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NBA Player Power Rankings: The Final Push For MVP

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 5, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) hands off the ball in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Thunder defeated the Nuggets 124-102. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) hands off the ball in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Thunder defeated the Nuggets 124-102. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 1, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) high fives forward Kent Bazemore (24) against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Cavaliers defeated the Hawks 110-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) high fives forward Kent Bazemore (24) against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Cavaliers defeated the Hawks 110-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

16. Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks

Last Rank: No. 18

Position: Power Forward

Age: 31

Slash Line: .475/.318/.757

Season Averages: 32.6 MPG, 17.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.4 ORPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 0.9 3PM

Over the past week, Atlanta Hawks star Paul Millsap provided two performances that accurately depict his value to the team. Moreover, he stepped up with two outings that firmly establish why he’s one of the Top 20 players in the NBA today.

It’s not always flashy or based in scoring, but Millsap gets the job done.

Millsap began the week by going off for 29 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, one steal, and two 3-point field goals in a 110-108 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a plus-13 in his 41 minutes, which means Atlanta was a minus-15 in just seven minutes without Millsap on the floor.

In his other appearance, Millsap tallied 13 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks, three steals, and a 3-point field goal in a 103-90 win against the Phoenix Suns.

Those two performances accurately summarize the player that Millsap has become. When one area of his game falters, he picks up the slack in, quite literally, every other statistical category while playing at a level that matches the brilliance of the numbers.

It may be somewhat out of left field, but Millsap is No. 1 in the NBA in Defensive Win Shares and No. 4 in Defensive Rating.

Next: Fearless Pursuit of Stardom