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With the season just a fortnight away and the preseason friendlies already underway, the race to this year’s KIA Most Valuable Player Award started almost immediately after the end of San Antonio’s triumph in last year’s Finals.Will Kwahi Leonard step up further and grab this year’s regular season award too? Has LeBron James been away from any MVP trophy for too long? Will Kevin Durant retain his right to call himself the best player in the NBA?
#10 Tony Parker
(2013- 2014) MPG – 29.4 , PPG – 16.7, APG – 5.7 , RPG – 2.3
With his ability to penetrate any defence with speed and accuracy to get to the rim and score with consistency Tony Parker is no stranger to any MVP conversation and this year it’s no different. A champion with last year’s Spurs, Parker has been a reliable and efficient point guard for the franchise for over 13 years. It wasn’t until their second championship in 2003 that Gregg Popovich gave him the reins to handle things out on the floor, but he has grown and become one of the league’s best point guards. Due to the surgical precision with which the lineups are rotated, no player played more than 30 minutes per game during the regular season, and their team first mentality Parker is rarely given the recognition he deserves.
Tony Parker’s Top 10 Plays of the 2013-2014 Season:
#9 Kawhi Leonard
(2013-2014) MPG – 29.1, PPG – 12.7, APG – 2.0, RPG – 6.24
Undoubtedly last year’s surprise package Kawhi Leonard was initially a defensive demi-god and could shoot the corner 3 as well as anyone. He was a direct replacement, frankly an exact copy of Bruce Bowen but with longer arms and more height. This year however, the Finals MVP grew in confidence and hence, offensively. He was attacking the rim, taking on the biggest and baddest shot blockers in the NBA.
That wasn’t all, his outside game had improved too, he was spotting up for 3s from all over the court, and often running plays for the Spurs. This transformation, did not in one bit hamper his defensive abilities. He was a wall when it came to stopping the best small forwards in the businees (Durant, James, Anthony). At 23, he has the basketball world at his feet and if not now, then he surely will be an MVP in the near future.
Kawhi Leonard’s Top 10 Plays of the 2013-2014 Season:
#8 Stephen Curry
(2013 – 2014) MPG – 36.5, PPG – 24.0, APG – 8.5, RPG – 4.3
Steph Curry is the face of the Golden State Warriors and the way he plays dictates the way the Warriors perform. However, when Curry is having an off night he’s racking up assists by penetrating and kicking to his ‘Splash brother’ Klay Thompson or to the big men down low. A highly energetic team man, Curry can turn from hot to cold or vice versa in an instant either way he’s always a big part of his team’s success. Curry’s game is strongest around the perimeter thus on certain nights he’s putting up ridiculous numbers. At the tender age of 26, he has many more years in the league and will one day become the MVP if not this year.
Steph Curry’s Top 10 Plays of the 2013-2014 Season:
#7 Carmelo Anthony
(2013-2014) MPG – 38.7, PPG – 27.4, APG – 3.1, RPG – 8.1
Carmelo Anthony is perennially a top 5 scorer in the NBA. Whether it’s inside, outside or by getting to the free throw line ‘Melo has a way of getting buckets. Even though his Knicks didn’t make the playoffs last year, Anthony, by no means had a disappointing year. Due to the numbers that he puts up, he will be part of any MVP discussion even if his team isn’t at the top. Carmelo has been one of the leagues biggest superstars ever since he joined the Nuggets in 2003 and he hasn’t disappointed either. Anthony has more critics than anyone else on this list due to the fact that the major portion of the Knicks offense runs through him meaning he bears the burdens of losses and the triumph of victories. ‘Melo’s MVP bid will only become threatening if his team were to do well this season, his performances remain as consistent as ever.
Carmelo Anthony’s Top 10 Plays of the 2013-2014 Season:
#6 Derrick Rose
(2013-2014) MPG – 31.1, PPG – 15.9, APG – 4.3, RPG – 3.2
He only played 10 games last season before he got injured, but he looked like he hadn’t been out at all. He only had eyes for the basket, he was cutting and spinning and manouevering like any biker through Delhi traffic. If Derrick Rose stays healthy, he is always in with a shout to be MVP. He’s done it before and he can do it again. The Bulls’ front office has gone out and got him help and with the time that he has been out the others, mainly Joakim Noah, have stepped into a league of their own. The acquisition of former champion Pau Gasol means that their floor will have more spacing and Rose can spend all his time attacking the rim scoring more points hence racking up more MVP votes.
Derrick Rose’s Top 10 Plays of the 2011-2012 season:
#5 Damian Lillard
(2013-2014) MPG – 35.8, PPG – 20.7, APG – 5.6, RPG – 3.5
The former rookie of the year has grown into an all star. Damian Lillard has fast grown into one of the best guards in the league, he has tremendous speed, agility, elevation and strength. All of this was on show at the last All Star Weekend as he took part in all, yes, all events. Lillard has fast gained a reputation in a category that is filled with legends, Robert Horry and Kobe Bryant to name a few, he is clutch. Lillard has been shooting 50% in all “close games” (team ahead or behind by 5 in the final 5 minutes) www.triangleoffense.com even called him the new “Mr. Big Shot.” Being clutch isn’t something you can learn, which makes Lillard a huge asset to the Trail Blazers and a definite shoe-in for MVP in the future.
Damian Lillard’s Top 10 Plays of the 2013-2014 Season:
#4 Russell Westbrook
(2013-2014) MPG – 30.7, PPG – 21.8, APG – 6.9, RPG – 5.7
Russell Westbrook is a new age point guard, he’s got it all. Speed, strength, vision and elevation are all evident in his explosive game. His kness limited him to a bit part appearence last season. However, if he can remain healthy this season, he’s in with a definite shout to be MVP. Along with his fragile knees there is one other obstacle in Westbrook’s way, his own teammate, Kevin Durant. To win the MVP Westbrook must outshine Durant and not hamper the Thunder’s chances to get their maiden championship. He has a shot to make a huge impression as Durant recovers from a stress fracture in his foot for 6-8 weeks.
Russell Westbrook’s Top 10 Plays of the 2012-2013 Season:
#3 Chris Paul
Chris Paul - (2013-2014) MPG – 35.0, PPG – 19.1, APG – 10.7, RPG – 4.3
CP3 has been in the league for 9 years, and has adapted perfectly to the changing games of the point guards of today. He’s bulked up and retained his speed making him a huge threat because of the fact that he’s got what all the new guys have, plus all the class of the older class of point guards in the league. CP3 is an assist machine, in times when there is nothing happening for his team is when he takes the onus to score. He’s a primarily pass first player, the first MVP candidate of that breed since Steve Nash, who threads beautiful passes to cutting players or just throw it near the rim where Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan make Lob City a reality. CP3 is in with a huge shout as a leader of the Clippers to be the MVP this season, but he and his team need to do better than a second round finish in the playoffs.
Chris Paul's Top 10 Plays of the 2013-2014 Season:
#2 Kevin Durant
- (2013-2014) MPG – 38.5 , PPG – 32.0, APG – 5.5, RPG – 7.4
Kevin Durant was put on this Earth for one reason, buckets. He is a scoring machine, the four-time scoring champion has proved himself again and again and doesn’t look like he’ll stop anytime soon. The reigning MVP, however, will be out for 6-8 weeks with a stress fracture in his right foot meaning that he will have less time to make his case for the trophy which is why he’s number 2 on this list. There’s no doubt, that the Thunder are title contenders which automatically makes his case for MVP even stronger than it already is.
Kevin Durant’s Top 10 Plays of the 2013-2014 :
#1 Lebron James
Lebron James - (2013-2014) MPG – 37.7, PPG – 27.1, APG – 6.4, RPG – 6.9
He is the king. After shifting his throne to Cleveland, he seems to be really relaxed and in sync with all his new teammates during the pre-season. With a new supporting cast that includes former Rookie of the Year and all-star Kyrie Irving and double-double machine Kevin Love. Both of whom are younger, faster and less prone to injuries than Wade and Bosh are at this stage of their careers. Everything has been set up for him to be the MVP and champion by the end of the 2014-2015 season and it would take almost anyone averaging a triple-double to take that away from him.
Lebron James’ Top 10 plays of the 2013-2014 Season:
Guess the Lakers players!
