Race to the MVP - The Top 10

1. Chris Paul, New Orleans | Team Record: 50-22 PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 21.5 3.9 11.4 2.7 0.0 .494 .841 Last Week's Rank - 2 See above. Or, if you need more justification, let's just say Chris Paul has been lights out under pressure in a playoff race this season. So far, no player in the NBA has handled it better. Oh, and he was Western Conference Player of the Month for March.

2. Kevin Garnett, Boston | Team Record: 58-15 PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 18.9 9.4 3.5 1.4 1.2 .537 .797 Last Week's Rank - 4 The Celtics went 13-3 in March and the Kid helped make it happen. Yeah, yeah, I know he missed nine games earlier in the season and the Celts were 7-2 without him, but where would this franchise be without Kevin Garnett? Instead of having 58 wins, being six games up on the Pistons for the East's top seed and the best defensive team in the L, they'd be hangin' out 'round the four or five seed, that's where.

3. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers | Team Record: 50-24 PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 28.6 6.3 5.4 1.9 0.5 .458 .839 Last Week's Rank - 1 I know the Kobe cultists will fill the e-mail box, but if you lose at home to Charlotte and Memphis in the same week, you're MVP candidacy will take a serious hit below the belt, even if you drop 53 against the Grizz. If the Lakers win those two games, they're up one game on the Hornets instead of one game behind. NBA.com's Dave McMenamin, our No. 1 Kobe fan, noted how KB24 showed versatility with 13 assists in the Lakers win over the Wizards on Sunday. Duly noted.

4. LeBron James, Cleveland | Team Record: 41-33 PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 30.4 8.1 7.3 1.8 1.0 .484 .717 Last Week's Rank - 3 LeBron may be having one of the greatest statistical seasons ever. Too bad his Cavs only have 41 wins (compared to Paul's 50, KG's 58 and Kobe's 50) and are 4-6 in their last 10. It'll take continued excellence by LeBron and one hell of a season-ending run by the Cavs for Mr. James vault his way back into the top three of the MVP chase.

5. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix | Team Record: 50-24 PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 25.1 9.3 1.4 0.8 2.2 .586 .802 Last Week's Rank - 11 Hi. You may not think I'm an MVP candidate, but I've been playing some of the best ball of my career lately. You know I've averaged 29.3 points and 9.8 boards for the past two months? Did you see the 41 I dropped on Denver on March 31? You heard about the 38-point, 13-rebound, four-block performance which included a perfect 20-for-20 from the line against Houston on March 22. You're a basketball fan, right? So you know this already. If you don't, then it's time to open your eyes. Either that, or look into the Bright Side of the Sun to understand.

6. Tim Duncan, San Antonio | Team Record: 51-23 PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 19.6 11.5 3.0 0.7 1.9 .499 .737 Last Week's Rank - 10 Man, does this guy ever lose it? He's been consistently good since he entered the league, and while the numbers won't wow you, the winning does. With a seven-game win streak, the Spurs have inched their way within the top of the Western Conference rankings. We've asked this around the office, and we haven't been able to figure it out: what makes TD so good? He doesn't jump out of the gym, he doesn't run the like the wind and he doesn't appear to be a strongman? Consensus: we think it's between his ears. What's your take?

7. Dwight Howard, Orlando | Team Record: 47-27 PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 21.2 14.4 1.3 0.9 2.3 .597 .595 Last Week's Rank - 6 An early-season front-runner for the MVP, Superman isn't flying as high in the rankings any longer. Uneven games (three points and 14 boards in a loss to Washington) and the emergence of Most Improved Player candidate Hedo Turkoglu have slowed Howard's candidacy.

8. Paul Pierce, Boston | Team Record: 58-15 PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 20.0 5.3 4.7 1.3 0.5 .460 .843 Last Week's Rank - 7 Had two 27-point performances sandwiched in between a 12-point tally in a loss to Philly and 10-point ho-hum game in a laugher against the Heat. So, an up-and-down week for The Truth. Truth is, his 27-point, six-board, nine-dime game in a 112-92 thrashing of Paul's Hornets was one for the ages. That, and he only needs 117 points to pass Bob Cousy for fifth all-time on the Celtics list.

9. Deron Williams, Utah | Team Record: 49-26 PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 19.3 3.0 10.5 1.1 0.3 .512 .799 Last Week's Rank - 8 Deron averaged as many assists in March (13.3) as Paul did, but five fewer points per game (19.6 to Paul's 24.4). He has been under double-digits in assists in only five games these past two months and his 12-point, 16-dime, no turnover performance against the Wizards on March is the fifth time this season he's had double-digit assists without committing a turnover. Stellar.

10. Steve Nash, Phoenix | Team Record: 50-24 PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT% 17.5 3.4 11.1 0.6 0.1 .514 .897 Last Week's Rank - 9 "Hey, Rob, I'm putting up more points per game this season than I did in my first MVP season and more assists per game than my second MVP season. I'm shooting nearly .500 (.484 to be exact) from three. MVP one + MVP two = MVP three. Right?" Nice try, Steve. We still have much love for you, though.

On the Outside Looking In (averages - last week's rank) 11. Allen Iverson (DEN): 26.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 7.2 APG - (15) 12. Tracy McGrady (HOU): 21.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.8 APG - (5) 13. Antawn Jamison (WAS): 21.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.5 APG - (13) 14. Baron Davis (GSW): 22.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 7.7 APG - (14) 15. Chauncey Billups (DET): 17.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 7.1 APG - (16) 16. Carlos Boozer (UTA): 21.8 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.8 APG - (17) 17. Carmelo Anthony (DEN): 25.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.5 APG - (18) 18. Hedo Turkoglu (ORL): 19.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.8 APG - (19) 19. Manu Ginobili (SAN): 20.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.6 APG - (20) 20. Chris Bosh (TOR): 22.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.5 APG - (NR) Dropped out: Dirk Nowitzki

Running the Floor

Johnson If Chris Paul does win MVP this season, he'll become the fifth point guard in NBA history to claim the award. Bob Cousy was the first in 1956-57 and Steve Nash the most recent in 2005-06. Nash has won two (2004-05 and 05-06), but Magic Johnson has the most with three (1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90). Oscar Robertson was the other point guard to take home MVP honors in 1963-64. Oh, if you want to quibble, we could consider Allen Iverson a point guard (or 1.5). He won the MVP in 2000-01.