We are down to the final month of the NBA regular season, and the MVP rankings have seen a shift due to the injury to Kevin Durant and the rise of several other teams. Two Eastern Conference point guards reached the top ten while the top 6 players remain the same, just in a different order. Here are my current MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Sixth Man rankings (previous rank in parentheses):
MVP
1 (3) Russell Westbrook - OKC - 31.4 P, 10.5 R, 10.3 A, 1.7 S, .418 FG, .336 3P, .842 FT
It's impossible to ignore what Westbrook has done to this point in the season, with the second-most triple-doubles in a season in history and a chance to become the second player to average a triple-double for an entire season. Even though most MVP's come from the top 2 teams, Russ has a real chance to break that trend.
2 (2) James Harden - HOU - 29.4 P, 8.1 R, 11.2 A, 1.5 S, .446 FG, .352 3P, .849 FT
The only argument for picking Harden over Westbrook is team success, and while he is the league leader in assists and has helped the Rockets make a huge leap over last year, he is just a step behind Westbrook this season.
3 (4) LeBron James - CLE - 26.2 P, 8.4 R, 8.8 A, 1.3 S, .543 FG, .385 3P, .676 FT
James is averaging career highs in rebounds and assists, and the Cavaliers are again at the top of the East. While his performance is kind of expected at this point, we should all be paying a little more attention to the best player of this generation.
4 (5) Stephen Curry - GSW - 24.9 P, 4.4 R, 6.3 A, 1.7 S, .463 FG, .399 3P, .917 FT
Curry is back in the race after Durant went down, and he could still take a 3rd straight MVP if he can dominate the next month and keep the Warriors far ahead of anyone else, though it may be too late at this point.
5 (1) Kevin Durant - GSW - 25.3 P, 8.2 R, 4.8 A, 1.6 B, 1.1 S, .537 FG, .378 3P, .876 FT
Durant had a strong position in the MVP race until his injury a few weeks ago, and he has probably lost his chance unless he comes back early and at full strength.
6 (6) Kawhi Leonard - SAS - 26.0 P, 5.9 R, 3.4 A, 1.9 S, .483 FG, .376 3P, .892 FT
Leonard's numbers aren't as impressive as the ones above him on this list, but if he is able to get the Spurs to the top record in the league, there could be a chance.
7 (NR) Isaiah Thomas - BOS - 29.1 P, 2.6 R, 6.0 A, 1.0 S, .460 FG, .380 3P, .909 FT
Thomas has been on fire lately, with the Celtics now looking like the #2 seed in the East, while Thomas is #3 in the league in scoring despite being one of the league's shortest players.
8 (NR) Kyrie Irving - CLE - 25.5 P, 3.4 R, 5.8 A, 1.1 S, .474 FG, .393 3P, .905 FT
Irving has been coming on strong of late, with 46 points against the Lakers on Sunday, and the Cavs are in 1st place again in the East, but he can't win the MVP as long as LeBron is playing.
9 (10) John Wall - WAS - 22.9 P, 4.3 R, 10.8 A, 2.0 S, .446 FG, .314 3P, .805 FT
Wall has the Wizards in the running for the top spot in the East, though it appears that their loss to the Celtics may have cost them a chance at that spot.
10 (7) DeMar DeRozan - TOR - 27.0 P, 5.4 R, 3.8 A, 1.1 S, .463 FG, .846 FT
The Raptors have been slipping, which is partially due to Kyle Lowry's injury, but with DeRozan unable to keep them afloat in his absence, his chance to win has all but disappeared.
Honorable Mention: Giannis Antetokounmpo - MIL, Klay Thompson - GSW, Anthony Davis - NOP
Rookie of the Year
1 (3) Dario Saric - PHI - 12.6 P, 6.3 R, 2.2 A, .416 FG, .324 3P, .783 FT
2 (2) Malcolm Brogdon - MIL - 10.0 P, 2.8 R, 4.1 A, 1.1 S, .449 FG, .403 3P, .857 FT
3 (5) Buddy Hield - SAC - 9.5 P, 3.0 R, 1.3 A, .416 FG, .388 3P, .868 FT
4 (4) Jamal Murray - DEN - 9.4 P, 2.6 R, 1.8 A, .401 FG, .340 3P, .866 FT
5 (NR) Brandon Ingram - LAL - 9.0 P, 4.1 R, 2.1 A, .398 FG, .617 FT
Joel Embiid seemed like a runaway Rookie of the Year a month ago, but another season-ending injury left him with only 31 games played, which doesn't seem to be enough to give him the award, especially after his teammate, Dario Saric, stepped up in his absence.
Sixth Man of the Year
1 (1) Lou Williams - HOU - 17.8 P, 2.3 R, 3.0 A, 1.1 S, .436 FG, .382 3P, .880 FT
2 (NR) Greg Monroe - MIL - 11.8 P, 6.7 R, 2.3 A, 1.2 S, .528 FG, .742 FT
3 (4) Zach Randolph - MEM - 14.0 P, 8.2 R, 1.6 A, .456 FG, .729 FT
4 (NR) Tyler Johnson - MIA - 13.8 P, 4.1 R, 3.4 A, 1.2 S, .436 FG, .355 3P, .773 FT
5 (2) Wilson Chandler - DEN - 16.1 P, 6.6 R, 2.1 A, .456 FG, .333 3P, .733 FT
Lou Williams is starting to distance himself from the rest of the field, with many of the other leaders starting to slip and Lou keeping up his high level of play after his trade to the Rockets.
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