by Scott
MVP Ladder
Newcomers: LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Kevin Durant and Brandon Jennings.
1) Andre Miller
Game one stats: 27 minutes, 28 points, 11-16 FG, 5 assists, 3 rebounds.
Not only did Miller score a game-high 28 points in 27 minutes off the bench, but he also blew by a 23-year old rookie in Draymond Green for the game-winning bucket (click here to watch it again).
But really, who else did you expect to see here?
Andre Miller: 28 points, one for each year he has been in the league.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 21, 2013
2) Chris Paul
Game one stats: 33 minutes, 23 points, 7-11 FG, 7 assists, 2 rebounds.
The Clippers win the first game of their series against the Grizzlies by 21 points, thanks in large part to Chris Paul’s decision to take the game over in the second half.
As CP3 is healthy this post-season, expect him to be near the top of this ladder for the next couple of months.
3) LeBron James
Game one stats: 35 minutes, 27 points, 9-11 FG, 8 assists, 10 rebounds.
It still amazes me that an average night for the King is pouring in 27 points and flirting with a triple double, but those are the standards we now hold him to.
4) Russell Westbrook
Game one stats: 30 minutes, 19 points, 7-15 FG, 10 assists, 8 rebounds.
The Rockets had absolutely no answer for Russell Westbrook. He was pushing it on the fast-break, making acrobatic layups, finding open teammates and taking reasonable shots.
Basically, the good Russell came out to play last night.
5) Paul George
Game one stats: 44 minutes, 23 points, 3-13 FG, 12 assists, 11 rebounds.
He shot terribly from the field, but he went 17-18 from the free throw line, padded the entire stat sheet and led the Pacers to a 107-90 win against the Hawks.
Those shooting numbers don’t look so bad anymore, huh? Oh, and did I forget to mention that he had one monster block?
6) Deron Williams
Game one stats: 35 minutes, 22 points, 9-15 FG, 7 assists, 2 rebounds.
Williams did most of his work in the first half (15 points, 4 assists) and by that point, the game was over. It also helps your MVP stock if you do things like this:
6) Kevin Durant
Game one stats: 34 minutes, 24 points, 7-15 FG, 4 assists, 6 rebounds.
Westbrook was the star for the Thunder in this game, but Durant still did his thing by scoring a game-high 24 points and dishing out his season-average of four assists.
7) Carmelo Anthony
Game one stats: 41 minutes, 36 points, 13-29 FG, 1 assist, 6 rebounds.
He’ll shoot you out of games and every so often, he’ll shoot you back into them.
Melo will have to make some changes heading into game two of this series (which includes not jacking up a load of tough jumpers), but his team gets a much needed W and he led the way.
8) Jeff Green
Game one stats: 46 minutes, 26 points, 8-15 FG, 2 assists, 7 rebounds.
The Celtics went into the locker room at half-time with a 53-49 lead and Green’s 20 points were a big reason for that.
However, he only scored six points in the second half and the Celtics crumbled in the deciding quarter.
9) Brook Lopez
Game one stats: 32 minutes, 21 points, 7-15 FG, 2 assists, 5 rebounds.
Mad respect to Joakim Noah for battling through his foot injury, but he had no chance at stopping the best scoring big man in the league.
10) Brandon Jennings
Game one stats: 33 minutes, 26 points, 8-20 FG, 2 assists, 1 rebound.
After saying that the Bucks would win in six games, Jennings came out on fire in the first-half of game one and scored 18 points. The Bucks would go on to lose pretty badly, but Jennings backed up his bold statement by balling out of control and I appreciate that.
But someone who didn’t appreciate Jennings’ statement: Dwyane Wade.
The guys who got kicked out:
Carlos Boozer, Klay Thompson, Marc Gasol and Eric Bledsoe.
The guys who just missed out:
Jerryd Bayless, Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol, Serge Ibaka and Steph Curry.