Kia MVP Ladder: What will sway award chase down stretch?

Could the Kia MVP race be determined not simply by a season, however three video games particularly?

If the competitors between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić stays tight — and so they’re Nos. 1 and a couple of within the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder this week, as they’ve been for a lot of the season — then perhaps a measure of weight might be utilized to what they do in opposition to one another, head-to-head.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets meet on Friday (9:30 ET, ESPN) after which twice extra earlier than the season is completed. In tight conditions like this, the place two candidates share the identical flooring, the dialog perks up relating to the award. If one participant leaves a long-lasting impression — suppose, he has a beastly efficiency in opposition to the opposite man’s staff — it tends to stay within the reminiscence a bit longer.

Again, this solely issues if the MVP race is tight. And that’s the case proper now, because it was nearly all final season as nicely.

In the Nuggets vs. Thunder situation, Jokić has the harder activity. He should take care of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, OKC’s twin 7-footers. The most important matchup at middle is with Hartenstein, however there might be instances when Holmgren, an influence ahead and one of many higher defensive huge males within the league, will problem Jokić as nicely.

It’s not a matter of who’s the higher participant — Jokić would clear each even in the event you fused them — however the quantity of labor required by Jokić on this state of affairs, at each ends of the ground.

Contrast that with what degree of resistance awaits Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s an elite scorer, nearly an computerized 25-30 factors per sport, going in opposition to a Nuggets’ staff that presently lacks an elite ball-stopper. Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon are out and coping with hamstring points. Meanwhile, Christian Braun has struggled since returning to the lineup from harm.

The Nuggets would possibly get a break if Shai misses the Friday sport. He hasn’t performed since Feb. 3 due to an stomach pressure and stays questionable. The longer he’s on the shelf, the larger the possibilities of Jokić rising to the highest spot on the MVP Ladder. That’s solely honest, contemplating Gilgeous-Alexander leapfrogged Jokić final month when Jokić missed practically a month with a hyperextended knee.

The MVP race, in a way, begins now, because the season creeps into March. The calls for on Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić might be huge. Neither participant can afford to overlook many extra video games (and just one extra for Jokić to stay eligible). This may very well be a photograph end, and if that’s the case, the Nuggets and Thunder play April 10 within the next-to-last sport of the season.

Setting the stage this week: Twice within the span of 5 days might be an MVP Ladder deal with — Cade Cunningham staring throughout the ground at Donovan Mitchell, first on Friday, then Tuesday. Aside from Ladder implications, this Cavs-Pistons matchup additionally would possibly influence the race on the prime within the East. Cade and the Pistons have dominated for a lot of the season, however Mitchell and the Cavs, winners in 12 of their final 16 video games, are quick rising.

The stat to know: There are six gamers within the NBA with 100 or extra clutch factors and 5 are top-10 on the MVP Ladder — Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokić, Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey and Anthony Edwards, with Jamal Murray because the sixth.

What they’re saying: “I start seeing people appreciate my game like, `Man, this guy’s so pure.’ People complimenting the purity of your game, I think it’s one of the best compliments I ever got.” — Cunningham (to GQ journal) on Cunningham.

---

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last rating: No. 1 ↔️
Season stats: 31.8 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists

His case: Gilgeous-Alexander has managed to assemble a constant and highly-efficient season and maintain OKC on prime within the very aggressive West, which isn’t any straightforward feat. He has finished this whereas lacking, at instances, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein, amongst others, proof of his means to be a difference-maker.

Gilgeous-Alexander is second within the league in scoring, on 55% taking pictures, and as soon as once more is making use of credible protection. His solely concern as of late is lacking video games whereas coping with an ab harm. Further absences might influence his possibilities of profitable back-to-back Kia MVPs.

---

2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Last rating: No. 2 ↔️
Season stats: 28.8 factors, 12.5 rebounds, 10.4 assists

His case: Jokić leads the league in rebounds per sport and assists per sport and he’s sixth in scoring. Purely from a statistical standpoint, no person else within the NBA compares. He’s on tempo to common a triple-double for the season, which up to now was applauded, however of us have out of the blue develop into jaded by it. That’s what greatness does. It’s taken as a right.

The outcomes on the courtroom, from a staff standpoint, have been combined since he returned from harm, but these have been impacted by the scheduling (in opposition to a tricky stretch of contenders) and the Nuggets’ accidents. He would possibly must push Denver a bit nearer towards the highest of the West to extend his MVP probabilities (Denver is 7 1/2 video games behind OKC).

---

3. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

Last rating: No. 4 ⬆️
Season stats: 25.4 factors, 5.7 rebounds, 9.8 assists

His case: Cunningham is coming off a powerful week, enhanced by his 29 factors and 13 assists in a win over the West-leading Thunder (though with out Gilgeous-Alexander). In that sport, Cade displayed the all-around means and each ends of the ground influence which have made him a Ladder fixture and positioned the Pistons on the prime of the East.

He additionally had 42 factors in a win over the Knicks (and Jalen Brunson) and practically a triple-double in one other victory, over the Bulls, each on the highway, each proper after the All-Star break. Which is to counsel that Cunningham is perhaps the MVP chief because the break.

---

4. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Last rating: No. 5 ⬆️
Season stats: 23.7 factors, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 blocks

His case: Wembanyama has elevated his sport because the All-Star break as nicely, with impactful video games serving to the Spurs prolong an 11-game profitable streak. This is a legit push towards the highest of the West.

Wembanyama has 4 or extra blocked pictures in every of his final 4 video games and if nothing else, positioned himself as a powerful Defensive Player of the Year favourite. His greatest outing these days was 21 factors, 17 rebounds and 6 blocks in opposition to Cunningham and the East-leading Pistons. Also, his minutes are ramping up; after averaging lower than half-hour for the season earlier than the break, Wemby has performed 30 or extra in 4 of his final 5 video games, falling quick within the different as a result of it was a blowout.

---

5. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

Last rating: No. 4 ⬇️
Season stats: 32.7 factors, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists

His case: Dončić leads the league in scoring and is among the many assists and rebound leaders. His degree of play hasn’t dipped a lot all season from that lofty commonplace. The solely participant who compiles the diploma of numbers in these classes is Jokić, which implies Dončić is in nice firm from an MVP Ladder standpoint.

The different huge plus for Dončić is reducing his turnovers, not less than as of late. That plagued him for a lot of the season. Dončić stays among the many sport’s largest offensive threats and has maybe his greatest season.

---

The subsequent 5:

6. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics ↔️
7. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers ↔️
8. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks ⬆️
9. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves ⬇️
10. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers ↔️

And 5 extra (listed alphabetically): Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets; Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons; Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks; Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers; Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

* * *