MVP WATCH - Week 5

	TEAM	WHY	WHY NOT	STATS
Kevin Durant PER 33.91 MVP	-	Boston has been significantly better with him - 12-1 with him and 3-5 without. That's what the MVP race is all about right? He's got some great scoring numbers to go with it... but they're nearly undefeated in the 3 weeks that he's been on the floor.	If he stays healthy for the rest of the season, this reason should fade - but he hasn't even been on the court for 40% of the Celtics' games. Boston has built their team around this guy and they need him on the floor.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Stephen Curry PER 40.47 MVP	-	50% shooting is great. But what about 50% from 3? When shooting 13 per game? This has been the Chicago fanbase's dream for years. Getting Klay on the wing seems to have given Steph just enough space to launch all day long. Also, 98% FTs? Geez...	Outside of scoring his other numbers are a bit low - an MVP PG with less than 7 assists/game? We'll see how the team looks without him in week 6.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
DeMarcus Cousins PER 18.23 MVP	-	Boogie has played through the pain of a rudderless team and not gotten himself suspended - everybody should be thrilled. He's playing within the offense and has some solid looking stats.	For all of the numbers bigs are putting up this year, 24 and 12 doesn't do a lot... especially when it drops to 18 and 12 in week 5. The Wolves are 9-12 and in real jeopardy of not making the playoffs after beginning the season with lofty expectations.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Hassan Whiteside PER 19.78 MVP	-	Whiteside is leading the league in PER and the MVP standings. His numbers of 28 and 15 with 4 combined steals and blocks per game have been phenomenal. He even carried a limping Rockets team to a respectable .500 record through 4 weeks.	His team is only .500 and they're playing just as well with the skeleton of Al Jefferson leading the way. It's hard to make a case against him based on stats or hold the team's injuries (and therefore lack of wins) against him, but Big Al is closer to Old Al now and looked just as good (31 and 12).	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Nikola Vucevic PER 23.72 MVP	-	The Lakers are 12-9 and Vucevic is their only top 90 ESPN player and only top 60 NLL player. Some of it is just great teamwork and chemistry in LA, but he's been pulling in loads of boards and points to help get them there.	I feel like this is where the drop-off is in the list. No slight to Vucevic or the guys below him who are also putting up great numbers and doing amazing things. But this year, he's just one of hundreds of bigs putting up 27 and 13, it's just not that special.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Anthony Davis PER 28.28 MVP	-	The only award AD didn't win last year was GM of the Year and Rookie of the year. About the only reason you have to be disappointed with him is that he's still not going to win either of those awards. His numbers look even a bit better than last year's breakout.	It's boring to give it to the same guy again... so there might be some voter fatigue after he took home all of the hardware last season. He's also just one of many bigs putting up insane number this season.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Andre Drummond PER 24.99 MVP	-	Andre really stepped his game up even further in week 5 - putting up 30 and 14... maybe good enough fro a POTW award? Cleveland has also won 9 of their last 10 and pushing for #1 in the East	He's LeBron's teammate. Can a teammate of LeBron (averaging 24/6/9) really win the MVP??	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Alex Len PER 13.59 MVP	-	Lensanity is still going strong. He turned in another 28 and 11 week and is doing more than anybody could have realistically hoped for in his career - let alone this season.	The Pels bubble has burst a bit - with the team now heading towards the place many thought they would be this year (2-8 in their last 10). He's definitely the least "star" name on this list, and with slider changes incoming and potentially hurting his numbers a bit when combined with their record - this may be the end of his stay on the MVP list.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Karl-Anthony Towns PER 25.97 MVP	-	Milwaukee is soaring to a massive lead in point differential and looks to have finally taken the title of "best team in the league". KAT has made a similar leap - putting up 26 and 13 with impressive efficiency and defensive stats.	Would they really be much worse without him? Giannis and Russ could make their own argument for this spot... that is quite a 3 headed monster, but can you give the most valuable player to one of this trio?	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Kristaps Porzingis PER 21.42 MVP	-	Did somebody say the Hornets weren't focused on winning now? Porzingis is getting 28 and 10 on this youthful team and Digga has snuck in 8 wins over their last 10 games. There wasn't a lot of fanfare, but this team may have just flipped the switch from potential to good and this guy is the unquestioned best player.	Another big with numbers that kind of blend in to this crazy start of a season. If the Hornets stay hot, then he may actually be in the conversation, but this is their first time winning games consistently so let's wait and see.	PTS REB AST STL BLK