DENVER, CO – MARCH 20: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 20, 2022 in Denver, Colorado, NBA MVP Ladder Week 23: Injuries clouding the picture. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Week 22 NBA MVP Ladder: 5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Rank last week: 4
Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks: 27.0/8.2/4.3/1.0/0.6
FG%/3P%/FT%: 44.7/35.0/85.8
Off EPM / Def EPM: +4.3/+1.3
Smart people are beginning to pick the Celtics to win the East. 538 even has them listed as the favorite to win the NBA championship (a whopping 28% chance!).
The trade for Derrick White was a win, adding much-needed guard depth and further bolstering a league-best defense. Improved coaching from Ime Udoka and Robert Williams’ emergence have also contributed to Boston’s success.
But the driving force behind the Celtics has been Jayson Tatum’s explosion.
Tatum has been averaging 28/8/5 since January 1st. He’s shooting fewer mid-ranges and more from deep and at the rim. His passing is better than it’s ever been, by far, and he’s doing a better job of balancing his scoring instincts with his developing playmaking ability.
Tatum can’t crack the top three of this MVP race, but he’s peaking at the right time for his team, and championships tend to salve all wounds.
scoring title</a> is still in reach. (Rank last week: HM)</p>
<p><strong>Devin Booker:</strong> He’s kept the Suns afloat despite Chris Paul’s absence and is having one of the best shooting seasons of his career despite being the defense’s focus night in and night out. (Rank last week: N/A)</p>
<p><strong>DeMar DeRozan:</strong> DeRozan keeps putting up efficient scoring games, although the Bulls are limping into the playoffs. (Rank last week: HM)</p>
<p><strong>Ja Morant </strong>An injury knocks him down a peg. (Rank last week: 5)</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">DENVER, CO – MARCH 20: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 20, 2022 in Denver, Colorado, NBA MVP Ladder Week 23: Injuries clouding the picture. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Week 22 NBA MVP Ladder: 5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics</h2>
<p><strong>Rank last week:</strong> 4</p>
<p><strong>Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks:</strong> 27.0/8.2/4.3/1.0/0.6</p>
<p><strong>FG%/3P%/FT%: </strong>44.7/35.0/85.8</p>
<p><strong>Off EPM / Def EPM: </strong>+4.3/+1.3</p>
<p>Smart people are beginning to pick the Celtics to win the East. 538 even has them listed as the favorite to win the NBA championship <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/23/nba-mvp-ladder-week-23/2/"https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nba-predictions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(a whopping 28% chance!)</a>.</p>
<p>The trade for Derrick White was a win, adding much-needed guard depth and further bolstering a league-best defense. Improved coaching from Ime Udoka and Robert Williams’ emergence have also contributed to Boston’s success.</p>
<p>But the driving force behind the Celtics has been Jayson Tatum’s explosion.</p>
<p>Tatum has been averaging 28/8/5 since January 1st. He’s shooting fewer mid-ranges and more from deep and at the rim. His passing is better than it’s ever been, by far, and he’s doing a better job of balancing his scoring instincts with his developing playmaking ability.</p>
<p>Tatum can’t crack the top three of this MVP race, but he’s peaking at the right time for his team, and championships tend to salve all wounds.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 19: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks brings the ball up court against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on March 19, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina, NBA MVP Ladder Week 23: Injuries clouding the picture. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Week 22 NBA MVP Ladder: 4. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks</h2>
<p><strong>Rank last week: </strong>HM</p>
<p><strong>Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks:</strong> 27.9/9.1/8.6/1.2/0.6</p>
<p><strong>FG%/3P%/FT%: </strong>45.3/34.4/73.5</p>
<p><strong>Off EPM / Def EPM</strong>: +3.9/+0.0</p>
<p>Doncic has finally cooled off a bit from his torrid pace after the Porzingis trade. He’s had games of 17, 37, and 15 points in the last three matches and two poor shooting efforts surrounding his strong performance against the hapless Charlotte Hornets.</p>
<p>But his overall body of work continues to impress, and the Mavericks look primed to snag a four or five seed. The third-seeded Warriors’ decline without Stephen Curry makes it hard to predict who a potential opponent would be in the first round.</p>
<p>Regardless, Doncic needs to get a playoff win. He’s been a popular preseason pick for MVP two years running now, but playoff success this season could be important to his pole position for next season’s MVP race.</p>
<p>This version of Doncic could well be good enough to snare the trophy next season. Dallas seems likely to return a similar team next year. It’s clear that the current core is good enough to compete from the get-go, thanks to Luka’s all-around excellence.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 18: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Dallas Mavericks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 18, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Mavericks 111-101, NBA MVP Ladder Week 23: Injuries clouding the picture. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Week 22 NBA MVP Ladder: 3. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers</h2>
<p><strong>Rank last week: </strong>3</p>
<p><strong>Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks:</strong> 29.8/11.3/4.3/1.1/1.4</p>
<p><strong>FG%/3P%/FT%: </strong>48.7/35.9/82.2</p>
<p><strong>Off EPM / Def EPM: </strong>+5.8/+2.0</p>
<p>Embiid’s streak of four straight 30-point games was snapped Sunday with a 21-point performance in an ugly loss to the Raptors. The big man is clearly aiming for the scoring title this season, as well as MVP, but a back injury may limit his chase.</p>
<p>The 76ers have a difficult next week, with games against both LA teams, Phoenix, and the Bucks, before closing with a soft schedule that could allow Embiid to bolster his statistical resume. Don’t be surprised if Embiid struggles this week before making a huge surge over the last two weeks.</p>
<p>This season is the healthiest Embiid has ever been, and he’s likely to set a new career-high for games played. That said, he’s never once made it through the playoffs without an injury, so I’m sure we’ll see at least one or two more rest games for him before the playoffs for his achy back.</p>
<p>Embiid absolutely has a chance to finish with the scoring title and league MVP, but he’ll need to finish strong (and stay healthy) to pull off either.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 16: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks n against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on March 16, 2022 in Sacramento, California, NBA MVP Ladder Week 23: Injuries clouding the picture. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Week 22 NBA MVP Ladder: 2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks</h2>
<p><strong>Rank last week</strong>: 2</p>
<p><strong>Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks:</strong> 29.8/11.5/5.8/1.1/1.4</p>
<p><strong>FG%/3P%/FT%</strong>: 54.7/30.0/72.1</p>
<p><strong>Off EPM / Def EPM: </strong>+6.2/+0.9</p>
<p>Giannis has been playing out of his mind, but a troublesome knee keeps him from snagging a golden opportunity to leapfrog Jokic. There is growing media support for Giannis to win MVP, with many noting that his offense is on par with Embiid and nearly as good as Jokic’s, while his defense is superior to both players.</p>
<p>The Bucks’ uneven start to the season hindered him early on, and I wonder if anchoring bias – the tendency for voters to stick with their initial picks – makes it harder for people to accept that Giannis is a real threat to win.</p>
<p>His status as a previous two-time winner also works against him. The list of three-time MVPs is full of hallowed one-namers – LeBron, Jordan, Magic, Bird, Moses, Kareem, Russell, and Wilt. All of those guys are likely top-15 players ever, and adding Giannis may feel like a premature coronation.</p>
<p>But Giannis is 26 and playing better than in either of his two MVP seasons! Being a top-15 player is certainly a distinct possibility for him, and voter fatigue tends to create decisions that age poorly.</p>
<p>Regardless, Giannis still has work to do to pass Jokic in these rankings. Let’s hope that sore knee doesn’t hold him back from giving his best effort.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">DENVER, CO – MARCH 20: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles up the court against the Boston Celtics at Ball Arena on March 20, 2022 in Denver, Colorado, NBA MVP Ladder Week 23: Injuries clouding the picture. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Week 22 NBA MVP Ladder: 1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets</h2>
<p><strong>Rank last week: </strong>1</p>
<p><strong>Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks: </strong>26.1/13.6/8.0/1.4/0.8</p>
<p><strong>FG%/3P%/FT%:</strong> 57.0/34.8/80.9</p>
<p><strong>Off EPM / Def EPM: </strong>+7.3/+1.3</p>
<p>Jokic hangs on to the top spot by the skin of his teeth. Despite an uncharacteristically poor performance against the white-hot Celtics, Jokic has been as steady a player as anyone in the league for the whole season.</p>
<p>Constantly trading blows with Giannis and Embiid to defend his MVP crown must be stressful, but Jokic has gone out and put forth well-rounded offensive performances all season long. His quick hands and positional intelligence make him a better defender than the eye test would have you believe, too.</p>
<p>I said it last week, and I’ll say it again – a strong team finish will be essential for Jokic’s chances at repeating. The media narrative continues to favor Embiid, with many citing Denver’s relatively weak seventh-seed standing as a reason to not vote for Jokic (despite the absences of Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray).</p>
<p>An April Fool’s Day showdown with Karl Anthony-Towns and the surging Timberwolves might be the most important game of the season for both Denver and Jokic, as the Nuggets are just one game up on the Wolves in the standings to avoid the play-in tournament.</p>
<p>I do think media voters are unlikely to reward a play-in player with the MVP, so staying at sixth in the Western Conference is essential to Jokic’s chance of repeating.</p>
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