0 of 6. Leonard has tallied 30-plus points in three straight games, and he erupted for a 34-point, nine-rebound, eight-assist performance in Sunday’s win over the Thunder. Houston is likely among the pool of play-in contenders in the Western Conference, almost certainly outside the top six but also unlikely to slide to the bottom of the conference. ... February 24, 2021. Mitchell Robinson continues to emerge as a true defensive anchor, and Immanuel Quickley is providing impressive scoring punch in limited minutes. Donovan Mitchell continues to grow as a leading man, and backcourt mate Mike Conley has returned to his Memphis form. There will be plenty of growing pains with Wiseman, but is taking him out of the starting lineup really best for his development? What could Washington receive in return? He gets into the lane at a healthy clip, and he’s shown flashes of quality playmaking from the wing. Stephen Curry has returned to MVP form. Perhaps Lillard can enter the MVP conversation if Portland holds its spot in the Western Conference standings. If the Clippers snag the No. Forward OG Anunoby is off to an impressive start in 2020–21, averaging 13.9 points per game on over 40% from three. Beal would be a seamless fit on the wing, providing a serious scoring punch on nights when Jamal Murray struggles. Paul Pierce really went out on a limb with his new rankings. But as Orlando struggles to keep pace in the Eastern Conference, empowering the young guard is the most prudent move for the franchise. See how the rest of the NBA fared in The Crossover's latest power rankings. Both he and the Nets will ultimately be better for it. Miami’s big man is a proficient midrange shooter. Doumboya is an unproven shooter and an uneven defender, but does that really matter at this point? But I think what’s perhaps most notable about Bryant is the influence he’s had on recent generations of players. Perhaps the Indiana product is beginning to put it all together in his fourth season. Philadelphia’s big man is absolutely demolishing defenses in 2020–21. This is a deep Dallas roster at full strength, one built to complement Luka Dončić’s strengths. 2 defense. New York is in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race after a loss to the Blazers on Sunday night, sitting third in defense. For now, let’s turn our eyes to The Crossover’s latest power rankings, featuring notes on all 30 teams. The Jazz are a relative model of stability in the modern NBA. Ball’s development into an All-Star won’t happen overnight. The period ranked includes all games played since the afternoon of January 20th. Coach Michael Malone would be well served to treat this season as a marathon rather than a sprint following last year’s run to the Western Conference finals. But if they wish to prioritize future flexibility, Porter and a haul of picks could make for a sensible swap. Doumbouya sports an intriguing skill set for a 6' 8" forward, able to comfortably put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim with relative ease. It’s unlikely Temple is a real piece of Chicago’s future, though he should remain a valuable rotation piece somewhere in the league for years to come. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. You can't win or lose the MVP award two weeks into an NBA season, but every game still matters in the pursuit of the league's highest individual honor. Neither of these are fatal flaws in Phoenix’s quest for a playoff berth, though perhaps a small addition can go a long way. Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press. Sunday’s performance featured Anunoby at his best. Rather, these are the players that the voters are likely to target. The Clippers are cruising, and Leonard is in the midst of perhaps his most efficient offensive season. His wingspan is truly jarring, and he’s a blur going end-to-end in transition. That trend appears to have continued, even with Harden now in Brooklyn. A strong year could have netted Ball perhaps $20 million per year on the open market. It’s unclear when Warren or Caris LeVert will return to the floor. Memphis is harkening back to its Grit ’n’ Grind era in 2020–21, with Morant serving as its supercharged engine. We should see a significant rise in volume from backcourt mate Damian Lillard with McCollum out in the coming weeks, which shouldn’t necessarily be a difficult adjustment. We shouldn’t write off Edwards just yet. Denver has each of its first-round picks through 2025, and Michael Porter Jr. could serve as a headlining talent heading back to Washington. The possible reason for this decline might be the Warriors losing twice in a row last week. Murray admitted to elbow pain last week after a loss to the Jazz, and he looked downright exhausted after logging a combined 83 minutes in a back-to-back over the weekend. NBA awards predictions for 2021: Who will win MVP, Rookie of the Year and more? Breaking down stats and film from around the NBA, including Luka Doncic's catch-and-shoot numbers and the Pelicans' perimeter defense. Walker tallied a season-high 21 points in a win over the Cavaliers on Sunday night, and more importantly, he flashed his typical burst as he worked his way into the paint. NBA MVP rankings: Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic own advanced metrics, but the LeBron James narrative is strong Damian Lillard is better than all … If a contender is willing to part with legitimate draft capital, perhaps shipping Barnes is the right play. Edwards sports the sixth-worst shooting percentage of the 175 players with at least 300 minutes, and he’s struggled to finish at the rim for a player of his size and athleticism. The Pacers have run into a bit of a depth issue on the wing as we approach February. The dysfunction of previous years has all but dissipated, and the 76ers appear to be a true challenger for the Finals. If things break right, Oklahoma City could potentially receive a top-10 pick in the 2021 draft. Milwaukee made a push to reform its bench ahead of 2020–21, adding D.J. Perhaps the Wizards would prefer to land Ben Simmons from Philadelphia. Cleveland’s defense has been downright smothering this season as the Cavaliers enter Monday night sitting No. The league’s talent pool may very well be at an all-time high, and its superstars have more than delivered early in 2020–21. If Philadelphia remains a top-three seed in the East, Embiid could become the first true center since Shaq to be named Most Valuable Player. With the 2020-21 NBA all-star break on the horizon, the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James continues to be the leader in the clubhouse in 2021 NBA Most Valuable Player odds. The Nuggets are among the top non–Los Angeles teams in the Western Conference, but despite Jokic’s brilliance, they still seem to be one major piece away from mounting a Finals run. The point totals aren’t the end all, be all for Milwaukee’s bench, but there needs to be some modicum of scoring punch from the second unit for the Bucks to chase the Larry O’Brien Trophy. I don’t think that’s the most sensible play. He’s perhaps the game’s most athletic center in the open floor, and when fully engaged, he can be a ferocious rebounder. Some will focus on Bryant’s 81-point masterpiece. It’s been a disappointing 2020–21 for Sekou Doumbouya, but I’d like to see additional minutes for the second-year forward in the coming weeks. It’s questionable whether Minnesota’s infrastructure will be able to make the most out of Edwards’s development before it’s too late. The Sacramento forward is averaging 15.9 points per game on 39% from three this season, continuing to serve as a quality two-way piece on the wing. R.J. Barrett is in the midst of a career-best stretch following a dismal shooting start. But the memory of his greatness will continue to live on for decades to come. February 25, 2021 Power Rankings, Week 10: Nets jump to No. Chelsea continues to succeed under Thomas Tuchel, strengthening its hold on fourth place in the Premier League. Jan 21, 2021; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) at the Bradley Center. Rookies Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman have emerged as quality contributors after being selected with the No.