than twenty points and ten assists during his past three while shooting an efficient .521 from the floor. It’s hard to believe that he was an afterthought at times last season behind Kevin Durant’s brilliance but those days are long gone.

6. Dwight Howard, Magic (21.5 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 2.3 BPG)

The Magic are falling fast - they’ve lost four of five - and desperately need to receive help from their wing players to supplement Howard’s play. Dwight recently called out Lewis and Carter (not by name, but by position) and he has every right to do so as they have been incredibly inconsistent all year. Howard’s offensive improvements have actually seemed to hamper Van Gundy’s offense - there is a lot more standing around than before. Not your fault, Dwight! Here’s hoping Howard receives some help, and soon.

7. Manu Ginobili, Spurs (20.0 PPG, 4.8 APG, 1.8 SPG)

It’s impossible to quantify what a healthy, starting Manu has meant to the Spurs this season. If you don’t watch Spurs games you’ll never understand what all the fuss is about but take a look if you can because Ginobili is a rare game-changer in the Nash mold. The Spurs 20-3 start is no fluke and Ginobili’s brilliance on both the offensive and defensive end are a major reason why.

8. Chris Paul, Hornets (16.0 PPG, 9.8 APG, 3.0 SPG)

Where would the Hornets be without Chris Paul? Not 14-10, I can tell you that. Despite their recent struggles, including losing five of their last six, this team would not be competitive and definitely lottery-bound without Paul’s services. If you take Deron Williams and put him on the Hornets he’d be down here as well - that’s really the reason he remains in the top ten. However, winning is pretty important so Deron remains ahead.

9. Kevin Garnett, Celtics (15.5 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.5 SPG)

Garnett has his health back and is dominating defensively as he did in 2007. His rebounding has surprised me the most and according to Zach Lowe of SI.com Garnett is posting the best defensive-rebound numbers of his career. His jumping ability looks to have been revived as well and if he remains healthy these Celtics remain the beast of the East.

10. Kobe Bryant, Lakers (26.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.6 APG)

Welcome to the party, Kobe! It stinks that Gasol’s drop-off has landed you here but I’m sure he won’t mind. Kobe has finally started shooting better, nailing over forty-seven percent of his shots during five of his last six as the Lakers have shaken off that odd four-game losing streak by winning five of six. There is not a player in the game with the offensive skill set Bryant possesses and as long as he’s healthy he’ll be near the top ten, regardless of whether Gasol starts surging once more.

ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

Kevin Durant - You are THIS close to re-entering the race, my friend.

LeBron James/Dwyane Wade - If you weren’t on the SAME TEAM I’d heavily consider you both.

Steve Nash - I hope for your sake the Suns acquire some rebounding and defense before the deadline.

Carmelo Anthony - Great chance you’ll be in a different uniform the next time you make this list.