1. Kevin Durant : Oklahoma City Thunder
LAST WEEK: 31.0 ppg | 7.8 rpg | 4.0 apg
The Thunder's 12-game win streakcame to an end against the Timberwolves Thursday night, but that doesn't diminish the work Durant has put in. Even more impressive than the raw numbers is the fact that he's become a force on both ends of the floor. He's contesting shots, playing physically and demanding that his teammates pay as much attention on the defensive end of the floor as he does on the other side.
IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
- > Durant's stats & bio
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2. Carmelo Anthony : New York Knicks
LAST WEEK: 31.0 ppg | 3.0 rpg | 1.0 apg
Anthony missed two games in the past week, a win over the Cavaliers Saturday and the Knicks' first home loss of the season to Jeremy Lin and the Rockets. But when he's healthy, he's every bit as unstoppable as Durant and LeBron James -- if not more. The relentless offensive assault he can unleash on opposing teams, from inside and out, is a sight to behold. His ability to pile up points (31 in 36 minutes in Wednesday's win over the Nets) is mind-boggling.
IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
- > Anthony's stats & bio
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3. LeBron James : Miami Heat
LAST WEEK: 23.0 ppg | 8.3 rpg | 7.0 apg
James will never admit it, but he's finally starting to look like he could use a mini-vacation. And who could blame him after the year he's had? Of course, James playing winded and wounded is still better than 99.9 percent of the rest of the players on the planet. But with the burden he'll have to carry for this team, the Heat have to find some time for him to rest and rejuvenate before the postseason.
IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
- > James' stats & bio
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4. Chris Paul : Los Angeles Clippers
LAST WEEK: 11.3 ppg | 10.7 apg | 2.0 spg
If anyone has made a case for breaking into that top group, it's Paul. The Clippers are playing at a level no one is used to seeing from this franchise. It starts and ends with the fact that Paul is running his team better than any other point guard these days. Knowing whento push and when not to push is what separates Paul from his peers at the position. The challenge now is making sure his team plays at this elite level all the time, postseason included.
IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
- > Paul's stats & bio
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5. Kobe Bryant : Los Angeles Lakers
LAST WEEK: 31.3 ppg | 5.7 rpg | 6.7 apg
The closer the Lakers get to full strength, the better the chances of Bryant stepping back and allowing someone else (Steve Nash) to shoulder some of the responsibility for making sure this team competes and achieves at the level its talent dictates. The Lakers have won three straight and are still a sub-.500 team (12-14), so there is plenty of work to be done. The first order of business is finding a way to reduce Bryant's minutes from the 41 he's averaging the past 10 games.
IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
- > Bryant's stats & bio
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6. Zach Randolph : Memphis Grizzlies
LAST WEEK: 15.0 ppg | 13.3 rpg | 1.3 spg
Consecutive wins over the Jazz, Bulls and Bucks highlighted Randolph's unique ability to grind away without much fanfare (other than here). Randolph dropped
IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
- > Randolph's stats & bio
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7. Stephen Curry : Golden State Warriors
LAST WEEK: 22.0 ppg | 5.5 rpg | 5.3 apg
We've had some healthy debates recently about whether or not Curry belongs on this list when he has a teammate playing as well as David Lee. But it's hard to argue against a guy who leads the team in points (19.9), assists (6.3) and steals (1.6) while shooting 43 percent from beyond the 3-point line and 90 percent from the free-throw line. He was spectacular (season-high 32 points, six boards, four assists, one steal and one block) Wednesday against the Kings.
IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
- > Curry's stats & bio
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8. Josh Smith : Atlanta Hawks
LAST WEEK: 12.3 ppg | 10.7 rpg | 3.0 bpg
A brutal shooting night in a home rout at the hands of Curry's Warriors threatened to push Smith off this list completely, but he rebounded with solid outings against the Wizards (
IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
- > Smith's stats & bio
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9. Tim Duncan : San Antonio Spurs
LAST WEEK: 16.0 ppg | 11.7 rpg | 2.7 bpg
The Spurs have suddenly fallen on hard times, losing four of their last five games after winning five straight. In the one game they won, Duncan was held to single digits in the scoring column for the first this season, scoring just five points on 2-for-13 shooting
IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
- > Duncan's stats & bio
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10. Rajon Rondo : Boston Celtics
LAST WEEK: 16.8 ppg | 9.5 apg | 1.5 spg
The Celtics are struggling but it's not because of Rondo. He's been the one constant Celtics coach Doc Rivers can lean on throughout these struggles. He's on a tear right now, averaging 15.4 points, 11.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals while shooting a sterling 53 percent in his last eight games. That increased aggressiveness offensively has resulted in more turnovers (41 in eight games). But these are trying times for the Celtics.
IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES:
- > Rondo's stats & bio
Current Rankings
Rank Status Player 1Kevin Durant 2
Carmelo Anthony 3 -- LeBron James 4 -- Chris Paul 5
The next five: Westbrook; Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls;Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves; David Lee, Golden State Warriors; James Harden, Houston Rockets
Falling out: None
http://www.nba.com/m...2-13/index.html Updated Yesterday
