NBA Week 12 Power Rankings: Questions for each team after the break

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center on January 05, 2021 in New York City. The Nets defeated the Jazz 130-96. 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. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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89. . 24-14. Previous: 6th. Milwaukee Bucks. 4. team

Last Week: Beat New York Knicks 134-101, Beat Washington Wizards 125-119

This Week: 3/15 at Washington Wizards, 3/17 at Philadelphia 76ers 3/20 vs. San Antonio Spurs

Question: What does Giannis Antetokounmpo have to do to get back in the MVP race?

The narrative around the two-time defending MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is that it would be nigh impossible for him to earn a third consecutive award. The standards he has set combined with losing early in the postseason has led to voter fatigue. Obviously, that is not how it should be, since the MVP award is about that particular regular season but such is the life of Antetokounmpo. So do his numbers measure up?

Yes, to say the least. So far this season Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 29.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. He is ninth in the league in defensive rating for players who haver played at least 30 minutes per game. In short, had he lost the last two MVPs, he would be right in the thick of the race.

The window has opened for him much as it has for Nikola Jokic given the injury status of Joel Embiid. If the Bucks are able to catch the Sixers and the Brooklyn Nets for the top seed and Antetokounmpo’s production does not slip, he would have a solid argument.