MVP Ladder -- Week 1
Rank
Player
Stats
The Buzz
1.
LeBron James
22.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.0 bpg
Even in the absence of mind-boggling statistics, it's clear that James is operating on a level all his own . Even scarier for the poor souls assigned to defend James is his improved stroke from beyond the 3-point line (57 percent). The real challenge for James this year is going to be findings ways to motivate himself during the regular season when he knows that his season will be defined by what comes after that.
2.
James Harden
30.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.5 spg
Harden's statistical improvement will be significant. Doubling his scoring average for the season, however, would be a remarkable accomplishment for a player who averaged 16.8 ppg as the league's top Sixth Man. And that's exactly where he's headed, provided he finds ways to balance his scoring and playmaking responsibilities for a Rockets team short on elite-level scorers.
3.
Carmelo Anthony
26.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.0 spg
Who needs Jeremy Lin and Amar'e Stoudemire? Not Carmelo. Not the Knicks. All kidding aside, Anthony is doing a masterful job at reinventing his image as a defender in his 10th NBA season. No, he won't be contending for Defensive Player of the Year honors. But he is showing that he is a capable and willing defender in the Knicks' revamped approach. He's doing all that while still maintaining his place among the league's elite scorers.
4.
Chris Paul
17.5 ppg, 10.7 apg, 3.8 rpg, 2.2 spg
If this was strictly a ranking of the league's best leaders, Paul would have a place in the first two or maybe three spots locked up. In an era of the scoring point guard, Paul defies the conventional wisdom that he has to score at a rapid clip to be effective. His stats aren't pedestrian by any stretch. But his value to the Clippers is greater than his numbers suggest. Under his stewardship, the Clippers have a chance to legitimately challenge for the top spot in the West.
5.
Kevin Durant
21.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 4.8 apg, 2.0 spg
The ultimate closer, as he proved again last night in that road win against the Chicago Bulls on TNT, Durant finishes games like no other. Durant's continuing development has seen him become a better rebounder and facilitator at the expense of the one skill he lords over the rest of the league. Durant's 21.4 ppg is a throwback to his rookie season in Seattle, where he averaged 20.3 ppg. The Thunder need him to get back to his mormal, unstoppable self , and soon, if they want to do the same.
6.
Tony Parker
14.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 8.0 apg, 0.4 spg
Parker and his Spurs were on a steady roll before running into Chris Paul and the Clippers Wednesday night. Parker managed just four points, six assists and four turnovers in that loss, the Spurs' first of the season. His performance this season has been bolstered by the rejuvenation of Tim Duncan, whose spry legs have led to him playing like he's five years younger. But the Spurs' fortunes this season, just like last, are tied to the performance of their catalyst, Parker.
7.
Zach Randolph
16.0 ppg, 15.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.0 spg
If you thought leading the league in rebounding was the exclusive domain of a dominant big man like Dwight Howard or a technician like Kevin Love, you'll be disappointed to find out who sits atop that heap right now. That's right, Z-Bo has been the league's most dominant force on the glass this season. Randolph is literally a walking double-double these days for the Grizzlies, who have a chance to make serious noise.
8.
Luol Deng
18.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 0.8 bpg
In the absence of a healthy Derrick Rose, the Bulls were in need of a leader. Deng has stepped into that void and done an admirable job serving as the Bulls' driving force. He scored a season-high 27 points in last night's loss to Kevin Durant and the Thunder. But he went head-to-head with Durant, trading blows with the three-time scoring champ until the final seconds of a game that was in the balance until then. The big question for Deng and the Bulls is can he keep this up all season?
9.
Kobe Bryant
27.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 spg
Everyone is pointing fingers in Los Angeles and Kobe is usually an easy target. But the Lakers' struggles right now are not on his head. He's been one of the only consistent bright spots in an otherwise disastrous start for the offseason champs. Steve Nash is hurt and Dwight Howard doesn't look like he's completely healed from the back surgery that sidelined him all summer. Bryant is nursing a sore foot of his own and still ranks second (27.2) to James Harden on the scoring leaders chart.
10.
Rajon Rondo
16.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 12.5 apg, 2.0 spg
Rondo is conveniently left out of the conversation of the top point guards in the league far too often. The league leader in assists (12.5) and the Celtics' undisputed floor leader, Rondo is the key to their fortunes this year. He posts a double-double every time he hits the floor and has complete mastery of the position without being a great shooter. He posted a season-high 14 assists to go with his 18 points in Wednesday's win over Washington.
after week 1 lbj still ahead of nikkas
Rank
Player
Stats
The Buzz
1.
LeBron James
22.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.0 bpg
Even in the absence of mind-boggling statistics, it's clear that James is operating on a level all his own . Even scarier for the poor souls assigned to defend James is his improved stroke from beyond the 3-point line (57 percent). The real challenge for James this year is going to be findings ways to motivate himself during the regular season when he knows that his season will be defined by what comes after that.
2.
James Harden
30.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.5 spg
Harden's statistical improvement will be significant. Doubling his scoring average for the season, however, would be a remarkable accomplishment for a player who averaged 16.8 ppg as the league's top Sixth Man. And that's exactly where he's headed, provided he finds ways to balance his scoring and playmaking responsibilities for a Rockets team short on elite-level scorers.
3.
Carmelo Anthony
26.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.0 spg
Who needs Jeremy Lin and Amar'e Stoudemire? Not Carmelo. Not the Knicks. All kidding aside, Anthony is doing a masterful job at reinventing his image as a defender in his 10th NBA season. No, he won't be contending for Defensive Player of the Year honors. But he is showing that he is a capable and willing defender in the Knicks' revamped approach. He's doing all that while still maintaining his place among the league's elite scorers.
4.
Chris Paul
17.5 ppg, 10.7 apg, 3.8 rpg, 2.2 spg
If this was strictly a ranking of the league's best leaders, Paul would have a place in the first two or maybe three spots locked up. In an era of the scoring point guard, Paul defies the conventional wisdom that he has to score at a rapid clip to be effective. His stats aren't pedestrian by any stretch. But his value to the Clippers is greater than his numbers suggest. Under his stewardship, the Clippers have a chance to legitimately challenge for the top spot in the West.
5.
Kevin Durant
21.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 4.8 apg, 2.0 spg
The ultimate closer, as he proved again last night in that road win against the Chicago Bulls on TNT, Durant finishes games like no other. Durant's continuing development has seen him become a better rebounder and facilitator at the expense of the one skill he lords over the rest of the league. Durant's 21.4 ppg is a throwback to his rookie season in Seattle, where he averaged 20.3 ppg. The Thunder need him to get back to his mormal, unstoppable self , and soon, if they want to do the same.
6.
Tony Parker
14.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 8.0 apg, 0.4 spg
Parker and his Spurs were on a steady roll before running into Chris Paul and the Clippers Wednesday night. Parker managed just four points, six assists and four turnovers in that loss, the Spurs' first of the season. His performance this season has been bolstered by the rejuvenation of Tim Duncan, whose spry legs have led to him playing like he's five years younger. But the Spurs' fortunes this season, just like last, are tied to the performance of their catalyst, Parker.
7.
Zach Randolph
16.0 ppg, 15.3 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.0 spg
If you thought leading the league in rebounding was the exclusive domain of a dominant big man like Dwight Howard or a technician like Kevin Love, you'll be disappointed to find out who sits atop that heap right now. That's right, Z-Bo has been the league's most dominant force on the glass this season. Randolph is literally a walking double-double these days for the Grizzlies, who have a chance to make serious noise.
8.
Luol Deng
18.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 0.8 bpg
In the absence of a healthy Derrick Rose, the Bulls were in need of a leader. Deng has stepped into that void and done an admirable job serving as the Bulls' driving force. He scored a season-high 27 points in last night's loss to Kevin Durant and the Thunder. But he went head-to-head with Durant, trading blows with the three-time scoring champ until the final seconds of a game that was in the balance until then. The big question for Deng and the Bulls is can he keep this up all season?
9.
Kobe Bryant
27.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 spg
Everyone is pointing fingers in Los Angeles and Kobe is usually an easy target. But the Lakers' struggles right now are not on his head. He's been one of the only consistent bright spots in an otherwise disastrous start for the offseason champs. Steve Nash is hurt and Dwight Howard doesn't look like he's completely healed from the back surgery that sidelined him all summer. Bryant is nursing a sore foot of his own and still ranks second (27.2) to James Harden on the scoring leaders chart.
10.
Rajon Rondo
16.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 12.5 apg, 2.0 spg
Rondo is conveniently left out of the conversation of the top point guards in the league far too often. The league leader in assists (12.5) and the Celtics' undisputed floor leader, Rondo is the key to their fortunes this year. He posts a double-double every time he hits the floor and has complete mastery of the position without being a great shooter. He posted a season-high 14 assists to go with his 18 points in Wednesday's win over Washington.
after week 1 lbj still ahead of nikkas
