NBA Preseason: Top 5 MVP Candidates

The shortened NBA regular season will have huge ramifications on how different teams and players perform. The season will be a physical and emotional grind that will test the toughness of each and every player.

The lockout shortened season will especially affect the MVP race. The award has predominately been given to the best player on a highly successful team. With team's having little time to prepare for the season, star players will have to step up and lead their team to success in order to win the award.

5) Blake Griffin

Griffin could be this year’s MVP dark horse. The addition of Chris Paul will help Griffin out tremendously. They will instantly form the league’s best alley-oop combination and will bring excitement and intrigue to Los Angeles’ other team.

Griffin put up big numbers last season despite the team’s struggles. If Griffin can put up similar numbers and the team improves, he will be on the MVP radar.

Griffin is the most likely young player to make a Derrick Rose like jump from being an all star to an elite, MVP caliber player. Griffin’s one problem could be if the Clippers don’t meet expectations or if he and Paul take votes away from one another.

4) Derrick Rose

Last season’s MVP will once again be in the MVP hunt this season. The young, athletic Bulls are bringing back last season’s core and have even added veteran Richard Hamilton to upgrade their previously abysmal situation at shooting guard.

However, historically it has been very difficult for players to win back to back MVP awards. The Bulls went from a bottom tier playoff team to having the best record in the NBA last season.

While I still believe the Bulls will be a top tier team in the Eastern Conference, I see the Miami Heat overtaking them as the “beast of the east,” which will diminish Rose’s MVP chances.

3) LeBron James

LeBron’s horrendous play in last year’s NBA finals has altered many fans perception of the two time MVP winner. However, LeBron always brings his A game during the regular season.

James averaged about 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists per game last season. If LeBron puts up similar numbers and the Heat jump the Bulls in the Eastern conference, he will be right in the midst of the MVP conversation.

The one thing that could derail James’ MVP chances is his teammates. Many voters will be reluctant to give James the award because they look at his all star teammates and will want to give the MVP to a player who has less talent around him.

2) Chris Paul

After an ugly negotiation period, Paul was finally given what he wanted and was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers posted a record of 32-50 last season which was third worst in the Western Conference. If the team improves significantly this season, which many believe they will, Paul will receive many MVP votes. Voters will look at Paul as being the one who brought success to a team that has been among the league’s worst for decades.

Paul will have the best teammate he has ever had in Blake Griffin, and the two should form a deadly combo. The one thing that could hurt Paul as I said with Griffin is if the two steal votes from one another.

1) Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant has improved every year he has been in the league. He came into the league as a lanky scorer and has developed into a much more complete player.

Durant has been the NBA’s leading scorer in each of the past two seasons. The lockout shortened season will benefit the Thunder because of their youth and the team will be bringing back the same core from last season.

Many believe the Thunder will be the premier team in the western conference. The Mavericks have lost Tyson Chandler, their defensive stopper and emotional leader, and the Lakers have lost Lamar Odom making star Kobe Bryant unhappy with team management. If the Thunder are able to jump from having the fourth best record in the west to having the best, Durant will be at the top of the MVP discussion.