NBA Playoff MVP Rankings - 13 May

I know I'm going to hear some complaints about a certain Maverick not being among my top five playoff performers so far, but there is a good reason for it. In the clinching game, he was not the reason Dallas won. It was partially due to Los Angeles giving up and partially due to Terry and Peja shooting the lights out. Dirk was just along for the ride in this one. It doesn't mean that he's out of the running, just not a current favorite. Here are my current top 5, with previous rankings in parentheses.

1. Derrick Rose - CHI - 28.8 pts, 4.5 reb, 8.2 ast, 1.5 stl (5)

Last week I criticized Rose for his poor shooting percentage throughout the playoffs, and he responded this week by shooting nearly 50% over 4 games, including a 53.8% mark over Chicago's 3 wins. He also averaged 32.5 points this week, and his numbers in every other statistical category have increased over his regular season averages. Also, Chicago is in the conference finals for the first time since MJ retired, as if all the other reasons to rank him here weren't enough.

2. Kevin Durant - OKC - 29.7 pts, 7.6 reb, 2.4 ast, 1.0 stl (3)

Durant's week was highlighted by his 35 points in a triple overtime win over Memphis in game 4 and 19 points in just 31 minutes in their game 5 blowout which allowed them to take control of the series back from the Grizzlies. He has upped his league-leading scoring average by 2 points in the playoffs to remain the leader.

3. LeBron James - MIA - 26.1 pts, 9.4 reb, 4.9 ast, 1.3 blk, 1.3 stl (2)

LeBron only scored 15 points in Miami's lone loss to Boston, but bounced back nicely with 35 and 33 in consecutive games to close out the series. The most impressive part was the ending of the final game, in which he scored the final 10 points of the game, which Miami won by that exact margin.

4. Zach Randolph - MEM - 22.0 pts, 10.7 reb, 2.7 ast, 1.2 stl (NR)

Randolph has been the driving force behind Memphis' playoff success so far, but in the past 4 games he has shot an abysmal 31.9% from the field as the Grizzlies have lost 3 of 4. His best game came in their lone win this week, in which he tallied 21 points and 21 rebounds to control the paint for Memphis.

5. Marc Gasol - MEM - 15.9 pts, 11.8 reb, 2.4 ast, 2.1 blk, 1.1 stl (NR)

Marc has outplayed his older and more famous brother by far in the playoffs, making that Memphis-Los Angeles trade a couple years ago look a little less one-sided than it did at the time. Marc had 26 points and 21 rebounds in the triple overtime loss to Oklahoma City, a game in which he made two of the most crucial plays, a block near the end of regulation, and a tip-in near the end of the second overtime, both of which allowed the Grizzlies to hang around.

NBA Player of the Day

Carlos Boozer - CHI - 23 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast, 10-16 FG, 3-3 FT

While his MVP teammate may be #1 in the playoff MVP rankings, the clinching game of the Atlanta series belonged to Boozer, who finally broke out of his playoff slump and led Chicago to the conference finals with the with his second straight double-double.

Predictions - 13 May

Upset picks are in italics.

NBA

Thunder at Grizzlies - Grizz by 1

MLB

Giants at Cubs - Giants by 0.9

Mariners at Indians - Indians by 1.4

Royals at Tigers - Royals by 0.3

Red Sox at Yankees - Yankees by 1.4

Marlins at Nationals - Marlins by 0.2

Orioles at Rays - Rays by 2.3

Cardinals at Reds - Cards by 0.8

Phillies at Braves - Braves by 0.1

Angels at Rangers - Angels by 0.3

Mets at Astros - Mets by 1.7

Blue Jays at Twins - Jays by 1.9

Pirates at Brewers - Brewers by 0.3

Padres at Rockies - Rockies by 1.1

White Sox at Athletics - A's by 0.0

Diamondbacks at Dodgers - D-Backs by 0.1

Prediction Results - 12 May

NBA Playoffs: 1-0 (1.000) 46-18 overall (.719)

MLB: 5-2 (.714) 209-195 overall (.517)

Upsets: 1-0 (1.000) 240-169 overall (.587)