As always, when deciding on these MVP rankings, we factor in individual player production (via both standard stats and advanced metrics) as well as team performance/success…
 
Front Runners:
1. Derrick Rose – Chicago Bulls (24.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 8.2 apg):
In this modern age of the NBA, elite point guards are sprinkled throughout the league’s landscape.  This means that Derrick Rose is going up against top-notch competition on nearly a nightly basis.  This week is certainly no different.  On Wednesday the Bulls locked horns with the Jazz in Utah, which meant Rose had to deal with Deron Williams all night.  However, as we have come to expect this season, Rose stepped up and helped carry his squad to yet another road victory.  D Rose, who poured in 29 points and dished out seven assists, left D-Will frustrated throughout the evening.  Rose even came up with a clutch steal in the final minute that helped seal the win for Chicago.  When asked about his PG, Bulls PF Carlos Boozer told reporters afterwards: "He’s been playing like that the whole season.  It’s why we keep chanting his name for MVP because he’s been phenomenal all year."  On Friday night, the Bulls travel to New Orleans, and Rose will be matched up with fellow MVP-candidate Chris Paul.  Ho hum, just another night for Mr. Rose…  
     
2. Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic (22.5 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 2.1 bpg):
With the Magic struggling over the last couple of weeks, Orlando needed a Superman-type effort to right the ship.  And that is just what they got from Dwight Howard.  First, Howard scored 22 points and grabbed 20 boards in a victory over the Clippers on Tuesday.  To put that dominant 20/20 effort in perspective, Elias Sports Bureau tell us: "It was Howard’s fifth 20/20 (points/rebounds) game this season; the only other NBA players with more than one 20/20 game are Kevin Love (seven) and Zach Randolph (five).  It brought to 31 Howard’s total of 20/20 games – the highest total by any player over his first seven seasons in the NBA since Hakeem Olajuwon had 34 such games in his first seven seasons, 20 years ago (1984-85 to 1990-91)."… Then on Wednesday, Howard dropped 30 points and notched 17 rebounds versus the Sixers in Orlando’s win at Philadelphia.  The key to that contest was something that has been Howard’s Achilles heal all season long – free-throw shooting.  Dwight canned 14 of his 19 free-throw attempts on the night.  According to Sixers coach Doug Collins: "The big difference is Howard stepped to the line and made his free throws.  You have to give him credit." One more great stat from Elias: It was the second game of Howard’s NBA career in which he made at least 14 shots from the free-throw line and collected as many as 17 rebounds, and both games were in the last four weeks. (The first was on January 13th.) The only other active player to have more than one such game in his NBA career is Tim Duncan (three games).    
 
3. LeBron James – Miami HEAT (26.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 7.3 apg):
There are numerous reasons why LeBron won’t win the NBA MVP this season, but there is no denying that he has to at least be part of the conversation.  With a 38-14 record, the HEAT now sits tied with the Boston Celtics atop the Eastern Conference.  (And for those interested in the correlation between winning and winning MVP awards check out this blog post from basketballreference.com.)   Miami possesses the longest current winning streak in the NBA, now standing at seven in a row.  This past Monday, LBJ was named the East’s Player of the Week (for the fourth time this season), despite the fact that the week included his second-lowest scoring game of the season.  However, James did unleash a 51-point, 11-rebound, eight-assist explosion on the Magic during that span as well, which is obviously going to boost that average: James led Miami to a 4-0 week, including two wins on the road, averaging 26.5 points, 7.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals.  In a 104-100 win at Orlando on Feb. 3, James set a franchise record for most points in a road contest with that NBA season-high 51 points. In that contest, James also set a team mark with 23 points in the first quarter and opened the game by hitting a career-high 11 straight field-goal attempts.         

4. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers (25.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 5.0 apg):
Thursday night’s win over the Celtics underscored why Kobe has been a perennial MVP candidate each and every season over the last decade.  In a showdown between last season’s NBA Finalists, Bryant got off to a very slow start and scored just three points in the first half, as Boston raced out ahead early on, at one point amassing a 15-point lead.  However, Kobe took over down the stretch, which we have been become so accustomed to – Bryant scored 20 points in the second half, and the Lakers prevailed.

5. Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder (29.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.8 apg):
Since the calendar flipped to 2011, Durant has been a beast.  Over the Thunder’s last 16 games, Durant’s numbers are staggering – he is averaging 31.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.1 three-pointers.  And not only has he been dominant, Durant has also been incredibly efficient; over that stretch he is shooting nearly 49% from the floor and 90% from the free-throw stripe. 

In the Race:
Amar’e Stoudemire – New York Knicks (26.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.7 apg):
{AUTHOR_BOX}Amar’e incredible impact on the Knicks this season can not be overstated.  After the organization had spent a decade in the dumps, his contributions both on and off the floor have been vital to New York’s remarkable resurgence.  STAT is having a career year, and is carrying the Knicks on his back.  However, as we have said in this space all season long, team success has to be factored into these MVP rankings, and right now, with the Knicks barely floating above .500 (they actually have a worse record than the Nets over the past month), Stoudemire can no longer be mentioned among the favorites in this category. 

Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets (16.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 9.8 apg):
The Hornets roller-coaster season continues…  After compiling a 10-game winning streak last month, New Orleans has now dropped four straight.  In their most recent defeat, at New Jersey, CP3 was just 4 of 15 from the floor and turned the ball over seven times.  Nonetheless, the Hornets wouldn’t even be in the playoff hunt if it weren’t for Paul’s all-around excellence since opening night.    

Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks (22.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.5 apg):
The Mavericks had run off 10 straight W’s before Arron Afflalo’s buzzer-beater ended that streak Thursday night.  However, the Mavs have undoubtedly re-established themselves as legit contenders out West – thanks in large part to Dirk’s return to nearly full health. 

Russell Westbrook – Oklahoma City Thunder (22.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 8.6 apg):
If Westbrook wasn’t having such a phenomenal season, Durant would likely be higher in the rankings.  The fact that Westbrook has been so good, makes it difficult to heap too much of the credit for the Thunder’s winning ways on Durant.  Take a look at OKC’s last six games – Westbrook has double-doubles in five of those six.  Over his last three contests, he is averaging 24.3 points and 10.7 dimes – while shooting 52% from the floor and 80% from the stripe.    

Dwyane Wade – Miami HEAT (25.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.4 apg):
Wade has taken a bit of step back of late, as LeBron has grabbed most of the spotlight recently.  However, it should be noted that while King James was name the Player of the Week, Wade certainly hasn’t been a slouch.  Dwyane is averaging a LeBron-esque 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists, to go along with 22+ points over the last week.  

Deron Williams – Utah Jazz (21.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 9.6 apg):
Deservedly so or not, D-Will has caught a ton of flack over Jerry Sloan’s recent resignation.  Off-court drama aside, Williams is one of the NBA’s best players in between the lines.

Honorable Mention: Manu Ginobili, Rajon Rondo, Tim Duncan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Al Horford, Paul Pierce