MVP WATCH - Week 11

	TEAM	WHY	WHY NOT	STATS
Lebron James PER 29.81 MVP	-	Cause that's what he does, wins awards. Lebron has been a mainstay in this type of list for years and nothing has changed this year. He's averaging also more than 1 steal and 1 block a game, with all his other numbers, and he averages more assists than the other high scoring guys like Rose and Harden, getting his team involved and working the team aspect. The Cavs are still top of the league, despite a recent small losing streak, and Lebron's ability to simply put them on his back at any given moment is the reason for this.	He arguably has the most talented starting 5 around him of anyone else on this list, which can be seen as even greater that he's getting his numbers, but also can discount the win record a little perhaps. He's still the best guy on his team...but is he the overall most important? Have the Cavs actually turned more to an overall unit that a 1 man wrecking ball with help? His points are up recently...coinciding with his teams few more losses, which makes for an interesting case study into the Cavs themselves and perhaps the team is better off when their best player instead is less of an MVP?	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Kevin Durant PER 33.91 MVP	-	He's the best player on arguably the hottest team going around, and he flat out fills the stat sheet helping his team on a nightly basis. He's also ridiculously efficient shooting it 49% on the season, 97% from the line and a solid 35% from deep, while only committing 2.4 turnovers. He's +6.8 on the season and his team has only lost 8 games (to the end of week 11) with him in the line-up, as they went 0-4 in week 1 without him. Sure his team looks is as talented as they come, but he is a clear head and shoulders above the rest.	There's not really a legitimate reason why he shouldn't in this writers eyes. He's down on scoring from a couple of the other candidates, but up on pretty much all other categories, and his team is elite with him, and shown to be a flop without. He doesn't even have a stupid looking beard!	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Derrick Rose PER 24.83 MVP	-	The Jazz are rising again out West, up to 4th now with a record of 25-20 and he is their undisputed best player and team leader. His 31.2 points a game ranks him #2 in the league to only the Beard. The team is 4-5 without him on the court, and while that doesn't look terrible, those wins were against Portland, Portland, New Orleans and Minnesota...all outside the playoff race. Simply put, he is his teams MVP, go-to guy and franchise face.	Sure teams need a guy who is willing to shoot with reckless abandon, but Derrick is far less efficient than say, James Harden. His points come off many more shots, and his FT shooting also is at a much lower level. The Jazz have taken a little bit of a back step from last season, and while that can be attributed to likely a lack of middle presence, one can't help but wonder if his overall me 1st demeanor is what is best for a team of quick, athletic freaks who can and do run in droves.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
Russell Westbrook PER 29.58 MVP	-	The Bucks are flying sitting 4th in the East with a comparable record to that of the top of the West Lakers and Russ is their undoubted, unquestioned, undisputed elite level stud who carries the team. He's averaging 27.6 points AND 8 assists while adding nearly 2 steals a game and not to mention 5 rebounds from the point guard position. He truly is a force unto his own and is without a doubt his teams MVP.	You could argue that Westy had more credentials to winning the MVP award last season, but he didn't win it. That could hurt this years voting as he's actually down a little but the overall team growth has propelled the Bucks up the standings and into the question on who can win it all. This team based game on a deep roster hurts his chances more than anything.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
James Harden PER 38.02 MVP	-	The Knicks are 27-18 which is good for 7th best record in the league (tied with Toronto currently), which shows just how good they are, more than the fact they are currently 6th in the East...yep...West ey... The reason the Knicks are so good is James. He's where it all starts and ends and while moves like bringing in Dwight Howard are the types of moves that can push a team over the top, James is the reason they are even in the conversation. His season points average has "dropped" to 33.2 now as he's now got a little less ball than earlier in the season with Kyrie and Dwight helping out, but James had them winning even before Kyrie returned. Beast.	Well why the hell not indeed? honestly there's not alot to mention here. He's winning. He's the best player on his team. He's dual Player of the Month and multi Player of the Week...but why not? His beard makes him look like a hobo and his off court antics are questionable...yeah that's about all I got.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
DeMar DeRozan PER 31.62 MVP	-	The Magic star is the #3 ranked player in the entire NLL and putting up career best numbers having been unleashed in the Magic system that made Marcus Smart explode last year. Only Rose and Harden average more points on this list but neither of them shoot it 48% in doing so, and only 2 turnovers a game. He's the reason the Magic win games.	Unfortunately the Magic still don't win enough games. They're sitting 6 games outside the East playoffs and despite a roster that's got a high talent level, they just arn't there yet. DDR is the clear top player but despite all his efforts he can't put them on his back and carry them.	PTS REB AST STL BLK
John Wall PER 25.82 MVP	-	Denver are 3rd in the West and the answer lies by simply staring at the Wall...John Wall. 24 points and 9.3 assists makes him THE Denver offense as their leading scorer and he's #2 in the league in assists while doing it. 2 steals and gae and shooting it 49%, he's sitting at or just below Russell Westbrook stat level and he's just as clearly the best player on his team as Russ is in Milwaukee. Redick has been a great addition taking advantage of Wall's elite floor general status to average 20 also, but Denver is held up by the Wall.	Like a few others, it's genuinely hard to make a case why he shouldn't. His scoring numbers are down on nearly everyone on this list (Gerald Green is lower) but he makes up for that by his assist numbers. Wall hasn't missed games, so we can't compare his team to when he's not on the floor...but it's fairly evident losing your top scorer and assist getter is a negative. Maybe it depends upon just how far he can carry Denver who have been above expectations so far?	PTS REB AST STL BLK