Race to league MVP - 2012/2013

Henchag · Dec 16, 2012

Week 1:
1. LeBron James
2. James Harden
3. Carmelo Anthony
4. Chris Paul
5. Kevin Durant
6. Tony Parker
7. Zach Randolph
8. Luol Deng
9. Kobe Bryant
10. Rajon Rondo

Week 2:
1. LeBron James
2. Chris Paul
3. Carmelo Anthony
4. Kevin Durant
5. Zach Randolph
6. James Harden
7. Tony Parker
8. Kobe Bryant
9. Rajon Rondo
10. Brandon Jennings

Week 3:
1. LeBron James
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Kevin Durant
4. Chris Paul
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Zach Randolph
7. Rajon Rondo
8. Tony Parker
9. OJ Mayo
10. Jrue Holiday

Week 4:
1. Kevin Durant
2. LeBron James
3. Carmelo Anthony
4. Zach Randolph
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Chris Paul
7. Deron Williams
8. Tony Parker
9. Jrue Holiday
10. Rajon Rondo

Week 5:
1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. LeBron James
4. Zach Randolph
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Chris Paul
7. Deron Williams
8. Tony Parker
9. Jrue Holiday
10. Stephen Curry

Week 6 (current):
1. Carmelo Anthony
2. Kevin Durant
3. LeBron James
4. Chris Paul
5. Zach Randolph
6. Kobe Bryant
7. Josh Smith
8. Tim Duncan
9. Stephen Curry
10. Rajon Rondo
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If asking how players got to the poll.
1 - Top 6 teams best players ( Memphis, Knicks, OKC, Miami, Clippers, Spurs)
2 - Curry over Josh Smith cause there is GS fans here
3 - Kobe bryant, cause there are his supporters.

Henchag · Dec 18, 2012

Injuries will hinder Carmelo Anthony chances.OKC are killing the league though, This is the year of Kevin Durant till now.

Henchag · Dec 18, 2012

NBA power rankings: Has Kevin Durant surpassed LeBron James?

December 18, 2012 |

LeBron James, left, and Kevin Durant won gold together at the London Olympics. / Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports
The NBA's biggest rivals work out together in the summer and only play twice per regular season.
Miami Heat forward LeBron James and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant are the best basketball players in the world, and if they didn't prove it to you in leading their teams to the NBA Finals last spring, they have this season. James and Durant are having wonderfully well-rounded seasons and guiding their teams to the elite ranks of the NBA again.
But who's better? Let's start with the tale of the statistical tape (entering Monday's games):
James averages 25.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.6 turnovers a game and shoots 54.1% from the field, 42.4% on threes and 67.5% from the line.
Durant averages 27.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.3 blocks and 3.3 turnovers a game and shoots 51.5% from the field, 43.9% on threes and 89.7% from the line.
Nope. Still not clear. But USA TODAY Sports' NBA power rankings panel managed to sort through the numbers and determine player value, whether that comes from defense or teamwork or team success. And the result: If the season were to end today, we would dethrone reigning MVP James.
Here's the voting (points on a 7-5-3-2-1 basis):

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: He received three of seven first-place votes and 36 points.

LeBron James, Miami Heat: two of seven first-place votes, 32 points.

Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks: two of seven first-place votes, 23 points.

Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers: 16 points.

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs: 12 points.

Also receiving votes were the Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Randolph (five points), Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (one) and Thunder's Russell Westbrook (one).
Voting for the top team was less contentious; for the first time, every voter agreed. And Durant was on top again. Here's a look at the top five teams in our 30-team power rankings (points on a 30-29-27-etc. basis):

Oklahoma City Thunder: They received seven of seven first-place votes and 210 points.

New York Knicks: 201 points.

San Antonio Spurs: 193 points.

Los Angeles Clippers: 191 points.

Miami Heat: 181 points.

The rookie of the year voting was similarly familiar and lopsided. When Anthony Davis went down and missed 13 games for the New Orleans Hornets, Damian Lillard seized the award. Davis is back, though, and he could make a run. Here's the voting (points on a 5-3-1 basis):

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers: He received seven of seven first-place votes and 35 points.

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets: 11 points.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Bobcats: nine points.

Also receiving votes were the Detroit Pistons' Andre Drummond (three points), Golden State Warriors' Harrison Barnes (two), Minnesota Timberwolves' Alexey Shved (two) and Cleveland Cavaliers' Dion Waiters (one).
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http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/1776899?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Detroit Pistons|s

Henchag · Dec 26, 2012

The way results went yesterday.
Melo needs to come big, as he is starting to lose to be in the talks.Knicks starting to rack up losses.
Chris Paul is starting to make a huge case.
Lebron with little advantage over Durant.

My new ranking

1 - Lebron
2 - Durant
3 - Paul
4 - Melo

Henchag · Dec 28, 2012

Week 7:
1. Kevin Durant
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. LeBron James
4. Chris Paul
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Zach Randolph
7. Stephen Curry
8. Josh Smith
9. Tim Duncan
10. Rajon Rondo

Week 8:
1. Lebron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Chris Paul
4. Carmelo Anthony
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Zach Randolph
7. Stephen Curry
8. Tim Duncan
9.Josh Smith
10. James Harden

http://www.nba.com/mvp-ladder/2012-13/index.html

New ranking, same as my ranking above I expected. The first four have big gap over rest, but Melo is falling away due to injuries and his team racking up losses.
Chris Paul is starting to make a big case, especially with clippers winning 15 in a row.

Henchag · Jan 12, 2013

Week 9 (Current):
1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Chris Paul
4. Carmelo Anthony
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Stephen Curry
7. Tim Duncan
8. Zach Randolph
9. James Harden
10. Josh Smith

Week 10 - Race to MVP ladder:
1. Chris Paul
2. Kevin Durant
3. Lebron James
4. Carmelo Anthony
5. Zach Randolph
6. James Harden
7. Kobe Bryant
8. Stephen Curry
9. Tim Duncan
10. Josh Smith

Chris Paul is the new leader, and its suddenly becoming a 2 man race Durant/Paul ... as the heat record starting to get worse.

benni... · Jan 13, 2013

Henchag said: ↑

Injuries will hinder Carmelo Anthony chances.OKC are killing the league though, This is the year of Kevin Durant till now.
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Yeah, agreed. I was thinking exactly the same.

Smithsoccer1721 · Jan 13, 2013

I still think Lebron is the MVP

Henchag · Jan 20, 2013

Week 11 :
1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Chris Paul
4. Carmelo Anthony
5. James Harden
6. Zach Randolph
7. Kobe Bryant
8. Rajon Rondo
9. Tim Duncan
10. Russell Westbrook

http://www.nba.com/mvp-ladder/2012-13/index.html

Smithsoccer1721 · Jan 20, 2013

Henchag said: ↑

Week 11 :
1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Chris Paul
4. Carmelo Anthony
5. James Harden
6. Zach Randolph
7. Kobe Bryant
8. Rajon Rondo
9. Tim Duncan
10. Russell Westbrook

http://www.nba.com/mvp-ladder/2012-13/index.html
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I am a Cavs fan and despite that I can still say to me James deserves to be the MVP again this season

Henchag · Jan 23, 2013

Durant is leading the scoring category now, on his way probably for his 4th scoring title.
Jordan won it 10 times, Wilt chamberlain 7, George Gervin and Allen Iverson 4 times.

btw Smithsoccer1721 Kyrie Irving is amazing player

Smithsoccer1721 · Jan 23, 2013

Henchag said: ↑

Durant is leading the scoring category now, on his way probably for his 4th scoring title.
Jordan won it 10 times, Wilt chamberlain 7, George Gervin and Allen Iverson 4 times.

btw Smithsoccer1721 Kyrie Irving is amazing player
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He will be even better IF he can learn to play some D. He might be the worst defender on the team. I realize part of that is because he does so much on offense.

Henchag · Jan 25, 2013

Few Share the Same MVP Voting Formula

Jan. 25 -- With no concrete criteria to use as a guideline, we're left to our own subjectivity and various statistical devices to determine the names on our ballots for the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award.
For some of us, that means weighing a player's individual statistics, his team's overall success and whatever thoughts we have about his game, character and performances before putting him on the ballot.
That means each voter brings a unique perspective to the process, a painstaking affair that we go through every week here on the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder (which has a new No. 1 this week). But this is a debate that rages daily around the NBA world, and I mean literally around the world.
And the view from afar, using the formula of Fergus McFarlane from Canberra, Australia, is an interesting one.
Hey Sekou,
I'd just like to throw my support behind one MVP candidate. So if you'll stay with me, let me propose the following for two "players:"
Player A: in 38.5 mpg, he collects 26.3 pts, 8.1 boards, 7.0 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.9 blocks whilst shooting 55% from the field, 40% from three, 73% from the stripe and commits 2.8 turnovers a game.
Player B: in 39.7 mpg, he collects 29.5 pts, 8.4 boards, 8.2 assists, 1.9 steals, 2.8 blocks whilst shooting 56% from the field, 41.7% from three, 91% from the stripe and commits 3.3 turnovers.
Despite the difference in blocks, I'm sure you will agree that player A and player B are pretty much identical stats-wise. As I'm sure you know, Player A is none other than your current (as of last Wednesday) MVP leader, LeBron James.
Player B, on the other hand, is the output you would receive if you took the leading statistical categories from the big three of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The minutes, points, 3-point percentage, free-throw percentage and turnovers are Kevin Durant's stats. The assists and steals are Russell Westbrook's and the rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage are Serge Ibaka's.*
While I can appreciate the team success OKC is experiencing, how can anyone in the media say LeBron James is not the MVP when his statistics are on par with the contributions of the Thunder's big three?
Now, surely, the media understands that the Thunder, on paper, are a more traditionally structured team and therefore better placed for regular season success. But as long as the Heat continue to win (they're on a 55-win pace), I don't see why LeBron should be denied a fourth MVP in five years because the media enjoys fresh stories. Give credit where credit is due and give the man what he rightly deserves!
*All statistics gathered are from NBA.com.
With all due respect to my Australian friend, the fresh-story angle is overblown.
The Ladder is a fluid list that incorporates more than just the formula mentioned above, but also the context of a regular season that provides new story angles each hour.
LeBron and Durant or Durant and LeBron. They'd be 1-2 on most any list when you're talking about the top players in the league.
Quiz the league executives about what player they'd choose to build a franchise around if they could start from scratch and we'd end up with the same two names. (Scroll down to the "Players" section and you'll see).
It's the same with the MVP. It's pretty much a choice between, as Fergus put it, "Player A" or "Player B."
The Next Five: David Lee, Golden State Warriors; Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs; Paul George, Indiana Pacers; Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets; Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
Falling out: James Harden, Houston Rockets
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Week 12 :

1. Kevin Durant
2. LeBron James
3. Carmelo Anthony
4. Chris Paul
5. Zach Randolph
6. Tim Duncan
7. Russell Westbrook
8. Stephen Curry
9. Kobe Bryant
10. Rajon Rondo