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NBA Player Power Rankings: Russell Westbrook Pushing for MVP

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 21, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (right) talks to center Andre Drummond (0) after the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 92-91. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (right) talks to center Andre Drummond (0) after the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 92-91. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

16. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons

Last Rank: No. 15

Position: Center

Slash Line: .530/.333/.361

Season Averages: 33.1 MPG, 16.7 PPG, 14.9 RPG, 4.9 ORPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG

Andre Drummond’s dominance along the interior has helped Stan Van Gundy build a postseason team. The Detroit Pistons are 40-35, have all five starters averaging at least 14.0 points per game, and are currently in possession of the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Without Drummond’s ability to control the defensive interior, take over on the offensive and defensive glass, and provide a consistent scoring output, this wouldn’t be possible.

Drummond is No. 1 in the NBA in both rebounds and offensive rebounds per game, and by quite some margin. He’s averaging 21.9 rebounds per 48 minutes, which is as absurd of a number as it seems, and has been one of the best defensive players in the NBA.

For fans of the advanced metrics, Drummond is currently No. 3 in the NBA in Defensive Win Shares and No. 6 in Defensive Rating.

Drummond is averaging a career-best 16.7 points per game, but it’s the way he’s scoring that stands out. His jab step is keeping even the highest caliber of defenders off-balance, and his post play has improved significantly since a season ago.

Drummond still has his obvious flaws, most notably his free throw shooting, but he’s anchoring a postseason push on both ends of the floor.

Next: Not Slowing Down