NBA Power Rankings: Derrick Rose, Lebron James, and the 10 Real MVP Candidates
Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Amare Stoudemire are having great seasons for their respective teams, but the race for the NBA MVP award is between Lebron James of the Miami Heat and Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls.
Since we've arrived at the all star break, it is appropriate to weed out the contenders and pretenders for the NBA's MVP award.
Early candidates such as Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, and Chris Paul of the Hornets, are no longer real contenders in the race for the award.
Instead, the race seems to be down to two players who are most responsible for their team's performance.
With all due respect to Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, James and Rose have proved they are the piece of the puzzle that brings their teams together, and crumbles them when they're absent.
Look at the Cleveland Cavaliers and tell me Lebron's MVP awards from the last two seasons weren't the clearest example of a player who embodies the entire success of his team.
With Rose, we see a similar pattern, although not as dramatic. He has taken every part of his game to new heights this season, shouldering the scoring and playmaking burden for Chicago.
Now lets look at the top 10 candidates for the 2010-11 NBA MVP award, in order of least to most deserving.
10.) Kevin Love
1 of 11
Kevin Love is having a historic season, but the old argument that players from bad teams shouldn't win the MVP award will certainly come up.
That argument is ridiculous, and Love's 2011 season has been his best yet, and he's done some historic things.
He became the first player in over 20 years to record a 30 point/30 rebound game, and currently has 42 straight double doubles. The record for consecutive double doubles is 50 set by Moses Malone, which Love will likely break this season.
Love is a great talent, and with increased playing time he has proven why he was a top 5 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
The trade between the Wolves and the Grizzlies swapping Love and OJ Mayo among other players on draft day seemed ludicrous at the time for Minnesota, but looking back they definitely got the better end of the deal.
Love's 2010-11 Stats: 21.1ppg, 15.5rpg
9.) Chris Paul
2 of 11
After a hot start to the season, Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets have cooled off a bit, but remain a contender for the western conference playoffs.
Paul has, for the most part, silenced the trade rumors that clouded his summer, and has once again regained his MVP form.
Paul is the primary scorer and playmaker for the Hornets, and is also a big contributor on defense, currently leading the NBA in steals per game.
Without Chris Paul, the Hornets would be contending for the number one pick in next year's draft, instead of a trip to the playoffs.
Paul's 2010-11 stats: 16.2ppg, 9.6apg
8.) Dirk Nowitzki
3 of 11
Dirk Nowitzki is extremely important to the Dallas Mavericks, and with Caron Butler possibly out for the entire season and playoffs, Dirk's responsibility is even greater.
Dirk is the go to guy in the fourth quarter for Rick Carlisle's team, and his ability to score in so many ways makes him so special.
Nowitzki is the best long distance shooting big man in NBA history, but he can also score in the post, and hit the fade away mid-range jumper.
He also does a lot of rebounding for the Mavericks, and plays good defense against power forwards and centers.
Nowitzki's 2010-11 stats: 22.7ppg, 6.6rpg
7.) Manu Ginobili
4 of 11
Manu Ginobili is the most underrated player in the NBA, and while he's never had a "career year," he is one of the most consistent players in the league.
Manu is the leader of the Spurs. He is the best scorer and shooter they have, and can also handle the point guard duties when Tony Parker is on the bench.
The Spurs are the best team in the NBA, and Ginobili is the biggest reason why.
He is always a danger, even if he's having an off game, and defenses cringe when he hoists up an important shot in the fourth quarter.
Ginobili is a fabulous all around player, and is the reason the Spurs will make it to the NBA Finals this season.
Ginobili's 2010-11 stats: 17.9 ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.8apg
6.) Rajon Rondo
5 of 11
No point guard in the NBA other than Rajon Rondo would require Lebron James to guard him during a heated playoff series.
Rondo is the perfect point guard; he passes extremely well, he plays all-NBA defense, he rebounds better than any guard, and he can score when he wants to.
Rondo leads the NBA in assists and is second to Chris Paul in steals.
Rondo is the reason the Celtics are the best team in the eastern conference, and his spot on the eastern conference all star team is well deserved.
Rajon is the leader of the Celtics, on the court, and in the locker room. He provides the enegry and spark to a team that has few players to offer those qualities, due to the age of the "big three."
Paul Pierce has said Rondo is an indicator of how the Celtics are doing on a particular night, when he's energetic at both ends, the Celtics are nearly unbeatable.
Rondo's 2010-11 stats: 10.9ppg, 12.2apg, 2.4spg
5.) Kevin Durant
6 of 11
In the preseason, the majority of NBA fans and general managers thought Kevin Durant would be the MVP for the 2010-11 season.
While Durant has had a great year, he has not had the impact to his team that some others have had, like Derrick Rose.
However, Durant is still the league's leading scorer, and more importantly he is allowing his teammates to get into the game offensively as much as him.
For the Thunder to improve over last year's 50-win season, Durant needed to be more of a team player, and so far this season he seems to be finding that balance.
Durant is also improving his defense, and remains a stellar rebounder. Him and point guard Russell Westbrook may be the best duo in the NBA,
Durant's 2010-11 stats: 28.9ppg, 7.0rpg
4.) Amare Stoudemire
7 of 11
Amare Stoudemire has given life to Madison Square Garden, a building which was in need of some rejuvenation due to the Knicks terrible play in recent memory.
But Stoudemire has the Knicks contending for a playoff spot, and has become a star in New York, adored by the fans and media alike.
Stoudemire has provided the Knicks with their best center since Patrick Ewing, and is a consistent scorer and rebounder.
Only Kevin Durant scores more points per game than Stoudemire, and Amare has also improved his outside shooting.
Amare's play this season earned him a starting spot in the East's starting lineup for Sunday's all-star game.
Stoudemire's 2010-11 stats: 26.1ppg, 8.6rpg
3.) Dwight Howard
8 of 11
Dwight Howard is by far the best center in basketball and is perhaps the most talented player in the NBA.
Howard has redefined his game this season, adding an array of low-post moves, as well as becoming a bit better free throw shooter.
But Howard's strength continues to be his defense, and few players are feared more as shot blockers than Howard.
Howard is second in the league rebounding, fifth in blocks, and eleventh in scoring.
The Magic's success is all dependent on Howard, which makes his value to them immense.
Howard's 2010-11 stats: 22.8ppg, 13.8rpg, 2.1bpg
2.) Lebron James
9 of 11
Lebron James is hated more than ever since taking his talents from Cleveland to south beach last summer, but you cannot hate on his value to the Miami Heat.
James, quite simply, is the complete package for the Heat.
He provides a large portion of the scoring and rebounding, he plays exceptional defense, and even plays point guard when needed.
The true value of Lebron James can be seen by watching this year's Cleveland Cavaliers, and their historically abysmal season.
Lebron is proving he was that team. He was the number one reason why they won or lost on a given night.
Never before have we realized how much one player meant to the success, both on the court and financially, to one franchise.
Lebron was not expected to contend for the MVP this season because of his alliance with other stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, but Lebron has proven he is the x-factor for the Heat this year.
They will win or lose with James' play this season and in the playoffs, and his success or failure will make or break Miami now, and in the future.
James' 2010-11 stats: 26.1ppg, 7.3apg, 7.4rpg
1.) Derrick Rose
10 of 11
Derrick Rose is the MVP of the 2010-11 NBA season. I don't need to see anymore games, nothing anyone else does will change my mind to be honest.
Before the season started, most fans and experts were saying that players like Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard would win the MVP award.
This prompted Rose to state that he was a prime candidate for the award, and while many of us laughed, the doubters are the ones laughing now.
Rose has backed up his claim, and taken a team riddled with injuries to star players, and has made them a title contender. The Bulls were even tied with the Miami Heat in the standings for a brief period.
With new free agent signing Carlos Boozer missing significant time early in the year because of injury, and center Joakim Noah missing time now due to an injury, Rose has become the leader of the team.
Rose is shouldering the nightly scoring needs, as well as the need to get his teammates involved.
Rose has also played great against top teams, leading the Bulls to wins over the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and this week's win vs. the San Antonio Spurs, as Rose scored 42 points to beat Tim Duncan and co.
Rose has risen his talents to new levels this season, and has become a scoring point guard while still getting his teammates involved and racking up assists.
Derrick Rose is one of the best, most exciting players in the NBA, and is sure to win at least one NBA MVP award during his career, and for this season, there is no one more deserving than D-Rose.
Rose's 2010-11 stats: 24.9ppg, 8.2apg, 4.4rpg
Those Who Missed The Cut
11 of 11
After careful consideration and several top 10 lists made, these are the players that I left off the list of the 10 most deserving candidates for the 2010-11 NBA MVP award.
In no particular order:
Kobe Bryant
Pau Gasol
Tony Parker
Russell Westbrook
Paul Pierce
Steve Nash
Blake Griffin
Carmelo Anthony
Dwayne Wade
