NBA MVP Ladder Week 4: DeMar DeRozan makes his unexpected debut

Week 4 NBA MVP Ladder: 3. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

Last Week: 3rd

Stats: 28.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.0 3-pointers, 66.6 percent true-shooting percentage

If Tuesday night’s game between Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry had gone differently, he could be perched atop the MVP ladder this time around. As it is, he will slot in at third, but that isn’t meant to take away from the incredible season Durant is having. With Kyrie Irving out and James Harden having lost a step, he has been the offensive supernova keeping the Nets afloat this year.

Durant has been the master of the midrange, getting to his spots and rising up over whatever defender is thrown at him. Draymond Green and the Warriors have really been the only team to stop him this season. He is taking 61 percent of his shots from the mid-range and averaging 1.16 points per shot, an absolutely insane number.

Durant ranks fourth in the league in VORP (which is influenced by minutes played) and is likewise fourth in EPM (which is not). One has to think at some point he will cool off from mid-range, and perhaps then start increasing his three-pointers or trying to get to the rim (and thus the free throw line) more often. Right now, however, the shots are going in, and so he deserves all of the credit until they’re not.