NBA MVP Rankings - 29 Dec

The season is one-third over for all teams now, so I'm finally going to reveal my first MVP rankings of the season. My formula uses a combination of personal and team performance, which still allows great players from poor teams to be recognized, but also makes sure that the guys helping their teams win are more likely to be in the top 10. Here are the 10 Most Valuable Players in the NBA so far this year:

1. Kevin Durant - OKC - 28.3 P, 8.2 R, 4.8 A, 1.5 S, .491 FG, .420 3P, .881 FT
2. LeBron James - MIA - 25.4 P, 6.9 R, 6.5 A, 1.4 S, .592 FG, .402 3P, .762 FT
3. Paul George - IND - 23.9 P, 5.8 R, 3.6 A, 2.1 S, .475 FG, .412 3P, .856 FT
4. LaMarcus Aldridge - POR - 23.4 P, 10.9 R, 2.9 A, 1.1 S, .472 FG, .801 FT
5. Kevin Love - MIN - 26.1 P, 13.8 R, 4.2 A, .464 FG, .386 3P, .833 FT
6. Chris Paul - LAC - 19.9 P, 4.7 R, 11.4 A, 2.5 S, .464 FG, .333 3P, .870 FT
7. Blake Griffin - LAC - 21.9 P, 10.6 R, 3.1 A, 1.1 S, .524 FG, .700 FT
8. Russell Westbrook - OKC - 21.3 P, 6.0 R, 7.0 A, 1.8 S, .424 FG, .793 FT
9. Lance Stephenson - IND - 13.8 P, 6.8 R, 5.2 A, .489 FG, .374 3P, .712 FT
10. Al Horford - ATL - 18.6 P, 8.4 R, 2.6 A, 1.5 B, .567 FG, .682 FT

Most experts are picking LeBron James as the MVP thus far, and usually I would agree, but when you compare his numbers with Kevin Durant's head to head, it's obvious which one has been better this season. LeBron is shooting an incredible percentage from the field, and he gets a couple more assists than Durant per game, but KD is doing better at everything else, and his Thunder have a better record than the Heat and lead their conference currently. LeBron may be the greatest player of this generation and usually a shoo-in for MVP, but this season belongs to Durant so far.

Paul George appeared on the scene last season as an All-Star, but he has turned into a full-blown superstar this season, putting up numbers that are pretty close to those of the top two while leading the Pacers to the best record in the East through 29 games. He has improved his scoring average by at least 4 ppg in each season he's played, and it makes you wonder just how much better he will get.

LaMarcus Aldridge has spent a lot of time in recent seasons hanging around #10 on this list, but this season he has stepped up his game, putting up career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and steals while leading the Blazers, who missed the playoffs last season, to the #2 spot in the West, which is especially tough this year. He may actually have a chance at the award if he can somehow get Portland to finish a few games ahead of the Thunder to win the West.

Predictions

Upset picks are in italics.

NFL

Carolina at Atlanta - Panthers by 11
Baltimore at Cincinnati - Bengals by 11
Houston at Tennessee - Titans by 10
Jacksonville at Indianapolis - Colts by 17
NY Jets at Miami - Dolphins by 10
Detroit at Minnesota - Lions by 3
Washington at NY Giants - Giants by 5
Cleveland at Pittsburgh - Steelers by 7
Green Bay at Chicago - Bears by 2
Denver at Oakland - Broncos by 17
Buffalo at New England - Patriots by 11
Tampa Bay at New Orleans - Saints by 13
Kansas City at San Diego - Chiefs by 2
Saint Louis at Seattle - Seahawks by 13
San Francisco at Arizona - 49ers by 1
Philadelphia at Dallas - Cowboys by 1

NBA

Golden State at Cleveland - Warriors by 11
Atlanta at Orlando - Magic by 1
Houston at Oklahoma City - Thunder by 11
Sacramento at San Antonio - Spurs by 14
Philadelphia at LA Lakers - Lakers by 13

College Basketball

Pennsylvania at Rider - Broncs by 12
Albertus Magnus at Central Connecticut State - Blue Devils by 25
Georgia State at East Carolina - Pirates by 6
Texas Southern at TCU - Horned Frogs by 11
Winthrop at Hampton - Pirates by 5
American at Maryland-Eastern Shore - Eagles by 5
Drake at IUPUI - Bulldogs by 8
Eastern Kentucky at IPFW - Mastodons by 3
Brown at Niagara - Bears by 6
Murray State at Dayton - Flyers by 18
Buffalo at Drexel - Dragons by 17
South Dakota at Youngstown State - Penguins by 13
Charleston at Citadel - Cougars by 3
Davidson at (10) Wichita State - Shockers by 23
Morgan State at (12) Oregon - Ducks by 29
Savannah State at (13) Florida - Gators by 28
William & Mary vs. West Virginia - Mountaineers by 10
Alabama A&M at UAB - Blazers by 20
Duquesne at Texas-Pan American - Dukes by 2
Robert Morris (IL) at SIU Edwardsville - Cougars by 19
Bowling Green at Wright State - Raiders by 4
SE Missouri State at Missouri State - Bears by 3
Southern Illinois at Miami (OH) - Redhawks by 2
North Dakota at Northern Colorado - Bears by 6
Valparaiso at East Tennessee State - Crusaders by 6
Boston at Saint Joseph's - Hawks by 9
Maine vs. Middle Tennessee - Blue Raiders by 21
Chicago State at Creighton - Bluejays by 33
Canisius at Notre Dame - Fighting Irish by 18
Howard at USC - Trojans by 21
UC Riverside at Sacramento State - Hornets by 6
Georgia Tech at Charlotte - 49ers by 8
Tulsa at Maryland - Terrapins by 12
Grand Canyon at Chattanooga - Mocs by 3
Cal Poly at Stanford - Cardinal by 10
Alcorn State vs. Western Illinois - Leathernecks by 10
Denver at UTEP - Miners by 8
Hartford at Washington - Huskies by 10
Quinnipiac at Oregon State - Beavers by 5

Pick of the Day #50

Creighton

The Bluejays should be a ranked team, with their only losses coming to San Diego State and George Washington, so they won't struggle while hosting Chicago State this afternoon.

Prediction Results

Bowls: 3-1 (.750) 9-6 overall (.600)
Upsets: 1-1 (.500) 3-2 overall (.600)
NBA: 10-2 (.833) 287-159 overall (.643)
Upsets: 1-1 (.500) 40-44 overall (.476)
College Basketball: 59-13 (.819) 1815-469 overall (.795)
Upsets: 7-7 (.500) 211-132 overall (.615)