'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There have been some shifts in this week’s MVP rankings with Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Luka Doncic finally showing some signs of being human. Meanwhile, Boston Celtics All-Star forward Jayson Tatum has entered the top five following a strong week from both himself and his team.
On that note, here’s the second edition of this season's Most Valuable Player (MVP) Power Rankings by Sportskeeda.
#5 Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Previous week’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Power Ranking: 4th (↓1).
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 2, Games lost - 2.
Overall: Games played - 11, Games won - 8, Games lost - 3.
Last Week: PPG - 27.3, RPG - 4.8, APG - 5.8, SPG - 1.3, BPG - 0.8.
Overall: PPG - 27.5, RPG - 4.2, APG - 5.5, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 0.5.
Last Week: FG% - 46.3%, 3PT% - 50.0%, FT% - 88.9%.
Overall: FG% - 48.9%, 3PT% - 40.0%, FT% - 86.3%.
The Phoenix Suns suffered a tough blow over the past week, losing sharpshooting forward Cam Johnson to a meniscus tear. The Suns also had to play their most recent game against Minnesota without All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who was out due to heel soreness.
However, their All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker stepped up to carry the team and help them remain competitive. Phoenix finished the week 2-2 with one loss coming at the buzzer against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Booker’s best game was against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He put up 32 points and 10 assists with five made 3-pointers to help the shorthanded Suns pick up the win in Minnesota.
The Suns are 8-3 and third in the Western Conference. A big reason for their start has been Booker, who is averaging a career-best 27.5 points per game this season on terrific efficiency (48.9/40.0/86.3 shooting split).
#4 Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Previous week’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Power Ranking: 3rd (↓1).
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 2, Games lost - 2.
Overall: Games played - 11, Games won - 6, Games lost - 5.
Last Week: PPG - 29.3, RPG - 7.3, APG - 6.0, SPG - 2.5, BPG - 1.0.
Overall: PPG - 33.6, RPG - 8.3, APG - 7.9, SPG - 2.0, BPG - 0.6.
Last Week: FG% - 43.7%, 3PT% - 38.2%, FT% - 66.7%.
Overall: FG% - 48.8%, 3PT% - 29.0%, FT% - 73.6%.
After scoring 30+ points in his first nine games to start the season, Luka Doncic has struggled over his last two games for the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic has scored just 24 and 22 points on a combined 17-for-50 (34.0%) shooting the past two games.
The Mavericks also dropped both of those games to the Orlando Magic and the Washington Wizards. As a result, Dallas has fallen to 6-5 and is seventh in the Western Conference.
Doncic is still leading the league in scoring with a career-high 33.6 points per game. But with the drop in his efficiency (43.7/38.2/66.7 shooting split last week) and the Mavs struggling, he has fallen out of the top three.
#3 Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Previous week’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Power Ranking: 2nd (↓1).
Last Week: Games played - 3, Games won - 1, Games lost - 2.
Overall: Games played - 10, Games won - 7, Games lost - 3.
Last Week: PPG - 33.7, RPG - 3.7, APG - 2.7, SPG - 0.7, BPG - 0.3.
Overall: PPG - 31.9, RPG - 4.2, APG - 5.8, SPG - 1.3, BPG - 0.6.
Last Week: FG% - 60.0%, 3PT% - 46.9%, FT% - 87.5%.
Overall: FG% - 51.4%, 3PT% - 44.8%, FT% - 86.2%.
Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell scored 30+ points in all three games last week. He also shot over 50% in all three games and has made 14 total 3-pointers in the last two games.
However, Cleveland still went just 1-2 in games Mitchell played, including suffering a fourth quarter collapse in their 119-117 loss to the LA Clippers.
Mitchell is still third in the league in scoring, though, averaging a career-high 31.9 points per game. He has a terrific shooting split of 51.4/44.8/86.2, while making a career-best 4.3 3-pointers per game as well.
The Cavaliers are also still 8-3 and tied for second in the Eastern Conference, so Mitchell only drops one spot in this week’s MVP rankings.
#2 Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Previous week’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Power Ranking: N/A.
Last Week: Games played - 4, Games won - 4, Games lost - 0.
Overall: Games played - 11, Games won - 8, Games lost - 3.
Last Week: PPG - 33.0, RPG - 5.0, APG - 4.5, SPG - 0.8, BPG - 1.5.
Overall: PPG - 31.2, RPG - 6.9, APG - 4.1, SPG - 0.8, BPG - 1.5.
Last Week: FG% - 44.7%, 3PT% - 37.8%, FT% - 83.0%.
Overall: FG% - 49.8%, 3PT% - 37.9%, FT% - 87.5%.
After a slow start to the season, the Boston Celtics have now won four straight games. This has them tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for second in the Eastern Conference at 8-3.
Jayson Tatum has been a huge part of the Celtics’ success as he scored 30+ points in three out of four games last week. This includes 39 points on the road in Memphis, where Boston pulled off a close 109-106 win.
Tatum is also averaging a career-best 31.2 points to go along with a career-highs in shooting efficiency (49.8%) and blocks per game (1.5 BPG). The Celtics now have the best team offensive rating in the NBA as well at 117.6.
If Boston can continue to move up the East standings, the MVP buzz for Tatum should only continue to grow.
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Previous week’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Power Ranking: 1st (-).
Last Week: Games played - 2, Games won - 1, Games lost - 1.
Overall: Games played - 9, Games won - 8, Games lost - 1.
Last Week: PPG - 25.5, RPG - 10.5, APG - 6.5, SPG - 1.0, BPG - 0.5.
Overall: PPG - 31.8, RPG - 12.2, APG - 5.3, SPG - 1.1, BPG - 1.4.
Last Week: FG% - 43.2%, 3PT% - 40.0%, FT% - 60.7%.
Overall: FG% - 54.2%, 3PT% - 26.7%, FT% - 64.9%.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo only played in two games last week due to knee and ankle soreness. Milwaukee went 1-1 in those games.
However, their 117-98 loss to the Atlanta Hawks marked their only loss of the season when Antetokounmpo has played. The "Greek Freak" also had a 26-point triple-double in his other game, a 115-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Overall, the Bucks still have the best record in the NBA at 10-1 as well as the best team defensive rating at 102.9. Antetokounmpo is also averaging a career-high 31.8 points to go along with 12.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
His 31.8 PPG rank fourth in the NBA while his 12.2 RPG rank second. So for now, Antetokounmpo holds on to the top spot in this week’s MVP rankings.
For last week's MVP rankings, click here.
Guess the Bulls players in this quiz and it's not going to be easy!
