Sheridan’s MVP Rankings, April 2 Edition: A Rivalry is Finally Born Tonight?

RANK	PLAYER	RUNDOWN	LAST
1		KEVIN DURANT, F, OKLAHOMA CITY: Mr. Unanimous averaged 34.5 points in March, shooting .517 overall and .438 from downtown. His streak of 25-point games is at 38. And it wasn’t even his best month. In February, KD averaged 35.9, shot .549 overall and .436 from deep. On Thursday we’ll see if he can stop the Spurs’ winning streak (provided they beat GS tonight).	1
2		LeBRON JAMES, F, MIAMI: His team’s ascension into the East’s top spot has as much to do with the Pacers forgetting how to score as it does with the Heat being tough to beat. But if I penalize him from week to week for being in second place, I have to switch gears when it is the Heat finally looking down at the Pacers in the standings. BTW, this guy has shot 50 percent or better in eight straight games.	4
3		BLAKE GRIFFIN, F, LA CLIPPERS: If the Clips catch OKC, I’ll be leaning toward giving Blake my second-place vote. But how is that going to happen when Pop sacrifices his winning streak on national TV on Thursday, starting Austin Daye and Aron Baynes against the Thunder? ICYMI, this fella’s 20-point streak ended at 28.	2
4		JOAKIM NOAH, C, CHICAGO: Still tied for second in the NBA in triple-doubles with three, one behind Lance Stephenson of The Team That Can’t Score 90. How many times has Noah come within one or two points, rebounds or assists of getting a triple-double? Seven. Also … this has nothing to do with anything, but his 3-point drought is at six years. He made three as a rookie and not one since.	3
5		AL JEFFERSON, C, CHARLOTTE: Every once in a while we should all be reminded that these guys had the lowest winning percentage in NBA history two years ago and were 21-61 a year ago. Go ahead and try to remember a single player who has done as much as this guy has to change the entire culture of an organization. Go ahead, I’ll keep waiting …	5
6		STEPHEN CURRY, G, GOLDEN STATE: This week’s big mover, in large part due to the dagger he dropped to defeat Dallas in overtime Tuesday. If Mark Cuban misses the playoffs, he’ll have nightmares about that shot for the entire offseasonl. Here’s hoping that David Lee and Andrew Bogut are healthy come playoff time, because this is the most enjoyable team to watch in the West.	8
7		TONY PARKER, G, SAN ANTONIO: Try as I might, I can’t keep a Spur off this list with their win streak now a team-record 18. So Frenchie is back, but we’ll note that he had five single-digit scoring nights in March and shot “only” .492. He is now at .499 for the season, hurting his chances of joining Dwyane Wade (.546) and Goran Dragic (.513) as the only guards who make more than they miss.	–
8		KYLE LOWRY, TORONTO: Will probably miss his first game of the season Wednesday as we learn the severity of the knee injury suffered in Monday’s collision with LeBron James. Coach Dwane Casey said the knee swelled up soon after the incident, and swollen knees do not magically heal overnight. Would be a shame if it is something forcing Lowry to miss the playoffs.	6
9		JAMES HARDEN, G, HOUSTON: You could hide a small country in that beard of his, which is starting to make the Taliban jealous. Worth noting that his FG pct. has risen from .438 last season to .461 this season. Still a long way from the .491 he shot during his final season in OKC. Shooting a career-high .862 from the line.	7
10		JOHN WALL, G, WASHINGTON: Tempted to drop him from the Top 10 after his 4-for-16, five-turnover clunker against the Bobcats (he was a minus-24), but levelheadedness took over and I decided to judge him on a broader body of work. Shooting 44 percent from deep since All-Star break, but also has 4.1 turnovers in that span. He is on my Most Likely To Be Swept team.	9

DROPPED OUT: Deron Williams (10).

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

PREVIOUS RANKINGS:

March 26 Edition: LeBron Now Fourth
March 19 Edition: Blake Griffin > LeBron James
March 12 Edition: Kevin Durant is Still No. 1 For Me
March 5 Edition: What Do the Readers Say?
Feb. 26 Edition: Why The Knicks Stink and ‘Melo Isn’t Worthy
Feb. 19 Edition: Who is the LeBron James of NBA Writers?
Feb. 12 Edition: Like a Frozen Block of Ice
Feb. 5 Edition: The Benefits of Riding Solo
Jan. 29 Edition: Is The Race Over?
Jan. 22 Edition: KD Rocks the Hard Rock
Jan. 15 Edition: Where Will Adam Silver Be Hated First?
Jan. 8 Edition: Vegas Baby, Vegas
Jan. 1 Edition: Good Riddance, 2013
Dec. 25 Edition: LBJ and Wi Tu Lo
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.

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

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Comments

Harlan Garbell says

April 3, 2014 at 10:53 am

Really stunned that Kevin Love is not in the conversation for MVP. Yes, I know the TWolves are a .500 team and not going to the playoffs. Would Al Jefferson be in the conversation if Charlotte was in the West?

Love has been so dominant statistically that this oversight is a travesty. The TWolves would be down there with Philly and Milwaukee without him. If Ernie Banks can win back-to-back MVPs for the horsesh*t Cubs back in the day, certainly Love can get some mention here.