As you know, on TrashTalk, Wednesday rhymes with MVP. While we are halfway through the 2023-24 regular season, this is an opportunity to take another big look at the race for the most prestigious of individual trophies. Uphill ? Who falls? Who else but Joel Embiid? Here is the ranking!
Stats : 25,5 points / 5,4 rebonds / 5,2 assists / 1,2 steal / 46,4% au tir
With: 30 wins – 13 losses
Two places lost for Anthony Edwards, who remains on around fifteen with ups and downs. The highs were when he taught the fiery Clippers a lesson ten days ago, even allowing himself to chamber the “old” Kawhi Leonard. Ant-Man also made the show through his alley-oop with the board against Memphis, enough to make an impression. Except that since then, things have sucked a little for him. The Wolves remain on two very dirty defeats against the Thunder and especially the Hornets, each time with very poorly managed fourth quarters. If Edwards is not the only one responsible for these cracks, it is difficult not to turn to him knowing that he is supposed to be the boss of the team. We particularly remember his three missed free throws in the final seconds against Oklahoma City, while the Wolves were -3. You add to that irregular scoring (three matches under 10 points since January 9) and that gives a logical drop in the ranking. We have to get our act together!
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Stats : 23,7 points / 6,2 rebonds / 3,8 assists / 1,7 steal / 52,2% au tir
With: 28 wins – 14 losses
First appearance in our MVP Ranking for Kawhi Leonard. Unlike previous seasons, Kawhi avoids the infirmary box this season (only four missed games), and he is not far from having found his best level within a Clippers team which is a hit. Amazingly efficient, always impactful in defense, Leonard shines alongside Paul George and James Harden, with whom he found the right balance following the great turbulence of the month of November. He even allowed himself a triple-double in the derby against the Lakers last night. From now on, we’re crossing our fingers very hard that it lasts, because we really missed this Kawhi.
Can’t get nothing past The Klaw ????️ pic.twitter.com/gz2S2Yod0j
— NBA (@NBA) January 17, 2024
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Stats : 27,8 points / 5,4 rebonds / 6,1 assists / 2,0 steals / 46,2% au tir
With: 26 wins – 15 losses
When Evan Mobley and Darius Garland joined the infirmary for several weeks, we expected a drop in the standings for the Cavaliers. But since then, Cleveland has on the contrary been able to find a new dynamic to the point of joining the Top 4 in the East. And the main architect of the latter is named Donovan Mitchell. Both in terms of scoring and playmaking, Spida delights from Paris to Cleveland via Atlanta and Orlando. Mitchell notably equaled his passing record during his last outing against the Magic (13 assists), thus giving food to players like Jarrett Allen or Sam Merrill. If the Cavs – with eight consecutive victories – benefit from a super easy schedule, Donovan deserves to be in the spotlight!
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Stats : 29.6 points / 6.3 rebounds / 5.6 assists / 1.2 blocks / 53.1% shooting
With: 25 wins – 18 losses
Kevin Durant is making a strong comeback in our MVP Ranking. How could it be otherwise? The guy has a series of performances at 40 pawns, he planted a huge game-winner against the Bulls, he has just won a Player of the Week title, and the Suns remain on six victories in a row to enter the Top 6 in the West. Of course that doesn’t make him the GOAT but it’s hard to ignore KD in the MVP race. It’s all the more difficult when we remember his huge start to the season, when Devin Booker and Bradley Beal had consecutive stays in the infirmary. Still as lethal in attack but also heavy in defense, Kevin Durant is still Kevin Durant.
KD WILD SHOT FOR THE LEAD ????
HE DROPPED 43 IN A WIN VS. BULLS pic.twitter.com/5bz9x9M5Kx
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 23, 2024
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Stats : 33,6 points / 8,5 rebonds / 9,3 assists / 1,4 steal / 48,2% au tir
With: 24 wins – 19 losses
Big gap for Luka Doncic, who not only loses his place on the podium but also in the Top 5 of the MVP Ranking. The stat that hurts: the genius of the Mavericks has not won a single basketball game since January 7. Between injuries, defeats (three in his last three games) and a postponed match against the Warriors (following the tragic death of Dejan Milojevic), Luka remained in the shadows despite two triple-doubles against the Lakers and the Celtics. It’s up to him to set the record straight in the coming fortnight.
JAYLEN BROWN DROPPED LUKA DONCIC ???? pic.twitter.com/R0xGL81VUG
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) January 23, 2024
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Stats : 27.0 points / 8.4 rebounds / 4.4 assists / 46.9% shooting
With: 34 wins – 10 losses
Jayson Tatum takes advantage of Luka Doncic’s fall to climb the MVP Ranking. His great performance against Luka’s Mavs – 39 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists – combined with the excellent dynamic of the Celtics (six victories in eight games) allows the Celtics star to join our Top 5 for the first time times for a long time. However, JT will have to be more consistent if he really wants to enter the MVP debate. Over the last fortnight, Tatum annihilated the Wolves (45 points) before falling through against Milwaukee (7 points), and he also screwed up his end of the match at the top against the Denver Nuggets (102 home defeat). 100).
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Stats : 31.2 points / 11.5 rebounds / 6.1 assists / 1.1 blocks / 1.4 steals / 60.3% shooting
With: 30 wins – 13 losses
The Bucks continue to have problems, but Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t one of them. The Greek Freak continues his domination with three triple-doubles in his last six games (small note: Giannis is having his best passing season). Under his leadership, Milwaukee remains on five victories in six games and the only defeat – a beating at Cleveland (-40) – fell when Antetokounmpo did not play. You said valuable ? The Giannis-dependence is loud and clear among the Bucks. The Freak hides a lot of weaknesses within his team, but that was not enough to save the head of coach Adrian Griffin.
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Stats : 26,1 points / 11,9 rebonds / 9,2 assists / 1,2 steal / 58,7% au tir
With: 31 wins – 14 losses
Nikola Jokic logically returns to the MVP Ranking podium after a very full fortnight. No game under 25 points since January 7 for the Joker, crazy efficiency, two triple-doubles against the Pelicans and the Pacers, clutch baskets in hot moments, all that to take the Nuggets to five victories out of their six last matches. Five victories including one on the floor of the Celtics, who had not lost a single game at home this season. A great way to remind yourself who is boss. With such performances, Nikola Jokic paid the best tribute to his former coach Dejan Milojevic, who died tragically a week ago.
This Jokic stat is crazy
(h/t @TrashTalk_fr) pic.twitter.com/tdrSXn8Kd0
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 20, 2024
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Stats : 31,1 points / 5,6 rebonds / 6,3 assists / 2,2 steals / 54,9% au tir
With: 30 wins – 13 losses
As of January 24, 2024, the Oklahoma City Thunder are first in the Western Conference. First ! Do you believe that? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is obviously the main architect of the Thunder’s exceptional season. During the last fortnight, SGA notably allowed OKC to win against a Jazz in full swing and especially against leader Minnesota, dominating Anthony Edwards while making the difference in the money-time. Shai – recently the victim of a small injury to his knee – has certainly seen his figures drop in terms of offensive efficiency over the last few matches (45% shooting since January 15), but he has compensated by pitching his tent on the free throw line (40/47 over the last three games). That’s what great strikers do.
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Stats : 36.1 points / 11.6 rebounds / 5.9 assists / 1.9 blocks / 1.2 steals / 53.9% shooting
With: 29 wins – 13 losses
Two weeks ago, Joel Embiid lost his first place in the MVP Ranking due to a prolonged stay in the infirmary. Since then, he came back, he saw, and he won: more than 44 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists on average for Jojo, a historic match with 70 pawns against Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs, an XXL duel won against Nikola Jokic, and five wins in five games with the Sixers. Clearly, Joel is hovering over the debates at the moment. Another stat that weighs very heavily: Philadelphia has a record of 26-6 when Embiid plays. When he’s not there? Seven defeats in nine matches. Suffice to say that it’s raining and (above all) good weather in Philly.
AN HISTORIC 70-POINT NIGHT FOR JOEL EMBIID ????
✅ 76ers franchise record
✅ 9th player in NBA history to score 70+
✅ A new career high
70 PTS, 18 REB, 24/41 FGM, 21/23 FTM pic.twitter.com/gDKY2E9bVA
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2024
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Honorable mentions: Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers), Jalen Brunson (Knicks), Domantas Sabonis et De’Aaron Fox (Kings), Anthony Davis et LeBron James (Lakers), Devin Booker (Suns), Bam Adebayo (Heat), Paul George (Clippers), Stephen Curry (Warriors)
2024-01-24 18:05:00
#Joel #Embiid #set #record #straight
