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Oklahoma City Thunder: 3 goals following 2019 NBA All-Star break

By Albert Dadson

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 9: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder high fives his teammates during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 9, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 9: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder high fives his teammates during the game against the Houston Rockets on February 9, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ben McKeown/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Ben McKeown/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Paul George winning MVP

The OKC Thunder already have an MVP winner in Russell Westbrook, who won the award after averaging a triple-double during the 2016-17 season. That was the first time anyone had done so since Oscar Robertson in 1962.

He was a one-man wrecking crew and led the Thunder to the 6-seed in the West. For Paul George to win the MVP, he will have to beat out James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo. With the seasons that both are having, that task will be daunting.

Harden has scored more than 30 points in 31 straight games. He is tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the second all-time longest streak of 30-point games. Chamberlain has the record with 65 straight games. With the way Harden is playing, approaching that streak might not be impossible.

Giannis, meanwhile, is the best player on the league’s best team and is putting up monster numbers, averaging 27.2 points, 12.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.

In December, George averaged 30.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He shot 49.3 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from 3. In January he averaged 29.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 44.2 percent from deep. This month, he’s averaging 38.0 points and 7.7 rebounds a night, shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from 3.

George is having the best season of his career, averaging 28.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game (both career highs), along with 4.1 assists and 2.3 steals a night. If George can keep the good play up, he will be at the forefront of the MVP conversation by the end of the season.

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