Greg Monroe (Detroit PF)- Recorded his fourth straight double-double, a 27 point/18 rebound outing in a 108-95 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Monroe hit 11 of his 16 shot attempts, and also dished out six assists in what was the seventh consecutive win for the Pistons.
Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- Had another monster game, this time scoring 32 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 98-94 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Davis took more shots (24), than he had in his previous two games combined (19 total), and hit 15 of them in the loss. It was an all too familiar night for the young superstar, who continues to put up impressive numbers, only to see his team falter late in the game.
Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Tallied 24 points and 11 assists in a 114-88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul was in complete control from start to finish, hitting four 3-pointers and recording three steals in the process. It was his third consecutive double-double, and his 17th overall on the season.
Mo Williams (Minnesota PG)- Scored 23 points and dished out 11 assists in a 113-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Williams scored in double-digits for the third straight game, while reaching double-digit assists for the first time in a week and a half.
Klay Thompson (Golden State SG)- Erupted for 40 points in a 117-102 win over the Indiana Pacers. Thompson hit 14 of 25 from the field, including six 3-pointers in the big win for Golden State. He is now shooting 56% from the field, 59% from 3-point range, and 91% from the foul line in the month of January, which bodes well for the Warriors moving ahead.
Blake Griffin (Los Angeles PF)- Posted a stat line of 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Griffin continues to fill up the stat sheet almost every night, and is averaging 22.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 2015 for the Clippers, who have now won four out of their last five contests.
Play of the Night
Charlotte Hornets' point guard Kemba Walker scored 31 points, with no three points coming at a better time then with the game tied at 94 with 1.4 seconds remaining against the New Orleans Pelicans. Walker drove into the lane and connected on an and-one shot that went high off of the glass and through the net.
As we head into the new year, let's take a look at my current MVP rankings in the NBA. The rankings are based off of team success, individual performances/numbers, as well as any other intangibles that have been seen this season. Be sure to click the links and/or the photos for video highlights of the players. Outside Looking In
Jimmy Butler (Chicago SG)- 21.9 ppg, 6.2 rbp, 3.3 apg (48% FG, 34% 3PT, 83% FT)
Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- 17.9 ppg, 9.5 apg, 4.6 rpg (47% FG, 40% 3PT, 89% FT)
Marc Gasol (Memphis C)- 20.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.8 apg (50% FG, 81% FT, 1.7 BPG)
Top 5
5. James Harden (Houston SG)- The Houston shooting guard has taken over the last few weeks, and was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for his efforts in December. Harden is scoring 27.0 points, and dishing out 6.5 assists, to go along with 1.9 steals per game this season. His biggest game recently came in a 110-95 win over the portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 22. Harden scored 44 points (14-26 FG), dished out seven assists and recorded five steals in the big win. Expect Harden to continue receiving attention as long as his production stays the same, and Houston continues to win games.
4. DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Cousins missed some time due to illness, but has returned to form over the last two weeks, and is averaging 23.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game for the season. His offense and improving defense make him one of the better two-way players in the league, but in order to climb higher in the rankings, he will need to lead the Kings to more victories. However, his PER of 26.60 (Fifth in the NBA), along with his numbers/skill set. does help provide a solid case for Cousins.
3. Kyle Lowry (Toronto PG)- The recently announced Eastern Conference Player of the Month has been continuing to play at a high level for the 24-10 Toronto Raptors. In the month of December, Lowry averaged 22.3 points, 8.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds, all while shooting 46% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. His grit and tenacity fuels the Raptors night in and night out, and makes him a legitimate MVP candidate at this point in the season.
2. Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- The 21-year-old power forward/center continues to shine on both ends of the court, and is averaging 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season. His PER of 31.26 continues to lead the league, and Davis has shown he can compete against the best teams in the league, as evidence by his 29 points, 11 rebound and six block performance against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 27. Barring an injury or for some bizarre reason, a slump, expect Davis to maintain his spot in the MVP conversation for the rest of the season.
1. Stephen Curry (Golden State PG)- Curry continues to shoot lights out from all areas of the court, and the Warriors are looking like top title contenders which each game. His defense has remained consistent and his passing, scoring and rebounding have helped the Warriors to an NBA-best 27-5. His PER of 26.9 is good for fourth in the league, and his 23.0 points and 7.8 assists per game are good for ninth and sixth respectively.
As we reach the quarter mark of the 2014-15 NBA season, most team and players' talent level has been established. We've gotten a chance to see who has played well, who hasn't and who has taken their talents to another level this year. Let's take a look at the top MVP candidates up to this point. The rankings are based off of team success, individual performances/numbers, as well as any other intangibles that have been seen this season.
Outside looking in John Wall (Washington PG)- 17.6 ppg, 10.0 apg, 4.7 rpg (42% FG/31% 3PT/78% FT) Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers PF)- 24.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.9 apg (51% FG/60% 3PT/74% FT)
5. LeBron James (Cleveland SF)- After getting off to a slow start in his second go-around in Cleveland, James appears to be rounding into form and building chemistry with teammates Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. The Cavaliers now sit at 13-7, good for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, and appear to be finding their grove as a team.
James is averaging 24.8 points, 7.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds so far this season, and has played a big role in the Cavs current eight game winning streak. James will always remain in the MVP debate because of all the things he does for his team, and it should be interesting to see where he ranks later in the season.
4. Kyle Lowry (Toronto PG)- Kyle Lowry is a bad man, and he is finally starting to get some recognition for it on the Raptors. After re-signing with Toronto for 4 years/48 million dollars in the offseason, Lowry is proving that 2013-14 was no fluke. The Villanova product is averaging a career-high 20.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, as well as a steady 7.2 assists per game.
Lowry has constantly put the team on his back (Career-high 39 points in win at Utah on Dec. 3), and has led the Raptors to a 16-5 record, good for first in the Eastern Conference. Look for 28-year-old to receive an all-star nod, and should continue to be in the MVP conversation throughout the season as long as his production and the Raptors' winning ways stay the course.
3. DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Cousins' game has been trending upward over the past two seasons, and appears to be in full flux in 2014. He is averaging 23.5 points and 12.6 rebounds per game on 51.2% shooting, all three of which would be career-highs if they hold up for the rest of the season. Cousins has bullied defender on the block all season long, and is developing a sweet outside jump shot out to around 18-20 feet.
He has played his best basketball against some of the best defenders in the NBA, as evidence by his 34 point, 17 rebounds performance against DeAndre Jordan, who finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting last season. Cousins is agile, crafty and is learning to play smart basketball, as his goal for this season is no more than five technical fouls (Currently has 2). If the Kings can continue to win games and make a run at the playoffs, "Boogie" will gain more attention later in the season.
2. Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- The 'Brow is one of the most dominant forces in the NBA, and many people forget, he is only 21-years-old. Davis came out of nowhere last year to average 20.8/10 a game, and has only progressed.
Currently, he is tied for third in the NBA in scoring at 24.8 points a game, and is eighth in rebounds at 10.6 per game, which will surely rise as the season progresses. Davis leads the league in blocks with 2.9 per game, and is tied for fourth in steals with 2.5 a game, proving he can make an impact just about anywhere, anytime on the court. His Pelicans are 10-10 in a jam-packed Western Conference, but haven't quite been able to beat the upper tier of teams so far this year. If the Pelicans can crawl into the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed, Davis could possibly be the youngest MVP in league history.
Davis had one of his best overall games of the season in a 112-104 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Kevin Durant's return on Dec. 2. Davis scored 25 points (8-15 FG), grabbed 10 rebounds, blocked six shots, dished out four assists and recorded four steals in the win. He showcased any and every part of his game against two of the best players in the league (Durant and Russell Westbrook), and should continue to dominant night in and night out for the rest of the year.
1. Stephen Curry (Golden State PG)- Curry has taken his game to a superstar level this year, plain and simple. Whether it is his natural progression, or it is due to the guidance of head coach Steve Kerr, remains to be seen. One thing is for certain, and that is Curry has cemented his place among the top 10 players in the league, and could crack the top five if his game continues to grow.
The 26-year-old point guard is scoring 23.1 points, dishing out 7.7 assists, and grabbing a career-high 5.5 rebounds per game through the Warriors' first 20 games (18-2 record overall, 13 game win streak). His 49% field goal, 40% 3-point and 92% free throw percentages are all right around or slightly above his career averages, and he is committing 0.6 less turnovers per game as opposed to last season. Barring an unforeseen regression by either Curry or the Warriors, the Davidson product will remain high up in the MVP conversation throughout the season.
Curry's best game of the season came in a 114-97 road win over the Miami Heat on Nov. 25. He scored 40 points on 12-19 shooting (8-11 3PT) and dished out seven assists in the win, completely taking over the game at points. When Curry gets hot from the field, he is nearly unstoppable, and has shown no signs of slowing down, much like his team.
John Wall (Washington PG)- Had a phenomenal night and posted a stat line of 26 points, 17 assists and seven rebounds in a 133-132 overtime win against the Boston Celtics. With the exception of nine turnovers, Wall played extremely well, and his 26 points were the most he has scored in almost two weeks (28 versus Cleveland on Dec. 3.).
Paul Pierce (Washington SF)- The Truth had a big game, scoring 28 points and grabbing seven rebounds in Washington's win over the Celtics in overtime on Monday. Even with extended minutes, Pierce shot the ball extremely well (9-12 FG, 6-6 FT), and his seven rebounds were the most he had grabbed in over two weeks (10 rebounds at Milwaukee on Nov. 22).
Marcus Smart (Boston PG/SG)- Scored 23 points on 7-14 shooting in an overtime loss to the Celtics. Smart had the best game of his young career, and should receive more minutes in head coach Brad Stevens' rotation. Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix PG/SG)- Recorded his first career triple-double (27 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds) in a 121-120 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Bledsoe played the game of his life on Monday, but it was not enough as the Suns fell just short on a Blake Griffin game-winner from 3-point range. Phoenix fans should be thrilled to see the Kentucky product playing so well, as it will bode well for their deep playoff hopes.
Dion Waiters (Cleveland SG)- Tallied a season-high 26 points in a 110-88 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Waiters had his best game of the season, but this will most likely be a rare occurrence, as Waiters' consistency is not at a strong level at this point in his career. Blake Griffin (Los Angeles PF)- Scored 45 points in a 121-120 overtime win over the Phoenix Suns. Griffin hit 14 of 24 field goal, 15 of 17 free throws, and the game-winning 3-pointer to beat the Suns at the buzzer. The 45 points were two off of his career-high, and were by far his highest point total this season.
Clippers' forward Blake Griffin hit the game-winning 3-pointer to beat the Phoenix Suns 121-120 in overtime. Griffin finished with 45 points, with none bigger than his last three, which came off of a friendly bounce from the rim.
Who Was Hot Marc Gasol (Memphis C)- Had a monster game, scoring 30 point and pulling down 12 rebounds in a 107-91 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Gasol scored over 30 points for the second straight game, and has been getting baskets at a higher rate than ever this year.
Luol Deng (Miami SF)- Dropped 26 points on 10-14 shooting, and tallied eight rebounds in a 94-93 win over Charlotte Hornets. It was the first time in five games that Deng scored more than 20 points, and should be a consistent scoring presence going forward.
Al Jefferson (Charlotte C)- Posted a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to Miami on Sunday. Jefferson continues to be one of the most efficient and talented big men in the game, and will need to be at a top level if the Hornets want to make a strong playoff push.
Nick Young (Los Angeles SG/SF)- Scored only seven points on 2-12 shooting in a 101-94 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets. Young has shot 4-19 from the field in his last two games, proving his consistency is still laking on a nightly basis.
Blake Griffin (Los Angeles PF)- Shot 5-17 from the field, and scored 12 points in a 107-91 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Griffin committed four turnovers, and struggled all night finding his shot against a tough Memphis defense.
Avery Bradley (Boston PG/SG)- Failed to record an assist for a second straight game, and scored 13 points in a 94-88 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Bradley shot 6-18 from the field, as his play continues to be inconsistent for the Celtics.
Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Had a monster game, scoring 26 points and dishing out 12 assists in a 110-93 win over the Miami Heat. Paul was in complete control the whole game, helping L.A. race out to a 39-15 lead after the first quarter, and never looking back.
Darren Collison (Sacramento PG)- Posted a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 103-88 win over the Bulls. Collison also pulled down six rebounds and hit all seven free throws, as the Kings handed the Bulls their first road loss of the season.
Blake Griffin (Los Angeles PF)- Scored 26 points on 12-18, while grabbing seven rebounds in the Clippers' win over the Heat on Thursday night. Griffin also recorded three steals, and did not commit a turnover.
Chris Bosh (Miami PF/C)- Tallied 28 points (9-17 FG) and seven rebounds in Miami's loss to the Clippers.
Who Was Not Jamal Crawford (Los Angeles SG)- Shot 1-6 from the field, scoring only five points in the Clippers' win over the Heat. Crawford did recorded nine assists however, which compensated for his shot being off.
Mike Dunleavy (Chicago SG/SF)- Scored 12 points, but hit only 4 of 13 shots in the Bulls' loss to the Kings on Thursday.
Chris Paul/Blake Griffin- The Los Angeles Clippers' duo shined in a 107-101 win over the Utah Jazz. Griffin scored 31 points (14-21 FG), grabbed nine rebounds and recorded four assists. Paul recorded the NBA's first triple-double of the season, with 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
Trevor Ariza- Scored 24 points (8-13 FG, 6 3PM), pulled down six rebounds in Houston's 104-93 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jeff Green- Scored 35 points on 14-28 shooting, while also pulling down seven rebounds in a 113-108 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Dirk Nowitzki- Nowitzki showcased some vintage play, scoring 27 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and hitting four three-pointers in a 118-113 win over the Boston Celtics. He also dished out four assists and is off to a very efficient start to the season.
Lance Thomas- Scored only two points on 1-10 shooting from the field in a 116-85 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. It was a tough night for the Thunder, who are looking for players to step up with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant out for a few weeks.
Derrick Favors- Favors put up a dud in a high profile matchup against the Clippers, scoring only six points (2-4 FG), and grabbing three rebounds. The Georgia Tech product cooled off after a strong first three games, but should get back to form in his next contest.
Jameer Nelson- Scored six points on 2-7 shooting, and committed five turnovers in 23 minutes of action Monday night.
