Portland Trail Blazers: Breaking down Damian Lillard’s latest MVP ranking

The NBA has released their 2021 MVP rankings after the last games before the All-Star break, and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers is ranked fourth. Though we don’t fully agree that he should be out of the top three, it’s great to see Dame being recognized as one of the game’s best players.

Let’s break down the NBA’s rankings and where we think Damian Lillard should sit.

Position #1 – Joel Embiid

Counting stats – 30.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.4 blocks.

Efficiency – FG% – 52.1%, 3P% – 41.6%, 2P% – 54.1%, FT% – 85.6%, TS% – 64.6%.

Team record, 24 – 12, .667%

Joel Embiid is having one of the most dominant big man seasons in recent history. His Philadelphia 76ers, under new coach Doc Rivers, are an impressive 24 and 12, putting them first in the East, and third overall in the league. Embiid is putting up numbers not seen for a long time of a big man. You have to go back to Shaquille O’Neal to see offensive numbers like this, and even further when you consider his two-way play as well. With one of the best team records and massive counting stats and efficiency, Embiid is the current front-runner for the award.

Ranking – correct

Position #2 – Nikola Jokic

Counting stats – 27.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.6 blocks.

Efficiency – FG% – 56.7%, 3P% – 41.8%, 2P% – 54.1%, FT% – 88.1%, TS% – 65.2%.

Team record, 21 – 15, .583%

Nikola Jokic is having a career year on a Denver Nuggets team that has had an up-and-down year. Jokic has improved his inside scoring, his shooting, and his efficiency across the board. Because of the early season injuries to key players along with star teammate Jamal Murray’s struggles, Jokic has carried this Nuggets team to a 21 – 15 record in a stacked Western Conference.

Though he might not have the team record at the end of the year, Jokic is a clear top 3 candidate on an improving Nuggets team. If he can continue this form while Murray improves and the Nuggets get healthy, he can be in the MVP conversation all year long.

Ranking – correct

Position #3 – LeBron James

Counting stats – 25.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks.

Efficiency – FG% – 50.9%, 3P% – 35.8%, 2P% – 59.1%, FT% – 69.2%, TS% – 59.7%.

Team record, 24 – 13, .649%

LeBron James is locked in for another top-five MVP finish this season. It’s become inevitable that year in year out, James is part of the MVP discussion. Though he times his run a little more these days to peak for the playoffs, you can guarantee that he will average 25 points, with 7 rebounds and 7 assists every year.

LeBron’s teams always win at least 50 games, which is generally the lower cut-off for MVP consideration. LeBron has one of the best records in the West with some excellent counting stats, but I don’t know if he should be ranked third. We explain why in the next ranking.

Ranking – incorrect

Position #4 – Damian Lillard

Counting stats – 29.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks.

Efficiency – FG% – 44.5%, 3P% – 38.4%, 2P% – 51.5%, FT% – 93.3%, TS% – 61.8%.

Team record, 21 – 14, .600%

With his incredible clutch shot-making and 21 – 14 record, Damian Lillard should be sitting in third in these rankings. Though LeBron has had Anthony Davis missing for approximately two weeks, Dame has had the second and third best players from the Blazers for six weeks, and they have just three fewer wins.

Dame has been more efficient than LeBron, and has also been the best player in the clutch in the NBA as well. Narrative is important in the MVP race, even if people wish it wasn’t. Dame winning 21 games without CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic, while hitting multiple big shots in the last five minutes of games, means something. I think he should be ahead of LeBron.

Position #5 –  Luka Doncic

Counting stats – 28.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks.

Efficiency – FG% – 47.8%, 3P% – 35.7%, 2P% – 54.4%, FT% – 75.7%, TS% – 58.7%.

Team record, 18 – 16, .529%

I can’t entirely agree that Luka Doncic should be in the top five of the NBA’s MVP ranking. He has the lowest efficiency of these five, and the Dallas Mavericks have been a far inferior team, with a record just above .500. Luka is still having a great season, but I see him as a fringe MVP candidate only.

If he can will his Mavericks to a team-record closer to where the Blazers are, while keeping similar efficiency and making big shots, he can push his case further. I would much rather have Giannis in this 5th spot instead.

Ranking – incorrect

It will be interesting to see where these rankings go when guys like Davis, and McCollum return to their respective teams. With the NBA also set to make up the rescheduled games after the All-Star break, we will see a lot of East-West games where these MVP candidates can matchup as well.