The MVP rankings have changed a bit since I last updated them at the end of December, with injuries felling a couple contenders, but the top 3 remain unchanged, and the race shouldn't be as close as many are saying it should be. Here are my current top 10 MVP contenders:
1. (1) Kevin Durant - OKC - 31.6 P, 7.7 R, 5.6 A, 1.5 S, .507 FG, .396 3P, .880 FT
2. (2) LeBron James - MIA - 27.5 P, 7.0 R, 6.4 A, 1.5 S, .583 FG, .384 3P, .746 FT
3. (3) Paul George - IND - 22.6 P, 6.4 R, 3.5 A, 1.8 S, .439 FG, .376 3P, .865 FT
4. (7) Blake Griffin - LAC - 24.2 P, 9.8 R, 3.5 A, 1.1 S, .532 FG, .700 FT
5. (5) Kevin Love - MIN - 26.6 P, 13.2 R, 4.1 A, .462 FG, .380 3P, .823 FT
6. (4) LaMarcus Aldridge - POR - 23.7 P, 11.2 R, 2.8 A, 1.0 B, .466 FG, .821 FT
7. (9) Lance Stephenson - IND - 14.2 P, 7.4 R, 5.1 A, .498 FG, .341 3P, .699 FT
8. (NR) Carmelo Anthony - NYK - 28.0 P, 8.5 R, 2.9 A, 1.1 S, .453 FG, .424 3P, .839 FT
9. (NR) Stephen Curry - GSW - 24.1 P, 4.4 R, 8.8 A, 1.6 S, .461 FG, .416 3P, .864 FT
10. (NR) DeMar DeRozan - TOR - 22.9 P, 4.5 R, 3.9 A, 1.1 S, .434 FG, .807 FT
Kevin Durant is having his best season in nearly every category, and this is a 3-time scoring champ who has been #2 in the MVP race before. He's got the Thunder in first place despite missing Westbrook for a long time, so the award is his to lose.
LeBron has been amazing lately, and in most seasons he would be a sure MVP, but his team is not in first place, and Durant is putting up better stats in almost every category. To have a chance, he needs to get the Heat past the Pacers, and he probably needs the Thunder to slip up as well.
Kevin Love is having an amazing statistical season, but I don't see him moving past #5 without getting the Wolves into the playoffs. He is among the league leaders in both scoring and rebounding, something we haven't really seen since Shaq's heyday.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
San Antonio at Cleveland - Spurs by 5
Golden State at Indiana - Pacers by 4
Miami at Houston - Rockets by 4
Philadelphia at Oklahoma City - Thunder by 21
LA Clippers at Phoenix - Clippers by 2
New Orleans at LA Lakers - Lakers by 4
College Basketball
UCF at Temple - Owls by 7
(1) Florida at South Carolina - Gators by 9
Georgia Tech at (7) Syracuse - Orange by 17
(12) Michigan at Illinois - Wolverines by 3
(13) Creighton at Georgetown - Bluejays by 4
(16) Iowa State at Baylor - Bears by 1
Buffalo at Akron - Zips by 3
Ohio at Bowling Green - Falcons by 2
Toledo at Central Michigan - Rockets by 4
Ball State at Eastern Michigan - Eagles by 18
Miami (OH) at Kent State - Golden Flashes by 10
Northern Illinois at Western Michigan - Broncos by 11
Stetson at Florida Gulf Coast - Eagles by 18
Lipscomb at East Tennessee State - Buccaneers by 7
North Florida at USC Upstate - Spartans by 10
Jacksonville at Mercer - Bears by 23
Detroit at Milwaukee - Panthers by 5
Youngstown State at Oakland - Golden Grizzlies by 4
Northern Colorado at North Dakota - No Nicknames by 5
Virginia Tech at Maryland - Terrapins by 15
Miami (FL) at Clemson - Tigers by 9
Illinois-Chicago at Valparaiso - Crusaders by 15
South Florida at Houston - Cougars by 9
Georgia State at Arkansas State - Red Wolves by 2
Alabama at (25) Kentucky - Wildcats by 15
Florida State at Boston College - Seminoles by 5
Marquette at Providence - Friars by 6
Arizona State at Oregon - Ducks by 6
Pick of the Day #114
Valparaiso
The crusaders are hosting Illinois-Chicago tonight in the opening round of the Horizon League tournament, and the Flames only won one conference game this year, and it didn't come on the road.
Prediction Results
NBA: 5-3 (.625) 581-314 overall (.649)
Upsets: 2-1 (.667) 82-89 overall (.480)
College Basketball: 12-4 (.750) 3999-1320 overall (.752)
Upsets: 4-0 (1.000) 666-433 overall (.606)
Pick of the Day: 108-5 overall (.956)
