2013-14 NBA Power Rankings: Top 5 MVP Candidates – Paul George and Lebron James Top the List

2013-14 NBA Power Rankings: Top 5 MVP Candidates – Paul George and Lebron James Top the List: The 2013-14 NBA season has passed its quarter point, and a couple of things are already becoming clear. A battle between Indiana and Miami seems inevitable when it comes to deciding the ridiculously weak Eastern Conference, but in the Western Conference, 13 of the 15 teams could conceivably make some noise in the playoffs. Looking at the early frontrunners for the MVP Award, there is a similar trend developing. Indiana’s Paul George and Miami’s LeBron James are both making strong cases, and the rest of the leading candidates all play in the Western Conference. With that in mind, here is a closer look at how the current MVP frontrunners stack up.

1.      Paul George, Forward, Indiana Pacers

George has continued his emergence as one of the best two-way players in the game, and in addition to his knack for hitting big shots, he has really refined his offensive skill set this season. He is currently averaging a career-high 24.1 points per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA. George is also posting career highs in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage and steals. Meanwhile, Indiana owns the best record in the NBA, and there is no question that George is a superstar player for a legit championship contender.

2.      LeBron James, Forward, Miami Heat

He is still the best player in the NBA, but the fast start by the Pacers gives George an edge when it comes to ranking MVP candidates. Still, James is averaging 25.0 points, 6.5 boards and 6.3 assists while posting career highs in field goal, 3-point and free throw percentage. By the way, James has been insanely efficient when it comes to scoring, and he currently ranks third in the NBA in scoring despite ranking 28th in shots attempted. He is also stuffing the stat sheet despite averaging a career low in minutes per game, and the Heat have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Yes, Miami is thinking big picture, but James’ impact on both ends of the court is as undeniable as ever.

3.      Kevin Durant, Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder

The scoring machine continues to showcase his all-around ability on the court. In addition to leading the NBA in scoring by a wide margin, Durant is averaging career highs in rebounds, assists and steals thus far. Not to mention the fact that he has helped the Thunder post the third-best record in the NBA. Durant is no doubt the top offensive weapon in the NBA today, but if he is going to take home MVP honors, he is either going to have to post better all-around numbers than James or lead Oklahoma City to the best record in the NBA.

4.      Chris Paul, Point Guard, Los Angeles Clippers

Paul is the best point guard in the NBA today, and it isn’t even close. His 11.5 assists per game are by far the most in the league, and he also ranks in the top 20 in scoring at 19.7 points per game. His ability to both score and distribute is unmatched at his position, and in fact, his 19 double-doubles are the second most in the NBA. Paul also ranks second among point guards in rebounding, and he ranks third in the NBA in steals. Last but not least, Paul has made the Clippers a factor in the Western Conference since he arrived in Los Angeles, and they currently own the fourth-best record in the conference. There is no denying Paul’s value to the Clippers, but if he is actually going to land the MVP Award, Los Angeles needs to make a legit push for the best record in the NBA.

5.      LaMarcus Aldridge, Power Forward, Portland Trail Blazers

He has quietly been one of the better power forwards in the NBA for the past couple of years, but everything seems to be clicking for both Aldridge and the Trail Blazers this year. He ranks eighth in the NBA in scoring and fifth in rebounding, and he is posting career highs in both categories while averaging a double-double. More importantly, Portland currently owns the best record in the Western Conference. He will have to prove the hot start isn’t a fluke, but if Aldridge keeps up his current pace and Portland does the same, he will start climbing the rankings sooner rather than later.

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