MVP WATCH - Week 13

	TEAM	WHY	WHY NOT	STATS
Lebron James PER 29.81 MVP	-	The King, one of the greatest athletic specimens of all time, continues to be as relevant and elite as he has been for the past decade+. The freight train LeBron is the leader of the Cavs juggernaut that has currently won 17 games in a row and hasn't lost in over a month. He continues to do it all, registering 22.4/5.8/7.2 apg. Despite a somewhat lean week in week 13, the Cavs still won 4/4, because James has them all believing.	Just doesn't have quite the impact that the previous three candidate have. Some would argue that Ibaka is more important to the Cavs this season. But name/brand value is second to none.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Kevin Durant PER 33.91 MVP	-	What can I say about this guy that multiple MVP awards in the past doesn't say? He is an alpha baller. The Slim Reaper/Durantula/KDtrey5 is arguably the smoothest scorer in all of basketball. Since the Celtics started 3-4, they have gone 35-12 over the past months and the exploding Durant has been a big reason. Since his move to PF, he is averaging 32.3 points per game on 57% shooting along with 8+ boards and 2 blocks per game, with the Celtics going 17-4 in that span.	The Celtics sputtering start means KD has some catching up to do to reach the heights of both Davis and Cousins in terms of how big of an impact they have had on their teams. If he'd been a PF all season he could be higher. Definitely in the conversation.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Russell Westbrook PER 29.58 MVP	-	Just a season ago, Westbrook was the Bucks. Fast forward a season and the young guns underneath him have blossomed into legitimate all-star players. Westbrook has improved his efficiency this season and continues to contribute across the board stats. Bucks are a threat for the East crown and Westbrook's energy and leadership are a huge reason why.	The Bucks are arguably Karl Anthony-Towns' team now. It's tough to be the MVP when you aren't even the Towns' sheriff.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
James Harden PER 38.02 MVP	-	The Beard rounds out the top ten in the MVP race. James Harden had one of the best weeks of the season in week 13, hitting 26.5 points per game on a whopping 60% FG. He kept the dimes up too and is still a critical cog in the Knicks juggernaut. He should win the MVP because his willingness to fit in to the Knicks scheme and support Kyrie is the reason the Knicks are so good. He's shooting above 50% for the season. Plus, he is a game winner and has got the Knicks over the line in crunch time multiple times in the past weeks.	Tough to be the MVP of the NLL when you could arguably be the second or third most impactful player on your team.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Stephen Curry PER 40.47 MVP	-	The Chef's cooking has been so delicious this season he has had Chicago fans dancing in the street. A team in perennial 'building' mode, the Bulls have finally taken steps forward and some savvy forethought has surrounded Steph with a cast of role players that just want to see him succeed. Bulls look like a likely playoff team and Steph is likely to be given the keys to the city of Chicago. Stat stuffer + efficiency = MVP candidate.	Chicago has lost a bit of momentum as the season has progressed, and whilst they are almost a lock for the playoffs, they are likely not a top-tier playoff team. MVP usually have correlation with high team success.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
DeMarcus Cousins PER 18.23 MVP	-	DeMarcus is a wrecking ball inside and is just a few points away from being the highest scoring player in the entire NLL. He does it with incredible efficiency and kills it on the glass and defensive side of the game, too. Unlike his NBA counterpart, he can't get kicked out of NLL games, so his team is doing well, with the Nets poised to make some noise in the playoffs for the first time in a long time. He should win the MVP because he has brought the Nets back from the depths to be one of the strongest teams in the NLL.	The Nets are stacked with talent and Boogie plays so well because his teammates that he has been surrounded with are so selfless and help him succeed. Not a super strong argument, Boogie will be a candidate for the award at the end of the season.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Kyrie Irving PER 33.90 MVP	-	After a somewhat mediocre 15-16 season in Kyrie standards, Irving has his game and the Knicks absolutely purring towards a deep, deep NLL playoff run at the end of the regular season. 25-10 with outstanding efficiency, Kyrie, Like Durant or Harden, 'suffers' in the MVP standings because of the talent they have around them. He is slaying it from three with 2.5 makes per game and is likely the most skilled player in the entire NLL. He has the Knicks right at the apex of the NLL.	Harden, Howard, Millsap all share the spotlight with Kyrie in NY. That hurts him in the MVP stakes, as the team could likely keep winning some games if Kyrie was to sit.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Anthony Davis PER 28.28 MVP	-	Spurs have the best record in the league and appear to be well ahead of the curve in terms of where pundits thought they would be and it's mainly due to this fellas meteoric NLL rise. 26 points, 14 rebounds and a ridiculous combined 4.5 steals/blocks/threes shows that he is impacting the game immensely on both ends of the court. He has been in the box seat for MVP all season and he truly deserves it after putting up MVP numbers all season and staying somewhat healthy for once.	The Spurs are sliding, and with Embiid out of the side, Davis isn't the same player as he has been for the majority of the season. Is Joel the real MVP? Probably not. And Davis would be a worthy winner as the heart of the resurgent Spurs.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Harrison Barnes PER 16.01 MVP	-	One of the nice surprises of the season, Barnes finally got the reins to a team and hasn't disappointed. The athletic Barnes is so good at getting to the hoop for great looks and makes a living at the free throw line, averaging 5 made free throws per game on the season out of his impressive 25.3 points per game. He doesn't contribute in many other areas (yet), but has made a great stride forward this season.	The Warriors are a pesky eighth seed type of team, and MVPs don't usually arise from squads like that. Could do well in MIP player.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Karl-Anthony Towns PER 25.97 MVP	-	Because somehow, young stud KAT has super-seeded Russell Westbrook as the best player on the Bucks. Which is hard to believe, with Westbrook still in the prime of his career. That just goes to show how tremendous of an impact KAT has on basketball games. He is incredibly intelligent on the court and is so developed for a player of his age. His ceiling is massive and he will be a winner for a long time.	He just doesn't impact the game enough. 21/11 is really nice, don't get me wrong, but his blocks are lacking for someone of his ability. Maybe next season.	PTS REB AST STL BLK