Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Player Power Rankings: Damian Lillard for MVP?

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Brooklyn Nets 112-104 at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Lillard finished the game with 34 points. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Brooklyn Nets 112-104 at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Lillard finished the game with 34 points. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
19 of 21
Next
Feb 21, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Last Rank: No. 2

Position: Small Forward

Age: 27

Slash Line: .506/.386/.895

Season Averages: 36.0 MPG, 27.7 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.2 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 2.5 3PM

Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are coming off of two losses that called their contending status into question. Durant and company lost by three points to Paul George and the Indiana Pacers, and were then thoroughly outplayed by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second consecutive time.

Durant is still safe in the Top 5, but one can’t help but feel a sense of disappointment in the way Oklahoma City has played coming out of the All-Star Break.

Durant is still scoring with overwhelming efficiency, but the desire for him to take over games persists. Seeing a player score in the high 20s on 50 percent shooting will never not be impressive, but there’s an undying belief that Durant could and should be more aggressive.

No statistic will accurately tell that story, but watching the Thunder play is all the evidence one needs.

An aggressive Durant means a better Thunder team. It also means Oklahoma City can contend for a championship. A tentative Durant breeds a lower ceiling in a Western Conference that includes three other genuinely elite teams in the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and San Antonio Spurs.

The Thunder’s long-term trajectory rests squarely on Durant’s shoulders.

Next: Regaining MVP Form?