NBA 2014-15 MVP Power Rankings: Week 2

Good effort on the list, man. I find it really difficult to predict
such a complex decision after such a short part of the season (more
difficult than a preseason prediction because now it’s gotten real. In
preseason one can basically claim anything that’s not too borderline
crazy). Also I like your approach of complexity and agree that team
record and overall impact (like player’s meaning for the team – you mean
that, right?) are also crucial factors for MVP choice. That’s why Melo
won’t be MVP in the next five years. Yes, I said it! Except… that
triangle thing works out really, really well and safes Melo’s career. So
I’m particularly glad that you cut him from the list. In contrast to
some other stats geeks out there. And don’t get me wrong. I’m a die-hard
Knicks fan. That 1999 playoff run as 8th seed was one of the most fun
things to watch in basketball for me. They would have deserved the title
very well that year. But that last two years? Man, I had to turn off
couple of Knicks games. 4 guys parked on one side and Melo going one on
one for 40 on the other side? Nope, not worth watching. And not very
successful either.

To the list:
– John Wall:
huge impact on the team, well above average. Safe Top5 PG candidate.
MVP? Nope. I cannot really say why. Watching him on the court I never
got that “Oh my god, that was a MVP-like performance.”-feeling. Like
when you feel that he now decided to take over the game and win it. Like
I had with Jordan. Or AI. Or Shaq. Or LeBron. Or KD especially last
year. That really all I can say against Wall.
– Booooooooogie: I
really love the Boogie. See him on court and all. Kings just over night
became one of my Top3 fun teams to watch. Boogie will make his Allstar
debut in February. I even made a stupid bet with one of my buddies that
there will be 2 Kings Allstars this year. He said none. Don’t let me
down, Rudy! Kings will make the playoffs – like 7th or 8th seed (another
stupid bet of mine). MVP? Nope. Too early. MVP potential: hell yeah! He
has the potential to dominate the zone just like Shaq did. Though he is
a different, more “I can shoot” kind of center, so even dangerous. I
mean the way he violated the opposing frontcourt in the Clippers game?
Me oh my! But then you have that Boogie that gets fouled out in the Suns
game way too early making more exciting than necessary. So, let’s say
3-4 years and more growing up he could make Top3 MVP candidate list. I
liked it though to see him on your list.
– Gasol: I don’t like. Neither him nor the Grizzlys’ way of basketball. So a biased “No way” from me.
–
DeMar DeRozan: interesting point. Definitely the best player on that
Raptors team, I agree. Well-deserved Allstar. I don’t see him as MVP,
though. I saw Jordan play. I saw Kobe play (the last two SG that made
MVP). So no. Not even close. Especially that 2008 Lakers team. How Kobe
could take that team to the pole position in the West and later to the
finals – it’s really beyond me. Also I think that the SG position is
kind of the hardest to make MVP. I don’t really know why.
– Klay
Thompson: picking him over the other splash brother? That made me sad.
Too one dimensional. Or two dimensional. Good D. Depends mostly on
others to create shots for him (that he hits far above average I gotta
admit). He won’t make MVP in his career. Right now I even cannot see him
being better than the second best player on a team some day. Also the
SG/MVP-thing. Here’ s question: what stats would Stephen Curry have to
put up to be in the discussion? I mean, seriously.
– Anthony Davis: I
couldn’t agree more with you. He is Top3 best players in the league
right now. I’d like to add to the list: best stealing big man, 6th (!)
in that category right now. So yeah, if the Pelicans make the playoffs
he will be in the discussion. In fact, what about Defensive Player of
the Year this season and MVP the next year?
– James Harden: my
favorite SG in the league. MVP? Let’s say it comes in handy for his
style to have D12 protecting the rim behind him. So I’m happy to see him
on your list and I don’t see him on the list. Maybe in 2-3 years.

My own list is rather short:
(3rd) KD (we can safely assume that he will continue to set the league on
fire once he returns. So he is in. He won’t forget how to play basketball over a broken foot.)
(2nd) AD (see above)(2nd) LeBron (of course *yawn*)
(1st)
Curry: amazing season so far. He runs the show in Golden State. Like
big time. He’s the one player on that team you cannot replace. The style
and success of the Warriors depends largely on him. If Golden State
finishes 2nd or 3rd in the West I pretty sure he will make MVP. Stats?
No doubt! 3rd in PPG, 1st in SPG, 3rd best rebounding point guard (Can
you guess the other two?), shooting percentages will be amazing again by
the end of the season. 11th in APG. To some that might seem low for a
possible PG-MVP. Derrick Rose put up 7.7 APG in 2011. So that might be
enough. Furthermore the more amazing part is the quality of Curry’s
assists. He creates the best possible shot for the others. Better than
any other PG I’ve seen so far this year. Also watch a Warriors game.
There are about 5-8 situations each night where he created the best
possible shot. And they miss. Badly. I claim if there were more “Klay
Thomson like”, catch’n’shoot players on other positions on this team
Curry would end up between 12 and 15 assists each night. Easily. So he is my hottest MVP-candidate of right now.