Most Valuable Player
1. LeBron James - MIA - 26.2 pts, 7.6 reb, 7.1 ast (1)
LeBron's lead in the MVP race is shrinking fast, with Miami's losing streak coupled with the fact that James only scored 19 in the win over Los Angeles that snapped the streak. The win over the Lakers still did enough for him to maintain this spot, but any more losses could threaten that.
2. Derrick Rose - CHI - 24.5 pts, 4.3 reb, 8.1 ast (3)
Four straight 20-point games in four straight wins over quality opponents has thrust Rose into the national spotlight and made him the popular choice for MVP. The Bulls now have a better record than Miami, but LeBron's statistical edge was just enough to hold off the charging Bull.
3. Dwyane Wade - MIA - 25.5 pts, 6.7 reb, 4.4 ast (2)
Wade had 38 points against Portland on Tuesday, but that wasn't enough to get a win for Miami, and he didn't score over 20 in any of the Heat's other games this week, and the result was a drop from the #2 spot he has held for weeks.
4. Kobe Bryant - LAL - 25.1 pts, 5.2 reb, 4.8 ast (4)
Kobe was very solid in LA's last 4 wins, scoring 26 points per game while playing only 31.5 minutes, but an increase in playing time didn't bring an increase in scoring in the Lakers' loss to Miami yesterday. He's still got his name right in the middle of the MVP discussion once again, but it will take an incredible run from the Lakers for him to reach the top.
5. Pau Gasol - LAL - 18.6 pts, 10.4 reb, 3.5 ast (6)
Gasol recorded two more double-doubles this week as the Lakers extended their post-All-Star winning streak, but managed only 5 rebounds while losing to Miami, a team that is not known for having powerful big men.
6. Kevin Durant - OKC - 28.2 pts, 7.3 reb, 2.8 ast (5)
Durant's ankle must have been bothering him on Sunday in Phoenix, when he scored 18 points on 3 of 14 shooting, but he appears to be back at full strength after going 13 for 26 with 34 points against Philadelphia on Wednesday.
7. Dirk Nowitzki - DAL - 23.0 pts, 6.6 reb, 2.5 ast (7)
Last night was the 10th straight game that Dirk scored at least 20 points for the Mavericks, but they lost twice this week, the first time that's happened since the week he returned from the worst injury of his career.
8. Russell Westbrook - OKC - 22.4 pts, 4.8 reb, 8.5 ast (9)
Just when it looked like he was in danger of exiting these rankings, Westbrook roared back with 4 straight games of at least 27 points and 7 assists, 3 of which were wins over teams fighting to make the playoffs. You just can't count this guy out.
9. Dwight Howard - ORL - 23.0 pts, 13.9 reb, 2.3 blk (8)
Howard missed Monday's game against Portland because of a league-imposed suspension due to receiving his 16th technical foul of the season, but he wasn't all that impressive in the two games he played either, one of which was a loss to Chicago and the other a close win over Sacramento.
10. LaMarcus Aldridge - POR - 22.4 pts, 8.8 reb, 2.1 ast (NR)
Aldridge scored 26 points in Portland's blowout victory over Charlotte before posting similar numbers in back-to-back road upsets of the Florida teams earlier this week. His recent play, along with the fact that he's managed to stay healthy while playing for Portland, has to insert him into the MVP discussion.
Slipping out:
Amare Stoudemire
Rookie of the Year
1. Blake Griffin - LAC - 22.5 pts, 12.4 reb, 3.7 ast (1)
Griffin had a little bit of a down week, but whatever he's doing is working, because the Clippers are now are now on a season-long 4-game winning streak, the most recent of which was a win in Boston over the East-leading Celtics.
2. John Wall - WAS - 15.5 pts, 4.4 reb, 8.8 ast (2)
Wall has pretty much wrapped up the #2 spot in the rookie rankings at this point. The only thing that could really hurt his standing would be another injury, but otherwise he is looking pretty safe.
3. DeMarcus Cousins - SAC - 14.3 pts, 8.5 reb, 2.1 ast (3)
Cousins had a monster week, putting up 18 and 18 in Sacramento's loss to Utah, then put up 20 and 11 against Houston and 29 points against Orlando. Sadly, all 3 games were losses. In fact, last time the Kings won, Cousins scored only 5 points. Coincidence?
4. Landry Fields - NYK - 10.2 pts, 6.9 reb, 2.0 ast (4)
If winning were a determining factor for this award, Fields would be right up with Griffin at the top of these rankings, because no other rookie has contributed as much to a potential playoff team this season, and only Griffin could possibly claim that he's been responsible for more wins.
5. Greg Monroe - DET - 8.5 pts, 7.0 reb, 1.0 ast (5)
The Pistons, much like the Kings, have been playing better lately without their star rookie on the court, but the additional playing time on a team that is not going anywhere this year has done a lot to help Monroe develop into a good player.
Sixth Man of the Year
1. Lamar Odom - LAL - 14.4 pts, 8.8 reb, 2.9 ast (NR)
Odom's minutes are not always steady, but he always is when he's on the court. In the past 5 games, he has scored between 11 and 15 in every contest, even with his minutes fluctuating from 31 clear down to 19.
2. Jason Terry - DAL - 16.4 pts, 1.9 reb, 4.3 ast (1)
17.8 points per game over 5 games while shooting 49% and not missing a free throw still wasn't enough for Terry to stay at the top, because Lamar Odom has now started fewer than half of Los Angeles' games this season. Unless the Laker is reinserted into the starting lineup, the award is his to lose.
3. Ramon Sessions - CLE - 12.6 pts, 3.0 reb, 5.4 ast (2)
Sessions' minutes and production have both started to drop off lately, but you can't ignore what he did while he was filling in as Cleveland's starting point guard. There are quite a few teams out there that would love to have him in their lineup, but he's still got 3 years remaining on his Cavs contract.
4. Thaddeus Young - PHI - 12.5 pts, 5.3 reb, 1.1 (4)
Young managed to maintain his footing while the rest of the sixth man field slipped to make room for Lamar Odom, and he did it by averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds in the 76ers' three wins this week.
5. Shawn Marion - DAL - 11.7 pts, 6.8 reb, 1.3 ast (3)
Last night's 22 points weren't enough to make up for the previous 3 games, in which he scored a total of 26, but it was enough to keep him above J.R. Smith for the final spot in the sixth man rankings for another week.
Most Improved Player
1. Dorell Wright - GSW - +8.8 pts, +2.1 reb, +1.8 ast (1)
Wright only averaged 11 points per game this week, which was nearly enough to knock him off his perch atop the most improved rankings, but he's still holding the slimmest of leads over Minnesota's Kevin Love as of today.
2. Kevin Love - MIN - +6.8 pts, +4.8 reb, +0.2 ast (2)
Love broke Moses Malone's consecutive double-double record this week, and his new record now stands at 52 games, or 63% of a full season. The league rebounding leader has now grabbed at least 17 boards in each of the last 5 games, and has scored at least 16 in each of those contests also.
3. D.J. Augustin - CHA - +8.0 pts, +1.6 reb, +3.5 ast (3)
Augustin is being bothered by an ankle injury, and it definitely slowed him down against Chicago, a game he finished with just 6 points and 3 assists. The Bobcats seem to have given up hope of making the playoffs, despite the fact that they are still in 9th in the East.
4. Nick Young - WAS - +9.3 pts, +1.4 reb, +0.6 ast (4)
Washington's only win in the last ten games came in the one game that they were missing Young, their leading scorer. That's never a good sign, even if the win was just over Minnesota.
5. Jrue Holiday - PHI - +5.9 pts, +1.4 reb, +2.5 ast (NR)
Holiday's 22 points against Oklahoma City on Wednesday was his highest output in nearly a month, and his third highest of the year 2011. He has become a major contributor to Philadelphia's success this year.
NBA Player of the Day
Shawn Marion - DAL - 22 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 10-15 FG, 2-2 FT
Marion may have slipped in the sixth man rankings today, but it wasn't because of last night's game. Marion took over the game for Dallas as they dismantled the Knicks, who are led by Marion's former coach, Mike D'Antoni.
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