May 7, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Tayshaun Prince (21) during the first half in game two of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t know how it’s possible but it seems like most people feel Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors or LeBron James of the Miami Heat have been the MVP’s of the NBA Playoffs so far.

Is Kevin Durant really feeling the effects of being in a small market for the first time?

Durant is only the second player in the history of the NBA to be averaging at least 33 points, nine rebounds, six assists and one steal per game in the playoffs (LeBron did it in 2009).

Curry and LeBron have had great postseasons but it’s just not on the same level as what Durant is doing.

This isn’t me saying that Durant is better than LeBron. Think about this though: If Durant averaged what he’s doing in the playoffs for an entire NBA season, he would be the clear-cut MVP. Curry’s numbers aren’t even close and even LeBron’s aren’t.

Durant should even get bonus points for the situation he has been put in. He’s playing without Russell Westbrook for the first time since his rookie season.

This is particularly a challenge since Scott Brooks has designed the Thunder offense to rely so much on Westbrook’s ability to create something out of nothing. Now, with nothing replacing the something Westbrook would create, it’s left Durant literally playing one-on-five at times.

The fact that Durant’s numbers have gotten better while sustaining efficiency is the most remarkable thing about what Durant has been doing since the Westbrook injury.

I’m as big of a Durant fan as you’ll find and even I thought we’d see a much less efficient KD post-Westbrook.

Durant has quickly made us forget that the Thunder shouldn’t be able to make the same NBA Finals they did a year ago because they are now without two of the best 10 players in the league in Westbrook and James Harden.

Maybe more people are counting the Thunder out now, but there is still a definite chance that they beat Memphis and maybe even win the West.

In closing, Curry has been great in these playoffs and maybe more entertaining than Durant. LeBron is still the best player but what Durant is doing definitely makes him the most valuable player in these playoffs so far.

Feb 5, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) brings the ball up the court during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

NBA All-Star Saturday Night is here and soon we will be crowning this year’s slam dunk and three-point contest winners.

The festivities will begin to get covered at 8 p.m. EST on TNT. It will feature the Shooting Stars Challenge, Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and then finally the Slam Dunk Contest.

Expect the Dunk Contest to start around 9:30-10:00 p.m. EST.

Who is going to take home the hardware tonight? Will the Slam Dunk Contest finally return to its glory?

There is a new format this year where in both contests three players from each conference will face off. The highest scores from the East and West will then meet in the final round to determine a winner.

3-Point Contest

Let’s start with the 3-Point Contest. For the West we will have Stephen Curry, Matt Bonner and Ryan Anderson. The East is represented by Steve Novak, Kyrie Irving and Paul George.

In terms of getting shots up in a lifetime, no one can match Curry. His dad, Del, was one of the best shooters ever in the NBA and he taught his son well. It’s hard to pick against Steph who has the perfect form, a quick release and the ability to get hot more than anyone in this conference.

His stiffest competition might come from the same conference in the form of the Red Rocket, Matt Bonner. Bonner is as machine-like as any shooter in this competition. Hard work is the only reason he has made it in this league and that starts with his robot-like, three-point making ability.

Novak has to be the favorite coming from the East. There is no other player in the NBA that is more of a specialist than Novak is. Irving may be able to make some noise too but his prowess usually comes in game.

Slam Dunk Contest

The Dunk Contest contestants will be James White, Gerald Green and Terrence Ross from the East and Jeremy Evans, Eric Bledsoe and Kenneth Faried from the West.

White and Green will meet in what has to be the most anticipated Dunk Contest in a long time. They are two of the great dunkers of all-time, especially in contests and were made to do just one thing: be creative in the air and finish dunks.

They are the two overwhelming favorites despite the defending champ, Evans, competing for the West. Evans’ win last year was not thought of very highly by most so expect Bledsoe or Faried to have a good chance of coming out of the West.

The real shame here is that White and Green won’t be able to end up in a dunking showdown in the final round. We might have to settle for fireworks early in this competition.

Final Predictions

3-Point Contest: Stephen Curry

Slam Dunk Contest: James White

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

We are a little more than a quarter of the way finished with the NBA season now. The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently the hottest team in the league with the best record and on an 11-game win streak.

The New York Knicks still hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference just a game and a half ahead of the Miami Heat. The Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs are two games back each of the Thunder.

A few disappointments so far have been the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets who each would barely make the playoffs if they started today. But no team has been more disappointing than the Los Angeles Lakers so far.

Team success has a lot to do with MVP candidacy. Now let’s look at the players who are in the running for the award so far this year.

1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Durant still deserves the top spot here with the Thunder rolling the way that they are. Durant is putting up career numbers in terms of PER and true shooting percentage as he has a shot at joining the 50-40-90 club. His improvement from last season will be a big reason why he is considered the MVP so far this season especially with James Harden’s departure.

2. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

The Knicks just keep winning while Anthony is playing the best basketball of his career. He really seems to have carried over his Olympic play to the NBA season and it has been perfect for this Knicks team. The veterans surrounding Anthony are only helping to lift him to another level this season too.

3. LeBron James, Miami Heat

You can’t drop LeBron too far down the MVP ladder. He’s still leading the league in PER and putting up better all-around numbers than anyone. The Heat just haven’t been winning quite as much as you’d expect. All it’s going to take is a big month or two from LeBron and the Heat for him to get back in poll position of this race.

4. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

What Kobe is doing at this age and leading the league in scoring as efficiently as he’s ever been is remarkable. The issue is the Lakers aren’t winning, at all. Once they do and most people still believe they will eventually get their act together, Kobe will be right up there in the MVP discussion.

5. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are quietly on a winning streak just as impressive as the Thunder’s. Paul is 5th in the NBA in PER behind only the four players ahead of him in these Power Rankings. The Clippers look much better than a season ago, more prepared to make a deep run in the playoffs. Their depth has been a big reason for their success though so it’s not all Paul which is why he ranks only 5th.

6. Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies have gotten off to a great start this season thanks mostly to Randolph. Randolph isn’t near the top of the league in PER but his averages of 17.2 points and 12.7 rebounds per game will not go unnoticed by MVP voters. Memphis has shown that they are as tough as anyone in the league to match up with and Randolph being their power forward is the biggest reason why.

7. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Curry has led the Warriors to the fifth best record in the Western Conference so far this season. The key has simply been his health. He’s averaging 19.7 points, 6.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. His shooting numbers have not been their best either so expect those to rise as the season goes on. The Warriors have been one of the biggest surprises of the year playing this well so early. If they can keep it up, Curry will deserve some MVP attention.

8. Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

Smith and the Hawks have also surprised the NBA in their first season after Joe Johnson currently holding the third best record in the Eastern Conference. They have many impressive wins including against the Thunder in OKC. Smith is averaging 16.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game to lead the Hawks.

9. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

Rondo is still leading the league in assists by far and if the Celtics can get their act together and move up the standings in the Eastern Confernce, he will keep moving up in the MVP Power Rankings. He’s averaging 12.9 points, 12.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game this year as he looks to be playing the best ball of his career.

10. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Westbrook will never win the NBA because he is on the same team as Kevin Durant but he still deserves to be ahead of others in the MVP Power Rankings. Like Durant, Westbrook is also having a career year passing the ball better than ever and playing defense at the highest level we’ve ever seen from him. The Thunder needed Durant and Westbrook to step up and fill the Harden void this year and both have done exactly that.

Steve Dykes-US PRESSWIRE

Thunder (1-game winning streak)
105.0 Offensive Efficiency (4th)
99.1 Defensive Efficiency (12th)
95.7 Pace (6th)

Warriors (1-game losing streak)
102.2 Offensive Efficiency (8th)
103.8 Defensive Efficiency (25th)
95.0 Pace (11th)

The Thunder are now right in the middle of their 5-game road trip and are playing at Golden State for the second time this season tonight. Kevin Durant always has big games versus the Warriors and did the first time these teams played this year with 37 points and 14 rebounds in 44 minutes. Serge Ibaka also had one of his best games of the season against the Warriors this year scoring 20 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. The Thunder overpowered the Warriors with their star power late in the game on the Jan. 27 meeting running pick-and-roll with Russell Westbrook and Durant almost exclusively down the stretch in the 120-109 victory. Expect the same thing this time around for Oklahoma City but they won’t want to play Durant 44 minutes tonight.
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