Kia MVP Ladder: Scoring barrage helps Luka Dončić move to No. 2

There was strain on his shoulders and sweat on his forehead Thursday, with 15 seconds left and his staff comfortably up 9 factors. Pressure? How is that doable, you ask?

Luka Dončić was on the free-throw line and wanted to make considered one of two for 60 factors towards Miami. After he missed the primary shot, the Los Angeles Lakers bench stood collectively and considerably alarmingly, whereas just a few toes away, LeBron James laughed nervously and yelled encouragement. Dončić smiled.

Of course, Dončić made the second shot to secure the 60-piece. Was there any doubt? He’s having that sort of season, and extra impressively, delivered that sort of 48-hour stretch.

Just the evening earlier than, the league’s main scorer dropped 40 points on the Rockets in Houston. The Lakers then boarded a jet and, after dropping an hour to the time zone change, did not get to their Miami resort till round 5 am the morning of the Heat sport.

It does not matter. Dončić had simply sufficient gasoline within the tank to make that free throw and cap an unbelievable back-to-back efficiency with 100 factors together with 16 rebounds, 13 assists and 6 steals over 76 complete minutes.

Let there be no debate concerning these descriptions and designations for Dončić: He’s a superb offensive participant, able to main a staff to the NBA Finals — which he has achieved earlier than — and the type of uncommon expertise that’s equally nice and entertaining as properly.

In due time, there’s additionally this about Dončić: He’ll both win at the least one Kia MVP award or, if he does not, it’s going to in all probability be due to misfortune.

Dončić has been thick within the Kia Race to the MVP for the final 4 seasons. His numbers and the success of his groups, first the Dallas Mavericks, now the Los Angeles Lakers, stand as unimpeachable proof. There’s merely no situation the place Dončić is trying up at greater than a handful of gamers, if that, on this league.

Here’s the place the misfortune may dictate his MVP probabilities: Dončić’s timing is not one of the best.

He’s 27 years outdated and coming into the second stage of his prime, nonetheless on the lookout for his first MVP. His early prime was spent competing with Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the award. Those two have 4 MVPs collectively and Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning winner, is main the MVP Ladder this week in his bid for back-to-back MVPs.

And now, alongside comes Victor Wembanyama. He’s 22 and prepared to compete with Dončić for the award over the following decade.

This, after all, does not imply Dončić will not win — he may get a number of MVPs. It’s simply meant to clarify the extent of competitors he is up towards, each now and within the close to future. Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokić are already legends and Wembanyama is on that monitor.

Something else to be mindful: With the MVP award counting on a level on staff success within the minds of voters, how the Lakers retool as soon as LeBron James retires may impression Dončić’s probabilities — particularly assuming the San Antonio Spurs with Wemby shall be perennial 50-60-game winners and Oklahoma City as properly with Gilgeous-Alexander.

But that is all future forecasting. Dončić is in a very good place at present — truly, during the last two spectacular days. I’ve heard MVP chants — in Miami! As it stands now, Dončić is a excessive riser on the MVP Ladder, checking in at No. 2 right here within the essential dwelling stretch.

Setting the stage this week: The Hawks are squawking together with an 11-game win streak and that is fairly reflective of the season being loved by Jalen Johnson (No. 7), who ought to make an All-NBA staff. Most of their wins this month had been courtesy of poor or slumping groups, however Johnson shall be examined within the coming week by Kevin Durant and the Rockets, then the Pistons, then Jaylen Brown and the Celtics to shut out March.

The standing to know: Johnson is averaging 23 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Only Wilt Chamberlain, Jokić, Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson averaged that over a full season. And Johnson is second to Jokić in triple-doubles this season.

What they’re saying: “He’s playing as well as anybody in the NBA right now. I know it’s not being talked about enough, but I’m gonna talk about it… I think the way he’s navigated this season, he’s done a fantastic job leading this group.” — Lakers coach JJ Redick on Dončić.

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week’s ranking: No. 1 ↔️
Season stats: 31.5 factors, 4.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists

His case: Steady and positive, Gilgeous-Alexander’s stage of play hasn’t dipped since opening evening. No one this season has surpassed his consistency and effectivity — he is shot 52% or higher general in all however one month.

The icing is the report 20-point streak. It is his signature and defines him fully — a scoring machine who makes use of it to uplift his staff. The streak is now at 130 straight video games. His protection stays stable as properly; he has seven steals in his final two video games. His 40-point takedown of Orlando three nights in the past adopted a 35-point, 15-assist, nine-rebound masterpiece towards Denver.

2. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

Last week’s ranking: No. 4 ⬆️
Season stats: 33.4 factors, 7.9 rebounds, 8.4 assists

His case: These final two scorching weeks by Dončić can evaluate with one of the best two weeks this season of anybody on the checklist. And his is perhaps higher should you apply the context — towards high quality groups (Knicks, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Heat, Rockets twice) and because the Lakers try to lock in a top-four seed and home-court benefit for the playoffs. In that span he has a 60-pointer, a 50-pointer, a 41-pointer, 31- and 30-point triple-doubles and massive photographs to assist the Lakers win 11 of their final 12 video games.

Oh — and protection! Dončić has leveled up on that aspect of the ground. They haven’t got this late success with out him sprucing that a part of his sport. This mixture is contributing to his beneficiant leap on the ladder.

3. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Last week’s ranking: No. 2 ⬇️
Season stats: 24.2 factors, 11.1 rebounds, 3.0 blocks

His case: On Thursday, Wembanyama as soon as once more rose to the event for the Spurs, who’ve misplaced solely as soon as with him within the lineup since February 1. This sturdy stretch continued when Wembanyama remoted within the ultimate few seconds towards Phoenix and dropped a pull-up 15-footer for the winning basket. The hoop despatched the Spurs to the playoffs for the primary time since 2019 — if there was any doubt as to the place they had been headed.

He has 4 double-doubles in his final 5 video games and in March he has scored video games of 39, 38 and 34 twice, reflective of his increasing offensive sport. Coupled along with his dominant protection and the Spurs’ profitable stretch, Wembanyama has greater than stamped his place on the ladder.

4. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Last week’s ranking: No. 3 ⬇️
Season stats: 28.2 factors, 12.6 rebounds, 10.5 assists

His case: He continues to common a triple-double this late in his tenth season, a outstanding stretch of multitasking, all achieved at a excessive stage. Joker may turn into the primary participant in historical past to lead the league in rebounding and assists in the identical season, all whereas seemingly ending within the high seven in scoring as properly.

His turnovers have been problematic; he had 10 on Wednesday in a troublesome loss to the Grizzlies, and the Nuggets have slipped to sixth place within the West. That stated, they are a profitable streak away from rising among the many high 4. With Jokić, that is positively doable, particularly if the Nuggets get fully wholesome.

5. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

Last week’s ranking: No. 5 ↔️
Season stats: 24.5 factors, 5.6 rebounds, 9.9 assists

His case: The Pistons are nonetheless the highest seed within the East and have been for a lot of the season. He’s second within the league in assists and top-15 in scoring. He additionally has 37 double-doubles, greater than Luka, greater than Jaylen Brown. All informed, Cade means a lot to a staff that’ll both end as the highest seed within the East or maybe no decrease than second.

But that is not at present’s matter, after all. Instead, after struggling a collapsed lung just a few days in the past, Cade might be on the verge of lacking the 65-game threshold for awards. He wants to play 4 of the remaining 13 video games to be thought of for Kia MVP and All-NBA spots. Before the ailment, he was definitely a lock for the latter.

The subsequent 5:

6. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics ⬆️
7. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks ⬆️
8. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers ⬇️
9. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves ⬇️
10. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers ⬇️

And 5 extra (listed alphabetically): Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks; Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets; Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons; Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers; Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

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Shaun Powell has lined the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.comdiscover (*2*) and follow him on.