NBA MVP Race Player Rankings: James Harden back into the top 10?

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James Harden, NBA Mandatory Credit: Carmen Mandato/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /

20. . . Previous: 4th. LeBron James. 8. player

Since last rank: 22.0 PPG, 7.7APG, 6.3 RPG

Shooting splits: .447/.429/.789

Quite frankly, if this wasn’t LeBron James, he might not be in the top 10 after the past week. Legacy and pedigree are certainly considerations in these rankings and he benefits from that this week after the Los Angeles Lakers went 2-1, including Monday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors where they blew a 19-point second-half lead.

The Lakers can continue to coast along at about 70 percent intensity and probably finish with one of the top two or three records in the NBA, and that’s why we’re not concerned in the least about a less-than-impressive two-game stretch from LeBron.

147. . . Previous: . James Harden. 7. player

Since last rank: 33.0 PPG, 13.0 APG, 9.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG

Shooting splits: .488/.300/.857

James Harden was freed from the Houston Rockets to join his new team in Brooklyn and got off to a great start. His Nets are 2-0 with wins over the Orlando Magic and the Milwaukee Bucks, and his fit with Kevin Durant is nothing short of fantastic.

Now that he’s where he has wanted to be since the offseason began, you can expect to see more of that peak-level James Harden that we’re so familiar with. And once Kyrie Irving gets back, the Brooklyn Nets should be off to the races in a big way.