Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard: Ranking the Top NBA MVP Candidates

We are a quarter of the way through one of the most unique NBA seasons in recent memory.

It's been highlighted by a crammed schedule, little to no practices and a rash of injuries. It is shaping up to be a fantastic finish.

In this slideshow, we will take a look at the top 10 MVP candidates, their statistics and team records at this point.

10. Chris Paul, PG, LA Clippers

Chris Paul has been a key cog in the revival of the long dormant Clipper franchise.

His arrival into Los Angeles may have been controversial, as he was supposed to be playing for the other L.A. team. However, he has proved to be one of the fiery leaders for the young Clippers.

He is averaging 16.7 points, 8.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.55 steals per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the field.

His impact is not so much in his numbers as it is his attitude. He has been relatively successful throughout his career, and it's beginning to rub off on this Clipper team, or should I say "Lob City?"

Currently, he has helped lead the Clippers to a 10-6 record, good for third in the Western Conference. The reason I have him this low right now is because he missed a few games with injury. Paul will be a huge asset for this team heading down the stretch and hopefully towards some playoff success.

9. Josh Smith, F, Atlanta Hawks

Ever since he stepped out of Oak Hill Academy, Josh Smith has been one of the most athletic players in the NBA.

He has been often criticized for not having a high motor at times, as well as for falling in love with the outside shot.

He is always among the candidates for the Defensive Player of the Year award, because of his long arms and tremendous leaping ability. When his head is on straight he is great around the rim, an active rebounder, an underrated passer and a great defender.

Currently, he is averaging 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.40 steals and 1.85 blocks per game and is shooting 47.4 percent from the field. He has been the most consistent Hawk while leading the team to a 14-6 record, good for third in the Eastern Conference.

8. Danilo Gallinari, F, Denver Nuggets

My dark horse in the rankings. He may not be considered a candidate to many, but he is having a great season and doing the best he can to make Nuggets fans forget about Carmelo Anthony.

He was the biggest piece of the deal that sent Anthony to New York, and he is beginning to show why. A matchup nightmare with his 6-10 frame and great shooting touch, Gallinari is leading the way for the Nuggets as one of the more pleasant surprises in the NBA this season.

Averaging 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.53 steals and .74 blocks per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, he is in the running for a possible All-Star berth.

While it would be nice to see him rebound a little better, his contribution to the Nuggets seems to be more than enough as they stand at 14-5, second in the Western Conference. If the Nuggets can keep up their success at this pace, his dark-horse status could be replaced by a more permanent one.

7. LaMarcus Aldridge, F, Portland Trailblazers

One of the more underrated players in the league, Aldridge is starting to get his credit. After a horrible All-Star snub a year ago, he is going to make sure it doesn't happen again this season.

The best player from the 2006 NBA Draft (apologies, ironically, to ex-teammate, Brandon Roy), his game is beginning to come full-circle this year. He is the main cog in the Blazers' engine and has the Blazers at 12-8, good for fifth in the West.

Aldridge has averaged of 22.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.10 steals and .70 blocks per game while shooting 49.7 percent from the field this season. He could stand to improve his rebounding numbers a bit as well as his interior defense, but he is still a star, and there's no denying that.

6. Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls

Yes, I understand he is the reigning MVP. Yes, I know his team has the best record in the East, at 17-4.

But I currently have Rose at sixth in my rankings for 2011-2012 MVP. The only reason is that he has missed some games to injury that the Bulls have still managed to win.

He is still without a doubt the best and most important player on the Bulls team, but those wins proved that his team is much better than people think.

His scoring numbers have dropped from last year, down to 21.9 points per game, but that may be due to his injury. He is also averaging 3.5 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 0.88 steals and 0.63 blocks per game and shooting 46.1 percent from the field.

As was the case last season, he could use more work on the defensive side of the ball, but his amazing offensive skills will mask those issues for now. His ranking for this award will rise as the season goes on and the Bulls will definitely be in the hunt for the Eastern Conference title and maybe the league title, largely due to Rose.

5. Kevin Love, F, Minnesota Timberwolves

I promise you, this guy will be the only player from a losing team on this list. He is just too good to leave off.

The Timberwolves are hovering around .500 and a big reason for that is Kevin Love. Thought to be undersized for the PF position in the NBA, he has proven everyone wrong.

The team is under .500, but they are arguably one of the most entertaining squads in the NBA. Not a popular pick in the West at the power forward position, Love's numbers are amazing. He is averaging 24.9 points, 13.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.05 steals and 0.58 blocks per contest while and shooting 43.7 percent.

His low shooting percentage can be attributed to his need to shoot often to keep his team in games and his penchant for the three-point shot. An underrated scorer and an amazing rebounder, he has great blocks to build on for his future.

4. Kobe Bryant, SG, L.A. Lakers

One of the greatest players to ever play the game, Kobe Bryant is out to prove everyone who said he lost a step wrong.

Seemingly rejuvenated, he has shown why some view him as the best offensive player ever. Kobe has a stretch of four straight 40-point games, proving that he hasn't slowed down a bit.

In—by Lakers standards—a down season, he is keeping the team afloat while they break in a new coach and new system. He is currently averaging a league-best 30.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.21 steals and 0.37 blocks per game and shooting 45.4 percent from the field.

It is one of his best all-around seasons to date.

The Lakers are sitting at 11-8, eighth in the West. He has more than done his part for this team. One knock against him is that he may be becoming a volume shooter, averaging 25 shots a game. But when you are Kobe Bryant, you can get away with that.

How long will the Lakers get away with it, though?

3. Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic

Coming into this season, no player had a bigger cloud over his head than Dwight Howard.

One day he wants to be traded, the next day he doesn't. One thing has remained constant however, and that is Howard's dominance in the paint. With Howard saying the Magic needed to make moves to be successful, they are surprisingly 12-7, good for sixth in the East.

Howard is currently averaging 19.9 points, 15.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.37 steals and 2.05 blocks per game while shooting 55.5 percent from the field. He appears to be doing all he can to keep his team in the hunt, but with embarassing losses in the past week, it is going to become even harder to convince him to stay.

2. Kevin Durant, F, Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant started the season as most people's favorite for the MVP award, and he is doing his part to prove them right. Always known as an elite scorer, he is starting to round out his game by improving his rebounding and defense.

He is currently averaging 26.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.21 steals and 1.16 blocks per contest while shooting 50.7 percent from the field.

Those numbers are currently leading the best team in the NBA record-wise, at 16-3. This team will be the front-runner for the Western Conference crown and one of the legit contenders for the NBA title.

1. LeBron James, F, Miami Heat

Like him or not, LeBron James is the leader in the clubhouse for the MVP award.

Helping lead the Heat to a 14-5 record, good for second in the East, he is possibly playing the best basketball of his career.

James is averaging 29.2 points, eight rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.94 steals and 0.78 blocks per game while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. It's not so much what he's doing on the court, because his numbers haven't changed much. It's how he's doing it.

He has seemed to listen to the critics who said he needed to develop a post game, because he is playing closer to the basket and it shows in his career high-field goal percentage.

Of course, what he does in the regular season almost doesn't matter anymore, as he will forever be judged by his playoff performances. But it is still fun to watch.