A look at the NBA MVP race
No Amare?
Howard needs more than intangables for serious MVP shot
1. Derrick Rose, Bulls (41-18)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
58 37.8 24.6 4.4 8.2 1.0 0.6 .442 .339 .840
Last Week's Rank - 1
Playing with both Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer back in the lineup might be more challenging, for a while, than playing without one or the other. Convincing MVP voters of that? More challenging still. We'll see this weekend (at Orlando, Miami) how well Rose and his team put the gag job at Atlanta behind them.
2. LeBron James, Heat (43-18)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
59 38.4 26.3 7.5 7.1 1.5 0.7 .491 .335 .761
Last Week's Rank - 2
His statistical season is superior to pretty much everyone else's. But way-off shots at the end of losses to Chicago, New Yor and Orlando in eight days has Miami searching for its closer (hint, he's a few spots down this list). And the Heat are in the thickest part of their schedule.
3. Dwight Howard, Magic (40-22)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
60 36.9 23.2 13.9 1.3 1.2 2.3 .596 .000 .593
Last Week's Rank - 3
Howard has led his team in scoring 42 times, in rebounding 55 times, in double-doubles with 50 and in speaking up both to the front office and in the locker room. There is little more he could do as a candidate than win. Can he get the Magic to 54 or 55 victories?
4. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs (44-16)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
51 34.2 22.8 6.7 2.5 0.6 0.7 .525 .424 .869
Last Week's Rank - 6
All the Mavericks do is win: 17 of 18 over the last six weeks, with Nowitzki as the driving force. His shooting has been lights-out even by his standards, but other stats -- 12th in scoring, 57th (!) in rebounding -- will weigh down his MVP shot.
5. Kevin Durant, Thunder (37-22)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
55 39.3 28.4 7.1 2.8 1.1 1.0 .465 .337 .874
Last Week's Rank - 5
Durant scored scored 21 points in just 26 minutes against Indiana, but a sprained left ankle had him listed as doubtful to face the Hawks at Atlanta Friday. OKC isn't doomed when he's out (3-1 when Durant doesn't start), but the Thunder is better when he's on (18-5 when Durant scores 30).
6. Kobe Bryant, Lakers (43-19)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
62 33.9 25.1 5.2 4.9 1.2 0.1 .460 .319 .829
Last Week's Rank - 4
A perfect record since the All-Star break has calmed some of the storm in Los Angeles, with Bryant averaging 21.7 ppg and 5.0 apg. He remains the Lakers' best hope to right some wrongs (they've lost eight of their last 10 against Charlotte) Friday; Bryant's career average vs. the Bobcats (29.8 ppg) is his highest against any foe.
7. Dwyane Wade, Heat (43-18)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 .000 .000 .000
Last Week's Rank - 7
No one else should be closing -- or at least, trying to close -- games for the Heat, especially in their current state. But going 0-for-6 in the second half vs. Orlando Thursday night, and 13-of-24 from the line last week aren't moving him up here.
8. Manu Ginobili, Spurs (50-11)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
61 31.0 18.0 3.9 5.0 1.6 0.4 .425 .343 .872
Last Week's Rank - NR
Only someone whose intangibles and, more than that, ability to read what his team needs on a given night, could put up nights of 26, 35, nine and 13 points (with 4-of-19 from the arc), and maintain MVP status.
9. LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers (34-27)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
61 39.8 22.2 9.0 2.1 1.2 1.2 .494 .176 .788
Last Week's Rank - NR
Aldridge has been one of the king's of the Honorable Mention list in The Race, but his work in February -- Western Conference Player of the Month -- get him upgraded. He started March like a lamb (14 points, 3 rebounds vs. Houston) but roared back a little (20, 10) at Sacramento 24 hours later.
10. Rajon Rondo, Celtics (44-15)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
48 37.8 11.0 4.5 12.2 2.4 0.2 .512 .323 .546
Last Week's Rank - 9
Rondo bumps Steve Nash from this spot on the strength of Boston's 115-103 victory Wednesday (16 points to Nash's eight, 15 assists to Nash's seven). The Celtics point guard also seems to have his club, and himself, righted after losing good-bud Kendrick Perkins via trade.
Howard needs more than intangables for serious MVP shot
1. Derrick Rose, Bulls (41-18)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
58 37.8 24.6 4.4 8.2 1.0 0.6 .442 .339 .840
Last Week's Rank - 1
Playing with both Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer back in the lineup might be more challenging, for a while, than playing without one or the other. Convincing MVP voters of that? More challenging still. We'll see this weekend (at Orlando, Miami) how well Rose and his team put the gag job at Atlanta behind them.
2. LeBron James, Heat (43-18)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
59 38.4 26.3 7.5 7.1 1.5 0.7 .491 .335 .761
Last Week's Rank - 2
His statistical season is superior to pretty much everyone else's. But way-off shots at the end of losses to Chicago, New Yor and Orlando in eight days has Miami searching for its closer (hint, he's a few spots down this list). And the Heat are in the thickest part of their schedule.
3. Dwight Howard, Magic (40-22)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
60 36.9 23.2 13.9 1.3 1.2 2.3 .596 .000 .593
Last Week's Rank - 3
Howard has led his team in scoring 42 times, in rebounding 55 times, in double-doubles with 50 and in speaking up both to the front office and in the locker room. There is little more he could do as a candidate than win. Can he get the Magic to 54 or 55 victories?
4. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs (44-16)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
51 34.2 22.8 6.7 2.5 0.6 0.7 .525 .424 .869
Last Week's Rank - 6
All the Mavericks do is win: 17 of 18 over the last six weeks, with Nowitzki as the driving force. His shooting has been lights-out even by his standards, but other stats -- 12th in scoring, 57th (!) in rebounding -- will weigh down his MVP shot.
5. Kevin Durant, Thunder (37-22)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
55 39.3 28.4 7.1 2.8 1.1 1.0 .465 .337 .874
Last Week's Rank - 5
Durant scored scored 21 points in just 26 minutes against Indiana, but a sprained left ankle had him listed as doubtful to face the Hawks at Atlanta Friday. OKC isn't doomed when he's out (3-1 when Durant doesn't start), but the Thunder is better when he's on (18-5 when Durant scores 30).
6. Kobe Bryant, Lakers (43-19)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
62 33.9 25.1 5.2 4.9 1.2 0.1 .460 .319 .829
Last Week's Rank - 4
A perfect record since the All-Star break has calmed some of the storm in Los Angeles, with Bryant averaging 21.7 ppg and 5.0 apg. He remains the Lakers' best hope to right some wrongs (they've lost eight of their last 10 against Charlotte) Friday; Bryant's career average vs. the Bobcats (29.8 ppg) is his highest against any foe.
7. Dwyane Wade, Heat (43-18)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 .000 .000 .000
Last Week's Rank - 7
No one else should be closing -- or at least, trying to close -- games for the Heat, especially in their current state. But going 0-for-6 in the second half vs. Orlando Thursday night, and 13-of-24 from the line last week aren't moving him up here.
8. Manu Ginobili, Spurs (50-11)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
61 31.0 18.0 3.9 5.0 1.6 0.4 .425 .343 .872
Last Week's Rank - NR
Only someone whose intangibles and, more than that, ability to read what his team needs on a given night, could put up nights of 26, 35, nine and 13 points (with 4-of-19 from the arc), and maintain MVP status.
9. LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers (34-27)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
61 39.8 22.2 9.0 2.1 1.2 1.2 .494 .176 .788
Last Week's Rank - NR
Aldridge has been one of the king's of the Honorable Mention list in The Race, but his work in February -- Western Conference Player of the Month -- get him upgraded. He started March like a lamb (14 points, 3 rebounds vs. Houston) but roared back a little (20, 10) at Sacramento 24 hours later.
10. Rajon Rondo, Celtics (44-15)
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
48 37.8 11.0 4.5 12.2 2.4 0.2 .512 .323 .546
Last Week's Rank - 9
Rondo bumps Steve Nash from this spot on the strength of Boston's 115-103 victory Wednesday (16 points to Nash's eight, 15 assists to Nash's seven). The Celtics point guard also seems to have his club, and himself, righted after losing good-bud Kendrick Perkins via trade.
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