The Bulls are rolling along just fine without Derrick Rose, making it unlikely he’ll be a repeat winner as NBA MVP this year. With four weeks to go in the regular season, here are our frontrunners: 5. Dwight Howard, Orlando » This is a big week for Howard (21.1 ppg, 14.7 rpg), who is proving his commitment to the Magic is for real. His teammates can back him by stepping up in nationally televised games at New York and home against Dallas.
4. Kevin Love, Minnesota » Love’s eye-popping numbers (26.3 ppg, 13.8 rpg) — including 51 points vs. Oklahoma City — are likely to be in vain. The Timberwolves have won just three times in nine games since Ricky Rubio was lost for the year with a knee injury.
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3. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers » Turns out, nothing has changed at Staples Center, where the Clippers are unraveling and the Lakers are the top-performing tenant. Bryant (28.3 ppg) leads the NBA in scoring and is carrying the Lakers to homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
2. LeBron James, Miami » It only matters what James (26.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 6.6 apg) does in the postseason. But he had been threatening to finish the year with the highest player efficiency rating in history. Over the last week, he’s shooting just 41 percent from the field, more than 12 points lower than his season average.
1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City ?» How can Durant (27.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.6 apg) not be the player to beat after his 28-point, eight-assist demolition of the Miami Heat on Sunday? Two nights before, he had 40 and 17 vs. Minnesota, helping the Thunder prepare themselves to be the team to beat in the West.
– Craig Stouffer
