The MVP race has only really had two contenders all season, and technically for the past few years, but that doesn't mean it's still not fun to see which other players should receive some votes and give them a little recognition. Here are the 10 players that have been most valuable to their teams' causes this year, and are essential to their teams' playoff hopes:
1. (1) Kevin Durant - OKC - 32.1 P, 7.6 R, 5.6 A, 1.3 S, .508 FG, .409 3P, .874 FT
2. (2) LeBron James - MIA - 26.7 P, 6.9 R, 6.5 A, 1.6 S, .568 FG, .375 3P, .748 FT
3. (4) Blake Griffin - LAC - 24.0 P, 9.6 R, 3.8 A, 1.1 S, .529 FG, .710 FT
4. (5) Kevin Love - MIN - 26.0 P, 12.6 R, 4.4 A, .461 FG, .379 3P, .817 FT
5. (3) Paul George - IND - 21.8 P, 6.7 R, 3.6 A, 1.9 S, .426 FG, .364 3P, .871 FT
6. (NR) James Harden - HOU - 25.3 P, 4.8 R, 5.8 A, 1.5 S, .459 FG, .368 3P, .861 FT
7. (8) Carmelo Anthony - NYK - 27.7 P, 8.2 R, 3.1 A, 1.2 S, .454 FG, .406 3P, .848 FT
8. (9) Stephen Curry - GSW - 23.4 P, 4.2 R, 8.4 A, 1.5 S, .466 FG, .417 3P, .877 FT
9. (10) DeMar DeRozan - TOR - 22.8 P, 4.4 R, 4.0 A, 1.1 S, .431 FG, .821 FT
10. (NR) Tim Duncan - SAS - 15.2 P, 9.8 R, 3.1 A, 1.9 B, .491 FG, .730 FT
Durant's first MVP isn't quite the sure thing it looked like a month ago, thanks to the Spurs knocking the Thunder out of the top spot in the West with their 19-game winning streak and Miami taking over the top spot after Indiana started stumbling down the stretch. Durant's 40-game streak of 25-point games is the third-longest of all time, only trailing streaks from Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain over 50 years ago, and he could pass the Big O this season. Still, the voting should be close, especially when you are going up against one of the 10 greatest players of all time in his prime.
James Harden wasn't even on the radar last month, but he had an incredible March, and has been even better so far in April, scoring over 25 points in 8 straight games, including 39 in a win over Oklahoma City on Friday and a triple-double against Philadelphia in only 31 minutes. The Rockets have moved up to #4 in the West and will most likely have home court advantage in the first round, and Harden is the biggest reason, especially with Dwight Howard out with an ankle injury.
This isn't the same Tim Duncan who was a perennial MVP contender a decade ago, but the 37-year-old can still put up some big numbers, and leading the Spurs to the league's top record was enough to get the old man onto the list. He still puts up double-doubles every few games, and once in a while completely dominates a game, like the 29-point 13-rebound masterpiece against Denver a couple weeks ago. He won't get another MVP this year, but a Finals MVP could still happen.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
New York at Miami - Heat by 9
LA Lakers "at" LA Clippers - Clippers by 13
Dallas at Sacramento - Mavericks by 2
Atlanta at Indiana - Pacers by 6
Denver at Houston - Rockets by 11
Memphis at San Antonio - Spurs by 9
Utah at Golden State - Warriors by 13
New Orleans at Portland - Trail Blazers by 9
Oklahoma City at Phoenix - Suns by 1
Prediction Results
NBA: 3-3 (.500) 765-381 overall (.668)
Upsets: 0-1 (.000) 112-111 overall (.502)
NCAA: 0-2 (.000) 43-23 overall (.652)
CBI: 1-0 (1.000) 12-5 overall (.706)
Upsets: 1-0 (1.000) 10-2 overall (.833)
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