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NBA MVP Ladder Week 23: Injuries clouding the picture

By Michael Shearer

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 30: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is defended by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on January 30, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 30: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is defended by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on January 30, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – MARCH 20: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles up the court against the Boston Celtics at Ball Arena on March 20, 2022 in Denver, Colorado, NBA MVP Ladder Week 23: Injuries clouding the picture. 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 Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) /

Week 22 NBA MVP Ladder: 1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Rank last week: 1

Pts/Rebs/Asts/Stls/Blks: 26.1/13.6/8.0/1.4/0.8

FG%/3P%/FT%: 57.0/34.8/80.9

Off EPM / Def EPM: +7.3/+1.3

Jokic hangs on to the top spot by the skin of his teeth. Despite an uncharacteristically poor performance against the white-hot Celtics, Jokic has been as steady a player as anyone in the league for the whole season.

Constantly trading blows with Giannis and Embiid to defend his MVP crown must be stressful, but Jokic has gone out and put forth well-rounded offensive performances all season long. His quick hands and positional intelligence make him a better defender than the eye test would have you believe, too.

I said it last week, and I’ll say it again – a strong team finish will be essential for Jokic’s chances at repeating. The media narrative continues to favor Embiid, with many citing Denver’s relatively weak seventh-seed standing as a reason to not vote for Jokic (despite the absences of Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray).

An April Fool’s Day showdown with Karl Anthony-Towns and the surging Timberwolves might be the most important game of the season for both Denver and Jokic, as the Nuggets are just one game up on the Wolves in the standings to avoid the play-in tournament.

I do think media voters are unlikely to reward a play-in player with the MVP, so staying at sixth in the Western Conference is essential to Jokic’s chance of repeating.

Next. NBA Scoring Title Race. dark