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NBA Player Power Rankings: Has Stephen Curry Won MVP Yet?

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after being called for a foul against the Dallas Mavericks in the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after being called for a foul against the Dallas Mavericks in the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) looks to pass during overtime of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Chicago Bulls won the game 115-111 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) looks to pass during overtime of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Chicago Bulls won the game 115-111 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls

Last Rank: No. 7

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 26

Slash Line: .450/.322/.835

Season Averages: 38.3 MPG, 22.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.1 3PM

The Chicago Bulls have hit a wall, and it not-so-coincidentally coincides with the loss of, “Over the hill,” center Joakim Noah. The one player who has kept Chicago relevant during this alarming stretch is shooting guard Jimmy Butler.

Over the past week, Butler continued what has been an outstanding 2015-16 season.

Butler lit the Boston Celtics up for 28 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and two steals, but Chicago continued its losing ways. The 26-year-old righted the ship with 20 points and nine rebounds in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, but tallied just 13 points and six boards against the Miami Heat.

It’s bigger than a week of numbers, but Butler’s consistency has been the difference between Chicago winning and losing.

Butler is No. 6 in the NBA in Win Shares and No. 13 in Win Shares per 48 minutes. The latter number is a reflection of Butler’s 38.3 minutes played per game, which ranks No. 1 in the Association by almost a full minute per game.

It’s saying something when a player is so important that they can’t even spend 10 minutes per game on the bench.

Next: Back-to-Back Eruptions