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Dwyane Wade Joins the MVP Race In The NBA Awards Watch

By Ben Nadeau

Dec 5, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) is pressured by Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 99-84. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) is pressured by Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 99-84. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) is pressured by Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 99-84. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) is pressured by Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 99-84. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Valuable Player

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (Last Week: 1, –)

Have you gone through the following emotion this year? You know, that sinking pit in your stomach when your team is hanging around the Golden State Warriors for juuuuust a little bit too long. Like, for three quarters, your team is hanging in there, battling, fighting, scrapping — heck, they might even have a five point-lead to boot.

Then, with a few flicks of Stephen Curry’s wrist, it’s all gone. All your hopes, dreams, potential happiness, the last two hours of your life spent wishing for a sliver of opportunity — all gone. Poof. Just ask the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets who were the latest victims of this false hope in Week 6. All it took were a few pull-up transition threes and acrobatic shimmies to rim and that was that — a total knockout blow delivered at will.

Truly, I don’t think I’m being a prisoner of the moment by saying that I don’t know if I’ve ever watched such an incredible eraser of games. Sure, watching LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony while they’re on fire is incredible — but with Curry, it takes literal seconds for things that once seemed safe and plausible to transform into absolute disbelief.

And, even for the losers, it’s an incredible sight to behold.

Curry’s Best Line of the Week: 12/5 vs. TOR — 44 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 turnovers, 14-24 FG%, 9-15 3PT%
Week Grade: A-

2. Paul George, Indiana Pacers (Last Week: 2, –)

As I mentioned in the introduction paragraph to this week’s entry, it’s really a shame that Paul George has become a secondary topic in this year’s NBA landscape. With Curry’s game being other-worldly, I feel confident enough to at least award George with the league’s best current human distinction as he’s shown no signs of slowing down. But here we are, nearly a fourth of the way through the season with the Indiana Pacers one game back of first in the loss column and we’re hardly even talking about it! For example, the aftermath of Tuesday’s Warriors-Pacers showdown was full of Curry and Thompson highlights and nary a mention of George’s 33/8/6/3 line, which is expected, I suppose, but not less disappointing in any way either.

Stay grinding, Paul, your time will come eventually.

George’s Line of the Week: 12/8 vs. GSW — 33 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 11-27 FG%, 5-13 3PT%
Week Grade: A

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3. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat (Last Week: –, Up 1)

After giving some love to the Cavaliers and Blatt, George and the Pacers, and Hoiberg and Butler of the Bulls, I didn’t want Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat to feel too left out of the Eastern Conference jamboree. After all, they are tied with the Cavaliers and Bulls in the loss column and those pesky Heat and the aging, but healthy, Wade just won’t go away. Although the Heat haven’t needed him to dominate the ball on every possession like in years past, sharing with James for four years may have given the future Hall of Famer some extra legs now.

Surrounded by a more well-rounded team, however, Wade has been able to take over when needed or defer to the very capable Chris Bosh and Goran Dragic along the way. With the starting lineup capped with the defensive stoppers of Hassan Whiteside and rookie Justise Winslow, Wade has been thriving in his first healthy season since 2010-2011. Many people believe that the Heat are the Eastern Conference’s greatest adversary to LeBron James’ return to the NBA Finals, but if that’s the case, they’ll need Wade to play at this MVP level the rest of the way.

Wade’s Line of the Week: 12/7 vs. WAS — 26 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 5 turnovers, 12-15 FG%
Week Grade: A-

Bounced Out: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Honorable Mentions: James Harden, Houston Rockets; LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers; Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers; Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder; Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder; Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers; Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs; John Wall, Washington Wizards; Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns.

Next: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time

Week 1: Stephen Curry
Week 2: Stephen Curry
Week 3: Stephen Curry
Week 4: Stephen Curry
Week 5: Stephen Curry
Week 6: Stephen Curry
Week 7: Stephen Curry