LeBron James retakes MVP lead
by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports
It’s so convoluted that it’s simple. There’s no right way to choose between Kevin Durant and LeBron James for MVP.
James may be the better all-around player, but Durant may be having the better all-around season. You can’t parse greatness. Not at this level.
But USA TODAY Sports’ NBA power rankings panel gives it a go every week. And right now, James is king, again. After Durant overtook him for one week, the Miami Heat forward and reigning MVP reclaimed his crown with more of his rock-steady, unbelievable play.
Another way to look at it might be, Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder teammates lost him the crown. The Thunder uncharacteristically have traded wins and losses the past couple weeks. Durant certainly needs the Thunder to finish with a better record than the Heat if he wants to unseat three-time MVP James.
Here’s how the panel of USA TODAY Sports’ Adi Joseph, Kevin Spain and Jeff Zillgitt; Hoopsworld.com’s Steve Kyler and Lang Greene; and the Detroit Free Press’ Vince Ellis viewed the MVP race this week (points on a 7-5-3-2-1 scale):
Also receiving votes were the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (three points) and Tony Parker (two), the Houston Rockets’ James Harden (two) and the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook (one).
The Thunder stayed at No. 2 in the team power rankings, though (points on a 30-29-28-…-3-2-1 scale):
And the rookie of the year race has turned into a three-horse race, though one has a nice lead. Here’s that voting breakdown (points on a 5-3-1 scale):
So how did we do?
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