NBA MVP Rankings: Ranking the Top Underdog 2012 MVP Candidates

Every year the MVP talk is full of names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard.

While those players are consistently deserving of consideration for the award, there are players every year that fly under the radar, but still produce at a high level and help their teams win games.

The 2011-12 NBA season is full of players that are having career-best years and could very well be considered "underdogs" for the 2012 MVP trophy.  While all of the players on this list will need to maintain or increase their production throughout their season, which will be a difficult task, their names need to at least be mentioned.

Ahead is a ranking of the top "underdog" candidates for the 2012 MVP trophy.  

7. Denver Nuggets, PG, Ty Lawson

16.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, 3.3 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 49.4% FG, 82.7% FT

Denver is off to a solid 9-5 start with a recent dominant win against the Miami Heat.  Their hot start is due in large part to the impressive play of third-year point guard Ty Lawson.  Lawson has done an incredible job facilitating for the players around him, while still managing to score when needed. He's the Nuggets to an average of 24.0 assists per game, which ranks first in the NBA.

What Lawson does so well is protect the basketball, averaging only 2.5 turnovers per game, which currently ranks in the top five in the NBA amongst starting point guards.  Ty Lawson also does an impressive job on the defensive side of the ball, averaging nearly two steals per game.

Lawson is on his way to having the best statistical year of his career, with significant increases in production in points, assists and rebounds per game.  If Lawson can continue to play at the impressive rate that he is now and the Nuggets can continue to play playoff-caliber basketball, Lawson might be a dark horse for at least consideration for the MVP trophy in 2012.  Sure, it's a long shot, but his name is worth mentioning.  

6. Houston Rockets, PG, Kyle Lowry

17.3 PPG, 8.7 APG, 6.6 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 42.9% FG, 41.7% FT, 90.6% 3FG

Kyle Lowry has exploded onto the scene with double-double production for the first time in his career. He's also helped the Houston Rockets to a 7-7 record, which is better than most expected out of the Rockets at the beginning of the season.

While Lowry's production has decreased a bit over the past few games, suffering from a lingering toe injury, Lowry is the main reason why the Houston Rockets are at least somewhat relevant in the NBA this year.  One of the main things holding Lowry and the Rockets back is Lowry's below-average shooting percentage, which is currently at 42.8 percent.

If Lowry wants to make a serious run at any type of NBA award, including the MVP trophy, he absolutely has to increase his efficiency on the court and that starts with focusing more on shot selection.  Lowry, is undoubtedly having a career year and that is why his name is even mentioned on this list.  If the Rockets can remain at .500 or better, Lowry has a chance to make a run at the MVP trophy come the end of the year as long as he continues to increase his production and efficiency.   

5. Philadelphia 76ers, SF, Andre Iguodala

14.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.8 APG, 2.2 SPG, 47.5% FG, 42.9% 3FG

A Philadelphia 76er not named Allen Iverson winning an NBA MVP trophy is highly unlikely, but if there's a year it could happen, it looks like 2012 is their best shot.

The 76ers are off to their best start, 10-3 overall, in recent memory, and while they haven't played the upper echelon of the NBA, the way they've been beating up on weaker teams is mightily impressive.  The 76ers' hot start is due in large part to the consistent play and veteran leadership of small forward Andre Iguodala, who also just so happens to be one of the most underappreciated players in the NBA as well.

Iguodala has played with an increased offensive efficiency this year and has continued to lock down opponents on the defensive end.  If the 76ers manage to keep their hot streak going throughout the 2011-'12 NBA season, expect to hear Iguodala's name mentioned when it comes time for the MVP award to be handed out.

4. Portland Trail Blazers, C, LaMarcus Aldridge

22.7 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 0.8 BPG, 49.0% FG, 81.8% FT

Many thought the success of the 2011-'12 Portland Trail Blazers' season was in jeopardy when they lost Greg Oden for the year and Brandon Roy forever, but LaMarcus Aldridge has stepped right in and carried the team to an impressive 8-5 record.

Aldridge has solidified himself as one of the most promising, young centers in the NBA, with his ability to overpower defenders with his 6'11'', 240-pound frame and his ability to alter nearly every shot that opponents take in the paint.

The Trail Blazers need Aldridge to be more dominant on the boards if they are going to win games in the highly-competitive Western Conference.  Aldridge is averaging only 7.9 rebounds per game, which is the one thing holding him back from taking his game to the next level.  If Aldridge can increase his rebounding abilities and continue to help the Trail Blazers win games this season, his name will surely be thrown around in the 2012 MVP conversation.

3. Atlanta Hawks, PF, Josh Smith

17.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.3 SPG, 51.0% FG

The 2011-12 season has brought us a new and improved, slimmed down and more efficient version of Atlanta Hawks small forward Josh Smith.  In his eighth NBA season, Smith is starting to mature as a player, evidenced by the fact that his play has helped the Hawks start the season with a 10-4 record, fourth-best in the Eastern Conference.

The one aspect of Smith's game that has drastically improved is the efficiency at which he is shooting the basketball.  Smith's career average field goal percentage is 46.7 percent which isn't necessarily terrible, but when compared to his 2011-12 average of 51.0 percent, it's clear to see he's doing a better job of taking smart shots this year.

Smith is having a career year in both points per game and assists per game, with current averages of 17.0 points per game and 9.2 assists per game. Smith is nearly averaging a double-double on the year which is something that many thought he would never do.  If the Hawks continue to find success in the Eastern Conference and Smith can bump his averages up to the double-double range, there's no reason why he can't sneak his way into MVP consideration.  

2. Utah Jazz, C, Al Jefferson

18.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 48.0% FG

Al Jefferson has had one of the quietest, dominant careers in the NBA. He's averaged nearly a double-double with 15.9 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game for his career.  The one problem for Jefferson is that he's never been on a truly legitimate playoff contender. Luckily for him, that might change this year.

Jefferson, in his eighth year in the NBA, is helping the Utah Jazz become a serious playoff contender in the Western Conference and at the same time is solidifying himself as one of the most consistent and complete centers in the conference.

If Jefferson can pick up his stats a little bit by averaging a double-double per game and the Jazz can find their way into a mid-level playoff seeding, there's no reason why his name won't be thrown around in the MVP talk.

1. Minnesota Timberwolves, PF, Kevin Love

25.6 PPG 14.3 RPG 1.8 APG, 44.1% FG, 80.6% FT

Kevin Love, over the past two seasons, has been one of the most consistently-dominant players in the NBA.  Last season, Love averaged a stellar 20.2 PPG and 15.2 RPG. He's on his way to similar numbers this year with an increase in offensive production to the tune of 25.6 PPG.

The one thing holding Love back has been the overall competitiveness of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the past few years.  In Love's three NBA seasons, the Timberwolves have a combined record of 56-190, which is one of the worst overall three-year spans of any NBA franchise in the history of the league.

While some will knock Love for his inability to singlehandedly help the Timberwolves win, his statistical production speaks for itself when it comes to his value on the Timberwolves.  If the T'Wolves can be in playoff contention near the end of the 2011-'12 regular season and can continue to average over 25 PPG and 15 RPG, it would be a travesty if his name wasn't at least mentioned as a legitimate candidate for the 2012 MVP trophy.