NBA: Top 5 MVP candidates for the 2015-16 season

The MVP TrophyEDITOR’ÂS NOTE: Ryan, you seem to have replaced the content for the Paul George slide with LJâÂÂs.With the NBA now in December, it is a good time to take a run through the league and see who the best players are and what the MVP candidates look like at this stage. As it stands now, we have some perceived MVP candidates who are struggling (Anthony Davis and James Harden), opening the door some new blood in the current top five.We have also seen some breakouts who have raised their game and will find themselves on the early list, hoping they can find continue their hot streak and turn it into a career year. When we take a look at this list again come January, this list will no doubt be different (well, besides maybe the top spot). With apologies to Blake Griffin, Kyle Lowry, and Kevin Durant, lets dive into the list and see who is taking the league by storm.

#5 Russell Westbrook

Russelll Westbrook is holding off several worthy contenders for MVP

#5 Russell Westbrook

I was torn with who to choose between Russell and his teammate Kevin Durant, but after looking at their how the Thunder had performed with each star off the court, there was no contest to me. With Durant off the court, the Thunder are -0.9 in net rating, per NBA.com, but without Russ on the court, the Thunder are -9.9 in net rating. Durant no doubt has a higher number because he missed six games, but the point still stands, the Thunder plummet with their dynamo of a point guard isn’t on the court. With Russ on the court, the Thunder have an all around playmaker who they can rely on to get both himself and his teammates easy baskets while ending opponents posssesions by gobbling up rebounds.

What has helped Westbrook carryover his stellar play from last year, and possibly even up his production is how efficiently he is shooting, a theme you will see throughout these rankings. Russ is knocking down a career high 47% of his shots, even though he is still a below average three point shooter. He simply has not been stopped getting to the lane this year and combine this with a deadly pull up, mid range jumper, defenders have been helpless against the seventh year guard. But Russ doesn’t stop at scoring, as he dishes out 9.6 assists per game and is continuing to evolve as a passer, something the Thunder need with so few natural passers on their roster. If Russ can keep up the playmaking while being an efficient scorer from the field, he has a chance to climb these rankings.

#4 LeBron James

LeBron seems to be saving his energy for the playoffs, yet he still is a top 5 MVP candidate.

#4 LeBron James

At this point with LeBron, we know what we are going to get. He’s going to throw up a line of 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, give or take 1 or 2 ticks in each category, and a 26+ PER. This guy can do it in his sleep and make people say things like, “LeBron isn’t dominating enough, why are his stats not out fo this world.” LeBron is a machine and the only thing that machine is programmed for at this point is peaking come March and April so he can begin another march toward his 6th straight Finals experience. LeBron can cruise and still put up MVP level stats, though his shooting efficiency seems to be leveling off at right around 49% after years or shooting north of 50%. James know that the playoffs is what truly matters, but don’t sleep on the greatest player since Michael Jordan putting up the most controlled top five MVP season you might ever see.

#3 Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard continues to improve, this year taking on a bigger role in the offense.

#3 Kawhi Leonard

The Spurs chased the big man this summer they will need when Tim Duncan eventually retires in LaMarcus Aldridge, but they knew they already had their next superstar in the wings with Kawhi Leonard. Leonard has continually made jumps each and every year, improving a different part of his game and morphing himself into the all around talent we see night in and night out now. We all know about his defense of prowess, something that helped him win a Finals MVP during his age 22 season, but it’s his offense that has pushed him into the ranks of superstar this season. He currently leads the NBA shooting 50% on threes, making two a game. He has upped his scoring average by five points a game while also upping his efficiency and still adding the same dose of playmaking he improved on last year. If he starts getting to the line more, look out because this kid could become unstoppable.

As we know though, Kawhi makes his bones on defense, and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is doing the same once again. He is leading what could be the best defense of the last 30 years by hounding perimeter scorers and not allowing them any breathing room. He is averaging 1.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game in addition to countless other plays where he just shuts down a possession and doesn’t get a stat recorded. Kawhi showed he would be a true, two way force to be reckoned with in the first game of the season when he held Kevin Durant to 6-19 shooting while recording 32 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks and he hasn’t stopped since.

#2 Paul George

Paul George’s shooting has taken his game to another level this year.

#2 Paul George

Paul George has sure come back from his broken leg in 2014, and what a come back it has been. In the 2013-2014 season, George came out like gangbusters, sparking talk that he was on par with LeBron James and Kevin Durant when you mentioned small forwards, but he sooned faded and being another star in the league. Well this season, it seems like there will be no slowing down for George, who blends his already top tier defense with a growing, elite offensive game. If you don’t know about George’s defense, you need to check this guy out because he brings it every possession, leading a Pacers team that has a top five defense. He is equally good off the ball as he is on, using his length and anticipation to be a menace in passing lanes and on ball handlers alike.

However, what sets this guy apart this season is his ability to pour in point at a career high rate, all while upping his efficiency across the board. He is a career 43% shooter, shooting 45% including 45% on seven threes a game. If it wasn’t for Curry, we’d be marvelling at George’s ability to make a high volume of threes while also serving as his team’s primary ball handler and creator. He is now averaging a career high 27.6 points per game, and getting to the free throw line 7.7 times per game (previous career high: 5.8), which has also been boosting his efficiency. With the Pacers looking like the surprise elite team this year, look for George to keep his name near the top of this list all year.

#1 Stephen Curry

Curry is the runaway favorite for MVP right now.

As if it could be any other person. When you are the best player on a team that is 22-0, there is no other place for you than atop the MVP rankings, and, with Curry, this is no sympathy vote.

Curry is averaging 32 points while shooting 50/40/90 (field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw percentage). He’s shooting 11 threes a game and on pace to make 400.

He has a 35.17 PER, which would be the best ever. Oh, and he tosses in 2.2 steals a game while thriving within the team scheme. Safe to say he is first and there is no one that is particularly close right now.

Curry is busy blowing our minds with what we can expect from a shooter, but he also is number two in the league in field goal percentage in the paint, behind noted dunker DeAndre Jordan.

He has handles that allow him to shake any would-be defender and either unleash his deadly shot or get into the lane for equally deadly layups or assists. It is going to take a gargantuan performance for someone to unseat Curry and I’m not sure anyone is playing with as much effortlessness as Steph is right now.

Finally, let me leave you with this stat via John Buccigross; Steph is shooting 15-20 from 28-40 feet this year. The NBA three-point line is 23.9 feet from the hoop. This guy’s stroke is unlimited.