With the NBA season currently on the tail end of its second week, several players have emerged as the best in the league after leading their teams to the top of standings. Each week I will bestow upon you an updated “unbiased” power ranking list which should organically change with a slew of star players battling it out for the coveted 2015 NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Unlike other MVP rankings, I will avoid the easy route of selecting the same old popular players by default.
I am strictly rewarding players based on performance, team record, and overall impact. With that being said, lets get it on!
Updated Ranking –> MVP POWER RANKINGS & Prediction – January 2015
Honorable Mention:
LeBron James
Courtesy of the Cleveland Cavaliers
After a blowout loss by the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Cleveland Cavaliers are off to a rocky start with an overall record of 2-3. Kyrie Irving and Dion Waters have been less than “team players” while LeBron James and Kevin Love haven’t exactly dominated in the same fashion they’re accustomed to. James has been proactive in taking the helm, unfortunately, he has to deal with a couple of knuckleheads who haven’t experienced the sensation of NBA title success. The Cavaliers are ranked No.1 in the league when it comes to isolation offense — a statistic that has to change of this team wants to be successful. Due to the sub-par play of the Cavs, James doesn’t make the MVP list this week, but RELAX, James will find a way to command this team to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
7. John Wall
Image Courtesy of USATSI
Wall could have easily ranked higher on my list, unfortunately I couldn’t justify ranking him above the top-7 players on this weeks power rankings. Still, Wall has been one of the more efficient point guards in the Eastern Conference with an average of 19 points and 8.7 assists, ranking him top-5 in the NBA among point guards distributing the rock. Wall is clearly the engine that runs the Wizards’ offense, and I’m sure we’ll hear his name mentioned frequently among the top MVP candidates this season.
6. DeMarcus Cousins
Image Courtesy of the Sacramento Kings
Lets be real, Cousins has always possessed the talent to be a top-10 player in the NBA, he’s arguably the most offensively efficient center in the league, unfortunately, the shortcomings of his team have overshadowed individual accolades. Could this season be the year where it all changes? From an MVP standpoint, Cousins has the stats to back it up, and the Kings are off to a great start, but I think this team has to experience significant regular season success– until then, the MVP talk might not last.
5. Marc Gasol
Gasol has been one of the most versatile big men in the NBA for several seasons, and this year he’s off to a career start after averaging more than 21 points, 7.8 rebounds, and three assists. The Grizzlies are also off to a great start with a 5-0 record while the teams defensive efforts through 48 minutes have displayed some significant improvements thanks to a healthy roster. Thus far, Gasol and company have the look of a team on a mission. Has Marc finally caught up to his older brother Pau to become the better of the Gasol brothers? Keep a look out for Gasol as the MVP race continues throughout the regular season.
7 Comments
Schlomo Freud
November 14, 2014 at 1:51 pmGood 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.
Jr. Williams
November 15, 2014 at 12:13 amAmazing comment and great analysis. Curry looks to be in great position to make my week 3 rankings.
Jr. Williams
November 9, 2014 at 6:38 pmIn my opinion, DeRozan has been the better player “thus far” versus some of the better teams in the league. As this is merely my week two rankings, I expect Lowry and Chris Bosh to make the future cut, granted, if they continue their excellent play. This is my first crack at the MVP rankings and I appreciate you guys taking the time to read it. Thank you for the feedback, and I will work harder on the next power rankings. Your input is golden.
Tevy
November 9, 2014 at 6:27 pmMost Raptor fans will tell you that even though Demar puts up better numbers and is probably the best individual player on the team, Kyle is without question the team’s MVP.
Knight of Hyrule
November 9, 2014 at 11:23 pmI’m probably the biggest Raptors fan out there, but I have to agree with Jr. Williams here.
DeRozan has been the better player, despite Lowry’s triple double and 35-point game. DeMar has been a match-up problem so far because of both his explosiveness and post play. I think the Greivis Vasquez/Lou Williams and Demar DeRozan combo could’ve still had the Raptors playing great ball at this point in the season. Without DeMar, teams would’ve clamped down on Lowry with double teams, and he would struggle. There is no replacement for DeRozan versatility. Still waiting on T.Ross to be that player.
Lowry also hasn’t been consistent, while DeMar only struggled in the opener against Atlanta.
Knight of Hyrule
November 9, 2014 at 6:00 pmGood list. Only change I would make is getting rid of John Wall and putting in Chris Bosh. John Wall has NOT been MVP material. He’s been good, but there are plenty of players that have been better in all facets of the game. Bosh, on the other hand, has been stellar on a more consistent basis, putting up great numbers in the process.
My list:
7 – Bosh (MIA)
6 – DeRozan (TOR)
5 – Gasol (MEM)
4 – Cousins (SAC)
3 – Thompson (GSW)
2 – Harden (HOU)
1 – Davis (NOP)
Jr. Williams
November 9, 2014 at 6:45 pmNo argument here, the Wizards are No.1 in the southwest division, but their double digit loss to the Heat on Oct 29 couldn’t helped the case for Bosh this week– small oversight on my part.