Making the Case for each MVP Candidate

It's almost the home stretch for the NBA's regular season, and the Most Valuable Player race is as hot as it has been in recent memory. Five players are in true contention for the NBA's top individual award, and as we head into the final five weeks of the season, each game will be crucial towards their respective campaigns.

Here is a breakdown of the potential NBA MVP candidates.

Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)
2015 Season Stats- 24.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.9 bpg, 55% FG, 83% FT

Davis continues to find ways to dominate more and more each night. In Sunday's 118-110 double overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets, the 22-year-old flirted with a quadruple-double, posting a stat line of 36 points, 14 rebounds, nine blocks and seven assists. Over his past five games, Davis is averaging 29.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.4 blocks and 4.2 assists per game (NOLA is 3-2 in those games). His 2.9 blocks per contests leads the league by a solidly wide margin (Serge Ibaka #2 at 2.4), and his field goal percentage is good for seventh overall.

Why He Wins- Getting the Pelicans past OKC and into the playoffs is crucial for Davis' chances. His numbers fit the eye test, and continued monster outings will significantly improve his chances. It will be tough though, as he is competing against four other big candidates who will take away some votes.



LeBron James (Cleveland SF)
2015 Season Stats- 26.0 ppg, 7.4 apg, 5.7 rpg, 49% FG, 35% 3PT

The Cleveland small forward took some time making his MVP run, but like death and taxes, you knew it was coming at some point during the season. His Cavaliers are quickly climbing the playoff ladder in a weakening Eastern Conference, and his scoring, rebounding and assist numbers are pretty much on par with his career stats. His 4.2 turnovers per game are slightly concerning, but James makes up for his mistakes in so many other areas that it isn't something that would cost him the award. One possible roadblock to his fifth MVP award is the strong play of teammate Kyrie Irving, who is scoring 28 points a game (Career-high 57 against Spurs last week) over his last five games on 55% shooting from the field.

Why He Wins- James' strong overall numbers across the board, combined with his resume of four previous MVP awards could push the voters into giving him his fifth. It's a double-edged sword however, as voter fatigue could cost him the award. The Cavs will need to continue to play well down the stretch, and 14-point losses to the Heat will not help his cause.



James Harden (Houston SG)
2015 Season Stats- 26.8 ppg, 7.1 apg, 5.8 rpg, 44% FG, 37% 3PT

The Beard has been phenomenal leading the Rockets while Dwight Howard remain out due to injury. His 26.8 ppg trails only Russell Westbrook, and he leads the NBA in free throws made (8.5), and attempted (9.8), while knocking them down at an 86.6% rate. Harden can get hot from anywhere on the court at anytime, and his play has Houston only two and a half games from the second seed in a jam-packed Western Conference.

Why He Wins- When Harden's perimeter shot is falling, he is impossible to stop, as he can truly beat you from anywhere. He can take home the hardware if he can push the Rockets to a top-three seed, while maintain efficient strong play.



Stephen Curry (Golden State PG)-
2015 Season Stats- 23.6 ppg, 7.8 apg, 4.4 rpg, 48% FG, 42% 3PT

The dribbling and shooting wizard recently celebrated his 27th birthday in typical Curry fashion, going off for 27 points and 11 assists in a 125-94 victory over the New York Knicks. Curry's play has been consistently strong all season long, and his 2.17 steals per game put him just behind Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard for tops in the league. He leads all players in three-pointer made (216), and attempted (513), and his 42% conversion rate from behind the arc is good for seventh among qualified shooters. Curry is absolutely electrifying to watch on a nightly basis, and is always putting on a show for the fans, whether at home or on the road.

Why He Wins- The Warriors record (Currently 53-13) is not only leading the Western Conference, but also the NBA. His play is great against good and poor competition, and Curry's overall consistency on both ends of the floor will give the voters good reason to give the 27-year-old his first MVP award.



Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)
2015 Season Stats- 27.5 ppg, 8.4 apg, 7.3 rpg, 43% FG, 84% FT

The triple-double machine continues to roll along, as Westbrook recorded his eighth of the season four days ago in a 113-99 win versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (29 pts, 12 ast, 10 reb). Efficiency and turnovers have been an issue, as his field goal percentage and turnovers per game are the worst of any other candidate listed in this breakdown. In addition, the Thunder are the eight seed by only a half a game over Davis' Pelicans, and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. However, without Westbrook, OKC would most likely not be in the playoff hunt (Kevin Durant has missed 40 games this year).

Why He Wins- The positives (Pts, Reb, Ast, Stls) outweigh the negatives (FG %, TO's) by enough of a margin that voters will see Westbrook's true value to the Thunder. Pulling away from the Pelicans will also strengthen his case, as he looks to become the first pair of teammates (Along with Durant) to win back-to-back MVP awards since the Boston Celtics from 1956-1958 (Bob Cousy and Bill Russell respectively.



Who do you think is the NBA's Most Valuable Player? Comment below and state your case.

Otherwise...

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats/facts courtesy of ESPN/Basketball Reference 

*All stats accurate as of March 17

Weekend Recap- March 6-8

Friday, March 6

James Harden (Houston SG)- Recorded his third triple-double with 38 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in a 103-93 win over the Detroit Pistons. Harden knocked down 10 of 21 field goal attempts and 16 of 18 free throw attempts in the win. His passing has been exceptional of late, as he has dished out double digit assists in five of his past seven games.

Source

Victor Oladipo (Orlando SG)- Tallied 32 points, 10 assists and five steals in a 119-114 win over the Sacramento Kings. Oladipo is blossoming into a talented two-way guard, as he has scored 30+ points in two of his last three games, and has recorded 10 steals in those contests. He is averaging 17.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists a game.

Rudy Gay (Sacramento SF)- Scored 39 points in the Kings' 119-114 loss to the Magic on Friday night. It was his second-highest scoring game of the year, and came on an efficient 16 of 26 shooting from the field. Gay is averaging almost 21 points and six rebounds on the year, while dishing out just under four assists a game.

Source

Saturday, March 7

DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Recorded 27 points and 17 rebounds in a 114-109 loss to the Miami Heat. Cousins once again had an efficient night, as he shot 10 of 17 from the field, and 7 of 8 from the foul line. He is one of the best big men in the game hands down, and has three double-doubles in his last four games.

Source

Khris Middleton (Milwaukee SG/SF)- Exploded for a season-high 30 points, while also grabbing nine rebounds in a 91-85 win against the Washington Wizards. Middleton knocked down six 3-points in the win, showcasing his accurate long range abilities. He has scored in double-digits in his last 15 games, and is a talented defender as well, nabbing 1.6 steals a game for the season.

Damian Lillard (Portland PG)- Tallied 32 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in a 121-113 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lillard hit 11 shots in the game, including four 3-pointers, as the 32 points were more than he had scored in his previous two games combined.


Sunday, March 8

Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)- Another day, another triple-double for Westbrook. The Thunder point guard posted a line of 30 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds in a 108-104 victory versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook continued his surge towards a possible MVP award, hitting 9 of 21 field goal attempts and tallying his fifth triple-double in six games.

Source

Brandon Bass (Boston PF)- Notched a double-double of 19 points and 17 rebounds in a 103-98 loss to the Orlando Magic. Bass hit 9 of his 14 field goal attempts, and has now scored 15 or more points in four of his last five contests.

Pau Gasol (Chicago PF/C)- Tallied 23 points and 15 rebounds in a 116-105 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Gasol once again put up a double-double (His 4th in a row), and also blocked two shots in the loss to the defending champs. Gasol's play and numbers should have him in the hunt for a possible All-NBA selection come the end of the season.


2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats/facts courtesy of ESPN/Basketball Reference 

Nightly Recap- Feb. 23

Top Performances

James Harden (Houston SG)- Scored 31 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 10 assists in Houston's 113-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was Harden's second double-double of the season, and he also blocked four shots in the win. He is having the best season of his career by far, and is without a doubt in the top-2 for MVP voting.

Source

Avery Bradley (Boston SG)- Scored 23 points and swiped six steals in a 115-110 win over the Phoenix Suns. It marked the third straight game with 20+ points for Bradley, who also has 13 steals in those contests for Boston. His production should stay the same over the final months of the season, as teammate Jared Sullinger is out for the year. Bradley makes for a nice complimentary guard to the newly-acquired Isaiah Thomas in head coach Brad Steven's lineup.

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Dominated with 30 points and 10 assists in a 90-87 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Paul shot 13-22 from the field in what was his fifth double-double in his last six games. His scoring has been right around his season average in those contests, but he will need to do even more with teammate Blake Griffin out for an extended period of time with an injury.

Source

Goran Dragic (Miami PG)- Dropped 23 points and 10 assists in a 119-108 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. In only his second game for Miami, Dragic controlled the pace from start to finish, hitting 9 of 14 field goal attempts. Pat Riley and the Heat will do everything in their power to keep the Slovenian point guard long-term, as he can be an extremely valuable asset to them moving forward.

Play of the Night

Clippers' center DeAndre Jordan dunked one home over Marc Gasol of the Grizzlies on Monday night. Jordan finished the game with nine points and 17 rebounds.

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN 

Nightly Recap- Feb. 10

Top Performances

James Harden (Houston SG)- Exploded for 30 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in a 127-118 win over the Phoenix Suns. Harden dominated for the second straight game, hitting 13 of 23 from the field, and 11 of 14 from the foul line. He continues to play his way to the top of the MVP conversation with Dwight Howard out due to injury, and is one of the most dynamic scorers in the game.

Source

Greg Monroe (Detroit PF/C)- Posted 23 points and 12 rebounds in a 106-78 win against the Charlotte Hornets. It was another double-double for Monroe, who is showcasing his offensive abilities for teams that will offer him big money as a free agent come summertime. His play has remained strong since the release of Josh Smith, and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Pau Gasol (Chicago PF/C)- Recorded a double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds in a 104-86 win over the Sacramento Kings. Gasol had another strong game, shooting 11-15 from the field, as well as all four free throw attempts. He has 13 straight double-doubles, and is continuing to play some of his best basketball of his career for the Bulls.

Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix PG/SG)- Scored 32 points in the Suns' 127-118 loss to the Houston Rockets. Bledsoe did his best to carry the team, hitting 9-19 field goal attempts and dishing out four assists in the high-scoring lost. He continues to fill up the stat sheet almost every night, and will be counted on to help the Suns keep their playoff hopes alive.

Source

Ty Lawson (Denver PG)- Finished with 32 points and 16 assists in a 106-96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Lawson absolutely took over in the second half, hitting jumpers and 3-pointers from all over the court. His lightning fast speed make for a tough matchup against any opposing point guard, and his field goal percentage has been on the rise over the last few weeks for the Nuggets.

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN 

Nightly Recap- Feb. 8

Top Performances

Kyrie Irving (Cleveland PG)- Tallied 28 points, 10 assists and four rebounds in a 120-105 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Irving had his way with rookie Jordan Clarkson Sunday, shooting 10-14 from the field, and hitting five 3-pointers in the win. It also marked his first double-double in three weeks, a good sign for Cavs fans.

Source

Kevin Love (Cleveland PF/C)- Recorded 32 points and 10 rebounds in the Cavs' win over the Lakers on Sunday afternoon. Love had a dominant game against a weakend Los Angeles frontcourt, and has now scored over 20 points in 3 of his last 6 games. He is starting to find his rythym with teammates LeBron James and Irving.

Al Jefferson (Charlotte C)- Tallied 30 points and 13 rebounds in a 103-102 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Jefferson had his best game in the last two weeks, hitting 13-22 field goal attempts. He continues to be one of the best offensive big men in the game, and is one of the only players keeping the Hornets afloat with all of their injuries.

Source

James Harden (Houston SG)- Scored 45 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 109-98 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Harden tied his season-high in points, and hit 11 of 25 field goal attempts, while making 19 of his 23 shots at the foul line. He also added in eight assists in the loss.

Play of the Night

Sacramento Kings' center DeMarcus Cousins hit the game-winning jumper at the buzzer to beat the Phoenix Suns 85-83 on Sunday. The shot received a friendly bounce of off the back iron before falling, but broke the Kings' three game losing streak. "Boogie" finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and two steals in the win.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5u-fW7iYXc

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN 

Nightly Recap- Jan. 23

Top Performances

Klay Thompson (Golden State SG)- Scored a career-high 52 points in a 126-101 win over the Sacramento Kings. Thompson was quiet until the third quarter. where he scored an NBA record 37 points (13-13 FG, 9 3PM). He finished the game with 11 3-pointers, five assists and four steals, and is one of the best shooting guards in the league.

Source

Nikola Vucevic (Orlando C)- Recorded 34 points and 18 rebounds in a 113-106 loss to the New York Knicks. It was another big game for Vucevic, who hit 16 of 22 field goal attempts. It was his eighth double-double in his last ten games, and is a staple of his game this season.

James Harden (Houston SG)- Dropped 33 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in a 113-111 win over the Phoenix Suns. Harden also hit the game-winning shot over P.J. Tucker as time expired, and hit 14 of 17 free throw attempts. He has scored 31 or more points in four of his last five games.

Source

LeBron James (Cleveland SF)- Tallied 29 points, nine assists and six rebounds in a 129-90 win over the Charlotte Hornets. James hit 9 of 15 shot attempts, and also nabbed four steals in the largest win of this season for the Cavs. He has scored over 25 points in every game since returning from his various injuries.

Plays of the Night

Klay Thompson hit all 13 of his shot attempts (9 3PM) in his record-string third quarter, where he scored 37 points, propelling the Warriors to a huge lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc3m3BwfylA

Harden for the win

James Harden hit a step-back jumper at the buzzer to give the Rockets a 113-111 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfy7qZ0mEd8

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN

MLK Jr. Day Recap

Top Performances

James Harden (Houston SG)- Dropped 45 points, seven assists and four steals in a 110-98 win against the Indiana Pacers. Harden had a fantastic overall game once again, hitting 12 of his 18 shot attempts, including seven 3-pointers. It was a nice bounce-back game after he scored only 12 points against Golden State on Saturday.

Source

DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Tallied 22 points and 19 rebounds in a 98-94 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Cousins only shot 7 of 17 from the field, but blocked four shots in the loss. He continues to put up stellar numbers in wins or losses, and is one of the most talented centers in the league.

DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles C)- Scored 19 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked six shots in a 102-93 win over the Boston Celtics. Jordan scored 17 or more points for the third time in four games, and continues to be one of the best rebounders in the league, averaging 13.4 a game. His 2.36 blocked shots per game is good for second best in the NBA.

Source

Isaiah Thomas (Phoenix PG)- Recorded 24 points and five steals in a 115-100 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Thomas had a super-effecient game, shooting 9 of 12 from the field, and hitting four 3-pointers in the big win. It was the seventh time in the last nine games that he has scored in double-digits.

Play of the Night

Portland Trail Blazers' point guard Damian Lillard put the game on ice with a slam dunk in a 98-94 win over the Sacramento Kings. He finished the game with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpL-2qpQmPk

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN

Nightly Recap- Jan. 15

Top Performances 

James Harden (Houston SG)- Recorded 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in a 112-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Harden absolutely took over Thursday night, as he hit 9 of 15 shot attempts, including six 3-pointers. He continues to put up all kinds of numbers, and is leading Houston to big wins each and every night.

Source

LeBron James (Cleveland SF)- Scored 36 points and hit four 3-pointers in a 109-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. James had his second strong game in a row, as Cleveland snapped their five-game losing streak. With Kevin Love battling back spasms, and Kyrie's inconsistent play, James will be counted on more than ever to carry the load for his hometown team as they push to get back into playoff contention.

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles SG)- Finished with 19 points, 17 assists and seven rebounds in a 109-102 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a career-high in assists for Bryant, who continues to distribute the ball at a high rate, as he has dished out seven or more assists in six of his last seven games.

Source

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City SF)- Tallied 24 points and 10 rebounds in a 112-101 loss to the Houston Rockets. It was a quiet double-double for Durant, who only took 12 shots (8-12 FG) in the loss. However, he continues to score at an efficient rate for the Thunder, and It is safe to say he is back to 100% heading forward.

Play of the Night

Houston Rockets' guard James Harden showcased his speed and athleticism by splitting the Thunder defense for the slam dunk Thursday night. Harden cut in between Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka before throwing down a left-handed slam in a 112-101 win for the Rockets.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdsrhHA0fV0

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN

Nightly Recap- Jan. 12

Top Performances

James Harden (Houston SG)- Scored 30 points on 9 of 13 shooting in a 113-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He also dished out six assists in the win, and scored 30 points/hit four 3-pointers for the second consecutive game. Harden is keeping himself in the MVP conversation, as well as keeping the Rockets in contention for a top-4 seed in the Western Conference.

Source

Pau Gasol (Chicago PF/C)- Tallied 28 points and 14 rebounds in a 121-114 loss to the Orlando Magic. In his first game since scoring a career-high 46 points, Gasol hit 10 of 16 shot attempts, 8 of 10 free throws and blocked two shots in the loss. His career-year continues, and as long as he remains healthy, he should be an all-star and possibly make an all-NBA team.

Jonas Valanciunas (Toronto C)- Hit 14 of 15 shot attempts en route to a 31 point, 12 rebound performance in a 114-111 loss to the Detroit Pistons. It was his first double-double in a little over a week, but Valanciunas showed why he can play minutes in Toronto's rotation every night.

Source

Brandon Jennings (Detroit PG)- Recorded 34 points and 10 assists the Piston's win over the Raptors. Jennings hit four 3-pointers and swiped the ball twice in the win, while also shooting 11 of 22 from the field. The Pistons have now won 9 out of their last 10 games, and are playing themselves into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.

Play of the Night

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-6wqZZ1DZs

Orlando Magic Center Nikola Vucevic slammed one home over Pau Gasol in a 121-114 Magic win against the Chicago Bulls Monday night. Vucevic scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the win, with no two points bigger than his monster dunk.

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN

Nightly Recap- Jan. 8

Top Performances

Kemba Walker (Charlotte PG)- Tallied 29 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in a 103-95 win over the Toronto Raptors. Walker scored 29 or more points for the fourth consecutive game, and is on a hot streak for the foreseeable future. Not surprisingly, the Hornets have won four straight games, and are beginning to turn their season around after a disastrous start, and it is in large part to Walker's impressive play.

Source

James Harden (Houston SG)- Recorded 25 points and nine assists in a 120-96 win over the New York Knicks. It was another day at the office for Harden, who has now recorded 20+ points and nine or more assists in back-to-back games for the Rockets, which have both been wins.

Source

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland PF/C)- Scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 99-83 win over the Miami Heat. Aldridge shot an efficient 11 of 20 from the field, and posted his third double-double in his last four games. He continues to be on of the best power forwards in the game, and combined with point guard Damian Lillard, makes up one of the best 1-2 punches in the league.

Source

Play of the Night

Houston SG James Harden crossed up New York Knicks point guard Pablo Prigioni Thursday night in the Rockets win over New York. Harden left Prigioni way behind, and ended up hitting a step-back jumper.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_fomXF1l-E

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN

First MVP Rankings of 2015

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

Other notables- Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard

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.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5tXLoaRtWI

Source

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.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KgTz9hVr8g

Source

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.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40_Aapo7Biw

Source

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.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N_QDxZD-qk

Source

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.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz2vrQ7EtIE

Source

Stay tuned for more MVP, as well other award rankings in the future, as we head move into the second half of the season.

*All stats are courtesy of ESPN

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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New Years Eve Recap

Top Performances 

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City SF)- Scored a season-high 44 points (13-23 FG) in a 137-134 overtime win against the Phoenix Suns. Durant didn't miss a beat after not playing in six straight games because of a twisted ankle, as he also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out seven assists. He logged 40 minutes of playing time, and appears to be fully healthy once again.

Source

James Harden (Houston SG)- Hit a career-high eight 3-pointers and scored 36 points in a 102-83 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Harden simply caught fire last night from deep, and also chipped in seven rebounds and six assists. He has now scored over 30 points in four of his last five games, all while dealing with a hamstring injury.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDID8Zoi_FM

Manu Ginobili (San Antonio SG)- Tallied a team-high 25 points in a 95-93 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Ginobili also grabbed seven rebounds and hit five 3-pointers in the victory, and is having a solid season at age 37, scoring just over 13 points a game.

Source

Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- Recorded a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to the Spurs. It was just another night in the office for the young MVP candidate, as he went up against Tim Duncan for most of the game. While they aren't winning a ton of games, the Pelicans have found their centerpiece for the next 10 years in Davis.

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Dec. 26

Top Performances

James Harden (Houston SG)- Almost had a triple-double, scoring 32 points, dishing out 10 assists and grabbing eight rebounds in a 117-111 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Harden played 41 minutes in the win, and hit 10 of his 17 shot attempts, as well as 10 of 11 free throw attempts. He continues to have a fantastic overall season on the offensive end, and will look to mesh with new teammate Josh Smith going forward.

Source

Jared Dudley (Milwaukee SG/SF)- Hit all 10 of his shot attempts en route to a 24 point, four steal performance in a 107-77 win against the Atlanta Hawks. Dudley became the first player in NBA history to go at least 10-10 with at least three 3-ptointers attempted.

Kenneth Faried (Denver PF)- Broke out and scored 26 points while grabbing a career-high 25 rebounds in a 106-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Faried had a fantastic night, as he hit 11 of 15 shots from the field, and absolutely dominated on the boards, as he has since his days at Morehead State.

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Anthony Davis (New Orleans PF/C)- Rebounded from a quite outing against Indiana to put up 22 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in a 97-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Davis filled up the stat sheet once again, and continues to play fantastic basketball heading into 2015.

Marcus Morris (Phoenix SF/PF)- Dropped 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a 115-106 win over the Sacramento Kings. Morris hit 7 of 12 shot attempts, including a careeer-high six 3-pointers in the win. It was the first time he had scored more than 20 points since Dec. 9 against the Heat, and is a positive sign moving forward.

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Jarrett Jack (Brooklyn PG)- Scored a season-high 27 points on 8 of 14 shooting in a 109-107 win against the Boston Celtics. Jack got the start instead of Deron Williams, and did not disappoint, as he also added in seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in the win for the Nets.

Play of the Night

The TNT network released a heartwarming video tribute to Craig Sager, one of their sideline  reporters on Thursday nights for 17 years. Sager is recovering from Acute myeloid leukemia, and should be back on the sidelines by the end of the season.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb2z4W_OEuw

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Dec. 22

Top Performances

James Harden (Houston SG)- Tallied 44 points on 14-26 shooting in a 110-95 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Harden was on fire the entire game, and also filled up the stat sheet, recording seven assists and five steals.

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Klay Thompson (Golden State SG)- Registered 25 points in a 128-108 win over the Sacramento Kings. Thompson lit up Sacramento's defense early and often Monday night, hitting 10 of 16 shot attempts. He commited only one turnover and has scored 20+ points in nine of the last 10 games for the Warriors.

Jimmy Butler (Chicago SG)- Posted a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds in a 129-120 win over the Toronto Raptors. Butler had another double-double, and is having a career year for the Bulls.

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Boris Diaw (San Antonio PF)- Scored 23 points on 9 of 11 shooting in a 125-118 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Diaw came out of nowhere to have a great game, as he played big minutes in the second half.

Chris Paul (Los Angeles PG)- Recorded 25 points, nine assists and four rebounds in a loss to the Spurs on Monday night. Paul did everything he could to give the Clippers a chance to defeat the defending champion Spurs, but it was just not enough, as San Antonio shot over 63% from the field in the win. Paul has had back-to-back games of 25+ points and nine or more assists, and appears to be trying to score more on an inconsistent Clippers team.

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Kyle Lowry (Toronto PG)- Posted a line of 34 points, six rebounds and three assists in a 129-120 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Lowry did everything he could to give Toronto a chance to win the game, but it wasn't enough as the Raptors fell just short. The Villanova product is nonetheless having an excellent season, and is living up to the 4yr/48 million dollar contract he signed in the offseason.

Play of the Night

Houston Rockets' guard James Harden erupted for 44 points in a win over the Trail Blazers, a rematch of last years' first round matchup in the Western Conference. Below is a video highlight package of his phenomenal night.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljFUzEzw7Ag

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Dec. 20

Top Performances

Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix PG/SG)- Posted a double-double of 27 points and 10 rebounds in a 99-90 win over the New York Knicks. Bledsoe scored over 20 points and grabbed 10 or more rebounds for the first time since his triple-double against the Clippers back on Dec. 8 (27 points, 16 ast, 11 reb). His production has been up and down this season, but the young combo-guard remains one of the most athletically gifted players in the league.

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James Harden (Houston SG)- Recorded 18 points, 14 assists and six rebounds in a 104-97 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. Harden struggled with his shot (6-16 FG) and injured his hamstring, but was able to stay in the game and produce a complete stat line for the Rockets. The 25-year-old is having another terrific season, scoring almost 27 points a game to go alone with over six assists and rebounds.

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Monta Ellis (Dallas SG)- Torched the Spurs for 38 points in a 99-93 victory on Saturday night. Ellis was unstoppable, scoring 11 points over the final four minutes to seal the win for Dallas. He shot 15 of 23 from the field, and has tallied 24 points or more in four of his last five games.

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LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland PF/C)- Dropped 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 114-88 win over the New Orleans. Aldridge showed no ill effects of playing 52 minutes the night before (triple overtime win against spurs), hit 12 of his 20 shot attempts and recorded three steals. He has five double-doubles in a row and is averaging 22.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee SG/SF)- Tallied 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a 106-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Antetokounmpo filled up the stat sheet in the loss, hitting 8 of 12 shot attempts against one of the best teams in the Western Conference. The "Greek Freak" is steadily improving under head coach Jason Kidd, and will soon be a nightly stat sheet stuffer for the Bucks.

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Play of the Night

Dallas Mavericks' guard Monta Ellis dominated the court Saturday, scoring 38 points against the San Antonio Spurs. He completely took over the fourth quarter, and propelled the Mavericks to a big win against their Texas rival.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhREHJ4kQRA

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Dec. 13

Who Was Hot

Mike Conley (Memphis PG)- Tallied a career-high 36 points on 13 of 22 shooting in a 120-115 overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Conley had a phenomenal game, hitting many shots down the stretch, including the game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime. He also added in nine assists and three rebounds in what was one of his best games of the season.

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James Harden/Dwight Howard (Houston SG/C)- The Rockets' duo was on their game Saturday night, as they combined for 50 points on 16-32 shooting from the field in a 108-96 win over the Denver Nuggets. Harden finished with a triple-double (24 pts, 10 ast, 10 reb), while Howard tallied 26 points and 13 rebounds in his first game back from a knee injury.

Michael Carter-Williams (Philadelphia PG)- Recorded a triple-double of 16 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in a 120-115 overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. MCW has been on a tear lately, averaging 17.0 points, 11.3 assists and 9.0 rebounds over his past eight games. He continues to showcase his versatility night in and night out, and is quickly becoming one of the better young point guards in the league.

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Matt Barnes/J.J. Redick (Los Angeles SG/SF)-  Barnes and Redick caught fire in a 111-106 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, combing for 51 points and 11 made 3-pointers in the contest. Barnes had his highest scoring game of the season with 26 points on 10 of 18 shooting, while Redick recorded 25 points, five 3-pointers and hit all eight free throws he attempted.

Plays of the Night

Memphis Grizzlies' point guard Mike Conley hit the game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime agains the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. Conley then hit several key shots in overtime to give Memphis the grind-it-out win in Philly. The Grizzlies improved to 19-4 on the season with the victory.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc0iJac0s0U

Orlando Magic small forward Tobias Harris hit a jumper at the buzzer to defeat the Atlanta Hawks 100-99 on Saturday night. Harris hit the tough, contested jumper after receiving the inbounds pass near mid court with 3.4 seconds left. He finished with 20 points (7-16 FG), six rebounds and five assists in the victory.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb23omjSot8

2014-15 NBA Standings

Check out bunow.com for local and national stories written by Bloomsburg University students.
Follow me on Twitter @Lower_Merion33