Over the course of the past week, we’ve had one of the most chaotic weeks not involving a league-wide NBA shutdown in history. Multiple games have been postponed due to COVID infections and contact tracing, a superstar has walked off the job for unknown reasons and indeterminate duration, and that superstar’s team made one of the biggest trades in NBA history.
All in all, in a league that invites and basks in the ridiculous, it’s even been a bit over the top for the NBA.
We’re going into the second week of our NBA MVP Race Player Rankings here at Hoops Habit, so let’s just dive into things. For starters, the ground rules as established in week one:
As is tradition, we’ll begin with our three snubs.
Jerami Grant and the Detroit Pistons were mocked for mutually betting that he was ready for a bigger role and that they were the team to give it to him. It turns out that if the first 11 games of the season are to be believed, Grant and the Pistons knew exactly what they were doing. He’s been spectacular, averaging 24.8 points per game on great efficiency, and this fairly awful team is almost able to play break-even basketball when he’s on the floor. If he keeps this up and the Pistons can string together a couple of surprise wins (easier said than done), we can expect him to slide in with the big boys on this list.
Zach LaVine has been an emergent surprise for the Chicago Bulls. In spite of their rough start, they seem to be getting their feet under them over the past week or so. He’s averaging a career-high 27.7 points per game with great efficiency and a high usage rate, so if he can continue to produce at this level don’t be surprised if the Bulls are able to put together a run and maybe even get into the play-in conversation.
We can see Jaylen Brown’s inclusion in the snubs as a correction from last week when he was surely deserving of at least fringe inclusion in this list. Unfortunately, as the Boston Celtics have been a team hit hard by postponements, they haven’t played a game in almost a week and Jayson Tatum is going to have to pay the price as other players move into the top 10. Assuming the Celtics get back in action sometime soon (which is a big assumption, to be fair), expect both of these players to force their way into the top 10.
Now we’ll move to the top 10, and because some of these players were not in these rankings last week, stats will be relative to this past week’s action (including the game of January 7th onward) rather than the season as a whole. Unless otherwise stated, of course.
as established in week one</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>This won’t be an exact science as we’re not going to be plugging everybody’s BPM, RPM and PIPM into a calculator and dividing by 36 minutes. It’s going to use healthy amounts of recency bias, popular narrative, team success (or lack thereof) and whatever other elements I choose to incorporate at a given time. It could be messy, chaotic and a bit unpredictable, and it’s certainly going to get flipped on its head every week.</p></blockquote>
<p>As is tradition, we’ll begin with our three snubs.</p>
<h2>NBA Player Power Rankings snubs: On the outside looking in</h2>
<h3>Jerami Grant – Detroit Pistons</h3>
<p>Jerami Grant and the Detroit Pistons were mocked for mutually betting that he was ready for a bigger role and that they were the team to give it to him. It turns out that if the first 11 games of the season are to be believed, Grant and the Pistons knew exactly what they were doing. He’s been spectacular, averaging 24.8 points per game on great efficiency, and this fairly awful team is almost able to play break-even basketball when he’s on the floor. If he keeps this up and the Pistons can string together a couple of surprise wins (easier said than done), we can expect him to slide in with the big boys on this list.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="Grading four-team James Harden blockbuster trade" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/13/nba-trade-grades-james-harden/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"
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<h3>Zach LaVine – Chicago Bulls</h3>
<p>Zach LaVine has been an emergent surprise for the Chicago Bulls. In spite of their rough start, they seem to be getting their feet under them over the past week or so. He’s averaging a career-high 27.7 points per game with great efficiency and a high usage rate, so if he can continue to produce at this level don’t be surprised if the Bulls are able to put together a run and maybe even get into the play-in conversation.</p>
<h3>Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics</h3>
<p>We can see Jaylen Brown’s inclusion in the snubs as a correction from last week when he was surely deserving of at least fringe inclusion in this list. Unfortunately, as the Boston Celtics have been a team hit hard by postponements, they haven’t played a game in almost a week and Jayson Tatum is going to have to pay the price as other players move into the top 10. Assuming the Celtics get back in action sometime soon (which is a big assumption, to be fair), expect both of these players to force their way into the top 10.</p>
<p>Now we’ll move to the top 10, and because some of these players were not in these rankings last week, stats will be relative to this past week’s action (including the game of January 7th onward) rather than the season as a whole. Unless otherwise stated, of course.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 10 and 9 </a>
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<h2>Since last rank – 23.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.7 APG, Shooting splits: .386/.406/.857</h2>
<p>Stephen Curry has had a real up-and-down season so far for the Golden State Warriors. He had a 62 point game less than two weeks ago, and then two games ago had one of the worst outings of his career against the Toronto Raptors, shooting 2-of-16 from the floor and 1-of-10 from 3-point range.</p>
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<p>Curry remains on this list because a healthy Steph Curry is basically always a top-10 player, but consider this rank a shot across his bow. If he has another one of the worst games in his career in the next week, we may have to drop him into the ranks of the snubbed.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="9" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Luka Doncic" data-team-id="79" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: N/Ath" data-inner-content=""
> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">9 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Luka Doncic </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">N/A</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fmavericks.png"/> </div> </div>
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<h2>Since last rank – 30.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.7 APG, Shooting splits: .507/.400/.700</h2>
<p>Now, this is the Luka Doncic the Dallas Mavericks expected to get this season. He got off to a worrisome slow start, but the ship appears to have righted for Doncic. Over the last three games, he has stuffed the score sheet and his Mavs have won the last five games he’s played in.</p>
<p>He’s still just 21 years of age, and is a virtual certainty to keep on getting better. There was no doubt he would play better than he did to start the season, but if he can keep up his recent production it’s going to be hard to keep this season’s MVP award out of his hands.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 9 and 8 </a>
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<h2>Since last rank – 37.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.0 APG, Shooting splits: .549/.375/.929</h2>
<p>Bradley Beal only played two games for the Washington Wizards thanks to COVID contact tracing since our last ranking, but he put up numbers in both of them and increased his NBA scoring lead to 5.5 over second-place Kevin Durant. Beal is now up to 34.9 points per game and blowing away his previous career bests.</p>
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<p>The Wizards may find themselves missing a rash of games, so it’s hard to say what Beal’s immediate future will be on this ranking, but you can’t overlook the astonishing scoring numbers he’s producing right now.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="7" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Damian Lillard" data-team-id="34" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: N/Ath" data-inner-content=""
> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">7 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Damian Lillard </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">N/A</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Ftrailblazers.png"/> </div> </div>
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<h2>Since last rank – 29.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 7.8 APG, Shooting splits: .487/.425/.966</h2>
<p>After a slow start, Damian Lillard is absolutely sizzling for the Portland Trail Blazers over the past week. He’s not putting up one of his patented 50-plus point runs, but he’s doing everything and more that’s asked of him. Most importantly, his Blazers have won all four games over the last ranking period, and that’s got to be a relief for this team after having lost three of the previous four.</p>
<p>Damian Lillard is a virtual lock to remain on or near this list all season, assuming no injuries or COVID issues arise to complicate matters.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 6 and 5 </a>
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<h2>Since last rank – 24.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 8.0 APG, Shooting splits: .521/.353/.818</h2>
<p>Nikola Jokic’s hot start has cooled, but only ever so slightly. He’s averaging just under a triple-double over the past week after averaging well over one. And of some concern, the Denver Nuggets just can’t quite seem to get over the hump and stay over it. Over the last four games, they’re just 2-2, although those losses have been to legitimate teams in the Dallas Mavericks and the Brooklyn Nets.</p>
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<p>It’s trite to say that a team needs more from its star player. In this case, Nikola Jokic needs more (and deserves more) from his teammates if the Nuggets are going to put together a run.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="5" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Giannis Antetokounmpo" data-team-id="89" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: 3rd" data-inner-content=""
> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">5 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Giannis Antetokounmpo </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">3</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fbucks.png"/> </div> </div>
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<h2>Since last rank – 26.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG</h2>
<h2>Shooting splits: .518/.429/.625</h2>
<p>I’m not entirely sure Giannis Antetokounmpo has had to break a sweat so far this season for the Milwaukee Bucks, but they just keep winning by comical amounts. It’s hard to hold the ease with which they’ve operated against the two-time defending MVP, but the reason he’s in the top five is partially due to that pedigree.</p>
<p>At some point, one would think Giannis and the Bucks are going to have to turn it up a notch, but that time really may not end up coming until the latter rounds of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Oh, the plight of the overwhelmingly great in the NBA.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 4 and 3 </a>
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<h2>Since last rank – 25.0 PPG, 7.6 APG, 6.8 RPG, Shooting splits: .495/.400/.636</h2>
<p>LeBron James may be putting up cruise-control numbers, but his autopilot game is better than almost anybody else’s A+ game. In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers have played five games in the past week, really carrying the load compared to teams like the Boston Celtics who haven’t been able to play since January 8th.</p>
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<p>LeBron hasn’t had to play the kind of heavy minutes that he has in previous seasons with worse teams, but he’s been able to provide the kind of production his Lakers need from him. And as we know, once the playoffs start he’ll shift into the same unstoppable force of nature he’s always been.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="3" data-rank-type="player" data-name="CJ McCollum" data-team-id="34" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: 10th" data-inner-content=""
> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">3 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>CJ McCollum </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">10</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Ftrailblazers.png"/> </div> </div>
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<h2>Since last rank – 28.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, Shooting splits: .500/.447/.842</h2>
<p>CJ McCollum jumped seven spots from 10th to third in this week’s ranking, giving him the single-largest leap of all players who moved within the top 10. If you were waiting for him to cool off, you’re going to have to keep waiting. At this point, the Portland Trail Blazers have inarguably the NBA’s best backcourt between McCollum and Lillard, and now they’ve got some wings and depth to bolster them.</p>
<p>The Blazers may not be a legitimate championship contender, but this might be the year they put together a spoiler campaign and knock a favorite out of the playoffs. At least if CJ McCollum has anything to say about it.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 and 1 </a>
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<h2>Since last rank – 29.7 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG, Shooting splits: .574/.333/.923</h2>
<p>Joel Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers have had quite the week. They were forced to play a game on Saturday with seven healthy players against the Denver Nuggets after Seth Curry tested positive for COVID and contact tracing laid waste to their ranks, and the Sixers find themselves losers of three of their last four games as a result.</p>
<p>Still, Embiid’s play has been spectacular including a 45 point, 16 rebound, five steal and four assist game against the Miami Heat in a hard-fought win. He’s going to stay near the top of the MVP rankings all season if he keeps this up.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="Rank" data-rank="1" data-rank-type="player" data-name="Kevin Durant" data-team-id="147" data-meta-a="" data-meta-b="Previous: 5th" data-inner-content=""
> <div class="power-ranking remove-native-227"> <div class="order">1 </div> <div class="power-head"> <h3>Kevin Durant </h3> <h4> <span class="last-rank-title">Last rank: </span><span class="last-rank-info">5</span> </h4> </div> <div class="power-logo"> <img src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/w_75,h_75,c_fill,g_auto,f_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.fansided.com%2Flogos%2Fnba%2Fnets.png"/> </div> </div>
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<h2>Since last rank – 32.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 7.7 APG, Shooting splits: .579/.474/.808</h2>
<p>Kevin Durant just keeps getting better and he’s going to put himself in a great position to win the 2020-21 MVP award if he continues on this trajectory. And to make it all the more impressive, he’s keeping his Brooklyn Nets afloat without Kyrie Irving who is… well, elsewhere.</p>
<p>Durant signed up to play for the Nets with Irving, and now he’s found himself a man without his partner. Fortunately, help is on its way in the form of James Harden, who the Nets traded for on Wednesday afternoon. To push the Nets into the elite contender status they seek, Durant will need the assistance, but for now, he is putting on a spectacular one-man show.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="NBA Power Rankings Week 3: Are the Warriors back?" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/10/nba-power-rankings-week-3-golden-state-warriors-back/" data-call-to-action="Next"
> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/14/nba-mvp-race-rankings-kevin-durant/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/01/10/nba-power-rankings-week-3-golden-state-warriors-back/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA Power Rankings Week 3: Are the Warriors back? </a> </div>
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