LeBron James is No. 1; Kevin Durant No. 2 in latest MVP rankins

RANK	PLAYER	RUNDOWN	LAST
1		LeBRON JAMES, F, MIAMI: He is going to become the first player since Bill Russell (1961-65) to win the award four times in the span of five seasons. His accomplishments: Shot .565 from the field, a quantum lap from his previous career-best of .531 last season. And depending on whether he plays or rests over the final few days, he could have carer-highs in rebounds (8.0), fewest turnovers (2.97) and fewest fouls. Playing most confident ball of his lifetime.	1
2		KEVIN DURANT, F, OKLAHOMA CITY: Looks like he will lose the scoring title, the first time that will have happened since 2008-09 when Wade won it. But it also looks like he will become the sixth member of the exclusive 50-40-90 club while having increased his assist average by 1.1 per game from last year to 4.6. His team should finish in the 60-win club, his offensive efficiency numbers crush Anthony’s, and he’s done this despite losing a key teammate in James Harden.	3
3		CARMELO ANTHONY, F, NEW YORK: What does he have to do to supplant Durant in the No. 2 slot between now and Wednesday night? A 70-point night might do it. A shoebox full of cash would help (just kidding). But in all seriousness, the efficiency argument caries the most weight. Anthony has taken 1,466 shots in 66 games to get his 28.7 ppg average. Durant has taken 1,417 shots in 80 games (almost 100 fewer total shots than Russell Westbrook) in averaging 28.1.	2
4		TIM DUNCAN, F-C, SAN ANTONIO: We have had him ranked behind Tony Parker for most of the season, only recently elevating him higher. Because here’s the thing: We all expect Parker to be the Spurs’ best player. It has been that way for five years. Duncan’s rise in FT shooting (.812) is astounding for someone with his track ecord from the stripe, he will finish above 50 percent from the field for ninth time, and is he can average major rebounds in last few games he will reach double figures (10.0) for first time in 3 years. (He did in each of his first 13 seasons).	4
5		STEPHEN CURRY, G, GOLDEN STATE: Bump of the week goes to this guy, who wins the Most Amazing to Watch Award, Western Conference division, dethroning Blake Griffin. Over/under on the number of times I say “damn” while watching him in the first round of the playoffs is 7 1/2. Shooting .453 from 3-point range while taking more than twice as many 3s as the league leader, Jose Calderon (.461). Enters Sunday at .899 from the line, giving him a chance to be at 90 percent or better by season’s end. Only KD is in the 90s now.	8
6		TONY PARKER, G, SAN ANTONIO: Statistically superior to Duncan in all scoring and shooting categories, and leads all NBA guards in overall FG pct. Might yet agaain become the Spurs’ most important player in the postseason, but nagging injuries to him and Manu Ginobili (out first round) and going to impact the way this team plays. Big unanswered question: Will the NBA slot them unfavorably when the playoff TV schedule comes out? Only the Atlanta Hawks are more boring to watch, many TV executives believe.	5
7		CHRIS PAUL, G, LA CLIPPERS: The hope here is that we see the Clippers and the Grizzlies in the postseason for the second straight season, and the series goes seven games like it did a year ago. Back then, the Grizz had home court advantage, which meant nothing. This year, after CP3 hit the clinching FT in Memphis Saturday night to give the Clippers the win and the tiebreaker (3-1), maybe we’ll see if it matters at Staples. Will he be defended more by Tony Allen or Mike Conley? Just asking.	7
8		DWYANE WADE, G, MIAMI: He will be back in his old stomping grounds (he attended Marquette) in joining Allen as a Milwaukee returnee. He will again be overshadowed by his MVP teammate, and the changes he has made to his game as he has evolved into a far more efficient players the past two seasons will not get the recognition they deserve. One item of concern if Heat need a late 3 from someone other than LBJ: Wade has made only 17 this season, with just 3 over the past 34 games.	6
9		KOBE BRYANT, G, LA LAKERS: A respect bump. And a bittersweet one. Although I suspected the Jazz were going to catch them for the No. 8 seed because of an easier closing schedule, he had been quite the sight to see over the past couple weeks as the Lakers have been closing with a strong finishing burst. His Facebook post pre-surgery was truly gut-wrenching. He still has the NBA’s best killer instinct and best work ethic. It saddens me to think we will never see him play at that level again — although if anyone can come back and be the beast he once was, it is this guy.	10
10		JAMES HARDEN, G, HOUSTON: It was going to be this guy or Russell Westbrook for 10th. And while Wstbrook has been every bit as much as important as KD in leading OKC to the top of the West, nobody has been as much as a driving force in leading his team to a place where nobody thought they’d end up. When Dwight Howard decides where he wants to play next season, havin Harden as a possible teammate is one of strongest arguments Houston can make. Dwight won’t have a ruuning mate of that caliber in either Dallas or Los Angeles.	–