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Sheridan’s MVP Rankings: Dec. 25 Edition — LBJ and Wi Tu Lo

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RANK PLAYER RUNDOWN LAST
1 LeBRON JAMES, F, MIAMI: A question, readers: If the Heat finish a game behind the Pacers in the East, but this guy shoots 60 percent, who will be more deserving of the MVP? Yes, much of the credit for Miami’s win over Indiana last Wednesday goes to Dwyane Wade, but he shows up about once a week at this stage of his career. LBJ does not take night off. This is my Christmas present to him – even though he goes into today’s game shooting a mere .599. 2
2
CHRIS PAUL, G, LA CLIPPERS: When you win five in a row, you get rewarded here. And this is the highest spot CP3 has held all season as the MVP race has morphed from a foursome to a fivesome. That streak has included four double-doubles for the NBA’s assist leader, and he dropped 38 on John Wall before going for 19 and 13 against Ricky Rubio. Undoubtedly the best point guard in the NBA (Kyrie Irving is getting closer, but he ain’t there yet). 5
3 Portland Trail Blazers media day 2013 LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE, F, PORTLAND: The more we watch the Blazers, the more we appreciate Damian Lillard. Not a knock on this guy, but he did have two pedestrian games going into the break (7-for-22, 15 points in a loss to Minnesota; 8-for-24, 19 points in a too-close-for-comfort win over New Orleans). Still the best player on the NBA’s biggest surprise, but when you don’t crack 20 in consecutive games after doing it in nine of 10, there’s a price. 1
4 KEVIN DURANT, F, OKLAHOMA CITY: I know, I know. He is a better player than Aldridge, and his team is just a half-game out of first in the West. But one of their losses came vs. the Raptors on Sunday at home, where they had not lost all season. And KD had more turnovers (6) than buckets (5). If there is one loss that is going to haunt these guys when all 82 have come and gone, it will be that one. 3
5 PAUL GEORGE, G-F, INDIANA: He was flavor of the month in November, and rightfully so. But he is experiencing a December dip, which is not unexpected given how high he set the bar. He’d be No. 1 if the Pacers hadn’t channeled Sum Ting Wong in the final minutes at Miami a week ago, and he still has plenty of time to get back to the top. Again, if the Pacers win the East, he will be deemed a no-brainer by many voters. 4
6 Warriors STEPHEN CURRY, G, GOLDEN STATE: Yes, we are moving him ahead of Tony Parker. Why? For entertainment value, to be quite honest. There is a reason why coffee will be brewing at 10 p.m. tonight at Casa de Sheridan – we want to see the finish of what should be the best of the five Christmas games — and the only one that constitutes a real rivalry. Bernucca touched on it in his column earlier this week — Clips and Dubs have a healthy hatred for one another. I’ve got Steph going for 37 tonight. 8
7 TONY PARKER, G, SAN ANTONIO: Had him as high as No. 1 in these rankings, and he could surge back toward the top as the season moves on and he remains quietly efficient and infinitely less boring than Tim Duncan. For now, I find an excuse every week to drop him another spot, and the only thing keeping him ahead No. 8 player is the West standings. 6
8 Minnesota Timberwolves Media Day KEVIN LOVE, F, MINNESOTA: Welcome back, K-Love. You’ve earned it – even if your team’s record makes it a playoff outlier. If you keep up the scoring binge you have been on – 26, 26, 42, 30, 27, 25, 29, 45 – you can become just the fourth player ever to lead the league in scoring and rebounding. Who are the others? And when was the last time it happened? Read this column to find out. –
9 Phoenix Suns ERIC BLEDSOE, G, PHOENIX:  Welcome to the MVP rankings, young man. You are ranked in a fitting position in the Most Improved Player race, and I beseech you to give a read to Kels Dayton’s Twas The Night Before Christmas sonnet leading into those rankings. And congrats to all the Suns (17-10) for winning eight of nine. Does this mean Emeka Okafor will be a contributing player to this team in the stretch run? Or will Suns still look to trade him? –
10 LAC_Crawford_Jamal JAMAL CRAWFORD, G, LA CLIPPERS: It kills me to bump Russell Westbrook out of these rankings, because he is a worthy candidate and I promised last week to give him some more consistent love. But the Clippers are 5-0 since J-Crossover joined the starting lineup, and a five-game winning streak (as mentioned above in the CP3 blurb) in the West should not be discounted. Gimme a four-point play tonight, Jamal. –

DROPPED OUT: James Harden (7), Russell Westbrook (9), Kyrie Irving (10).

PREVIOUS RANKINGS:

Dec. 18 Edition: Aldridge Moves to No. 1
Dec. 11 Edition: Still Limited Love for LeBron
Dec. 4 Edition: Paul George Back at No. 1
Nov. 27 Edition: Viva Tony Parker
Nov. 20 Edition: Durant takes over No. 1 spot.
NOV. 13 Edition: Paul George is No. 1.

MORE RANKINGS: Rookie | Most Improved | Sixth Man | Power Rankings

Chris Sheridan is publisher and editor-in-chief of SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter

Comments

  1. Diane Hoffman – Hey there guys .. These are AWSOME !!! So Great !! I can hardly wait to see more . I am so lkioong forward to the wedding where we can meet. Just want to say how happy I am with the job you have done so far Thank you

  2. If you flipped Kyrie’s stats with Jarrett Jack’s, the only thing that jumps out is the 8 extra shots per game. So if JJ played more, and took more shots, he would also be closing in on CP3 for top PG in the league? I’m guessing PPG is how I should be measuring these guys.

  3. It’s been up for three seconds, I would have expected some politically correct numbskull to rip you a new one by now. I’ve been watching that same video ever since I first saw it months ago, and much like the same Three Stooges shorts I’ve watched over and over and over for over 50 years, I still laugh every time.

      • Happy Holidays to you as well, Chris. Put any words on any TelePrompter during any local news show in any city in the country, 100% of the time they’ll Ron Burgundy it without batting an eye.

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