With LeBron leading the way, Cleveland looks unstoppable
Race to the MVP: King James Makes His Surge
By Kurt Walker, NBA.com
Posted Jan 31 2017 09:30PM
Surprisingly, LeBron has been flying somewhat under the radar so far this season, but following another stellar month of consistent winning from Cleveland, this is no longer the case.
Get this, the Cleveland Cavaliers have only lost 4 games in the last two months, and at the center of it all? LeBron James, who has been tearing it up on the defensive end, Averaging just under 3 steals and 2 blocks per game in the 27 game span between December and January while also flirting around with a near triple-double average at the same time.
With the second place team a staggering 10 games behind the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference, the Cavs are all but a lock for the number one seed going into the playoffs, and we are only just about to enter February.
This is what sheer dominance looks like, folks.
And now onto this month’s rankings…
1. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (29-19)
Stats: PPG -- 26.3; RPG -- 9.5; APG -- 9.7; SPG -- 3.4; BPG -- 0.5; FG% -- .463; 3P% -- .332; FT% -- .801
Last Month's Rank: 2
Comment: With each passing month, Westbrook is edging closer and close to that triple double average on the season. Just this month alone Westbrook has picked up 7 more triple double performances, topping his league-leading total to 14 for the season, nearly doubling that of the second place LeBron James (8). As a result of his production, the Thunder shot up the standings with a solid 11-5 month and now occupy the 5th spot in the West.
2. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (39-10)
Stats: PPG -- 28.9; RPG -- 6.0; APG -- 6.4; SPG -- 2.2; BPG -- 0.1; FG% -- .495; 3P% -- .418; FT% -- .914
Last Month's Rank: 1
Comment: After a red hot month of December, the reigning league MVP is going through a shooting slump, with his shooting percentages falling all the way down to 46% from the field and 35% from deep in January, dropping his season percentage to a career-worst 41.8% from three. However, he has picked up the slack with effort and hustle, picking up 3.2 steals per game on the month and helping the league-leading Warriors to a 12-4 record in January.
3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (37-11)
Stats: PPG -- 23.3; RPG -- 8.6; APG -- 8.7; SPG -- 2.3; BPG -- 1.3; FG% -- .487; 3P% -- .328; FT% -- .703
Last Month's Rank: 5
Comment: Cleveland is looking nearly unstoppable right now, with multiple 30, 40 point blowouts seem commonplace. Their most impressive performance however, came early in the month during their 10 game winning streak (9 straight on the road), in which they absolutely destroyed the Hawks in Atlanta with a winning margin of 75 points (147-72), with LeBron James scoring a season high 40 points along with 14 rebounds, 12 assists, and 5 steals. With career high averages in both steals and blocks, LeBron looks to be making a run for both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year credentials this season.
4. James Harden, Houston Rockets (31-17)
Stats: PPG -- 27.5; RPG -- 6.5; APG -- 6.5; SPG -- 1.8; BPG -- 0.9; FG% -- .474; 3P% -- .451; FT% -- .864
Last Month's Rank: 4
Comment: Another good month at 10-5 for Harden and the Rockets, and the Beard has thrived as a point guard in Mike D’Antoni’s system, consistently producing the goods for the Rockets, with the only outlier being a career high 58 point outburst against the Pelicans. Something tells me Houston will take those oddities in Harden’s production any day of the week.
5. DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers (32-17)
Stats: PPG -- 14.7; RPG -- 15.1; APG -- 0.6; SPG -- 0.1; BPG -- 3.0; FG% -- .671; 3P% -- .000; FT% -- .392
Last Month's Rank: 3
Comment: Chris Paul is having a down year, Griffin is still inconsistent coming off an injury, Paul Pierce is just old now but somehow the Clippers just keep winning, and it’s all thanks to the consistent defensive presence of DeAndre Jordan. The league leader in both blocks and rebounds, Jordan is the early favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year honors, with the only close competitor for the award being LeBron James.
6. Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers (37-11
Stats: PPG -- 27.1; RPG -- 3.7; APG -- 7.9; SPG -- 1.7; BPG -- 0.8; FG% -- .491; 3P% -- .461; FT% -- .924
Last Month's Rank: N/A
Comment: If LeBron is the foundation of Cleveland’s success, Irving is the spark that takes them to the next level. Irving is playing through an injury (pinched nerve) right now, but somehow was able to average just under 30 points per game this past month while maintaining his efficiency from the field, and is now averaging career highs in all five major statistical categories as well as in shooting percentages on the season. In fact, if LeBron wasn’t his teammate, Irving would be a lot higher up on this list right now.
7. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (29-18)
Stats: PPG -- 23.3; RPG -- 7.0; APG -- 3.2; SPG -- 2.5; BPG -- 0.8; FG% -- .513; 3P% -- .472; FT% -- .914
Last Month’s Rank: 6
Comment: Leonard’s production has fallen off just a tad this past month, with his shooting percentage from the field dipping below 48% (for the month) for the first time this season. However, he is still shooting at a ridiculous clip of just under 48% from deep, including going 8/10 from deep in his career high 38 point performance against the Chicago Bulls to cap off the month.
8. Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics (26-22)
Stats: PPG -- 25.9; RPG -- 3.6; APG -- 6.6; SPG -- 1.3; BPG -- 0.1; FG% -- .452; 3P% -- .408; FT% -- .850
Last Month's Rank: 10
Comment: The only knock on Thomas’ case for MVP considerations was that the Celtics were not even sniffing at .500 prior to this month, and that aspect has been shattered after a fantastic month of winning from Boston, as the Cs went 11-3 for the month to propel themselves, not only to a record of over .500, but in fourth place in the Eastern Conference Standings, with the diminutive point guard leading the way at just under 28 points and 7.5 assists in that span.
9. Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers (29-21)
Stats: PPG -- 23.8; RPG -- 3.7; APG -- 8.5; SPG -- 1.4; BPG -- 0.3; FG% -- .454; 3P% -- .422; FT% -- .879
Last Month’s Rank: N/A
Comment: It does seem like McCollum and Lillard are taking turns filling this spot, doesn’t it? The Portland duo seems to be the perfect complement to each other, as one always picks up the slack when the other is not playing as well. This month in particular, it is McCollum who has slipped and Lillard responded beautifully, putting up 26.8 points and 7.9 assists on 46% shooting from both the field and from deep to maintain the Blazers in the midst of the Western Conference playoff picture.
10. Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors (39-10)
Stats: PPG -- 23.3; RPG -- 8.0; APG -- 4.8; SPG -- 1.3; BPG -- 1.6; FG% -- .512; 3P% -- .448; FT% -- .871
Last Month's Rank: N/A
Comment: It seemed for a while that this was never going to work out well for Durant, who has looked awkward in the Golden State offense since joining them in the summer as he spotted his lowest scoring averages since his rookie season. However, it seems to be working a lot better now, with the former MVP having a breakout month with 26 points, 7.6 rebounds and just under 5 assists, shooting at a blistering clip of 54-50-90 in the 16 game span.