Biggest Performers In Each Team So Far

As the one third of the NBA regular season is already behind, it's team to take a look at the best performers in each team so far. My evaluation criterion will be the metric called - Wins Produced (implemented in sports analytics by D.Berri), which I also use in my analytics.

Atlanta Hawks: Kyle Korver 3.76 (WP)
Boston Celtics: Jordan Crawford 2.77 (WP)
Brooklyn Nets: Joe Johnson 2.1 (WP)
Charlotte Bobcats: Josh McRoberts 2.84 (WP)
Chicago Bulls: Joakim Noah 3.42 (WP)
Cleveland Cavaliers: Anderson Varejao 3.13 (WP)
Dallas Mavericks: Jose Calderon 2.93 (WP)
Denver Nuggets: Kenneth Faried 3.43 (WP)
Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond 6.26 (WP)
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry 4.53 (WP)
Houston Rockets: Dwight Howard 3.93 (WP)
Indiana Pacers: Paul George 4.84 (WP)
Los Angeles Clippers: Chirs Paul 7.1 (WP)
Los Angeles Lakers: Jordan Hill 3.78 (WP)
Memphis Grizzlies: Tonny Allen 2.67 (WP)
Miami Heat: LeBron James 7.3 (WP)
Milwaukee Bucks: John Henson 2.8 (WP)
Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love 6.25 (WP)
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis 3.59 (WP)
New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony 3.26 (WP)
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant 6.53 (WP)
Orlando Magic: Arron Afflalo 2.84 (WP)
Philadelphia 76ers: Spencer Hawes 1.8 (WP)
Phoenix Suns: Goran Dragic 3.13 (WP)
Portland Trail Blazers: Nicolas Batum 4.93 (WP) !!!
Sacramento Kings: Isaiah Thomas 2.4 (WP)
San Antonio Spurs: Kawhi Leonard 3.99 (WP)
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry 3.44 (WP)
Utah Jazz: Derrick Favors 2.03 (WP)
Washington Wizards: Martel Webster 3.99 (WP)

This is how things look at the moments, to be honest nothing surprising. Maybe, the only little surprise for some people might be the fact that Nicolas Batum is currently leading WP rankings for Portland. Why surprise? Because we hear a lot more about L.Aldrige's and D.Lillard's performances (which no doubts had been amazing) and do not realise the effort that Batum brings to this team. The second actually is Wesley Matthews with 4.33 (WP). Matthews has been doing great on both ends of the floor, to my mind, he is one of the most under-rated players in the NBA at the moment.

I've highlighted green every name who has produced more than 4.5 wins this season. To no ones surprise LeBron is leading the pack with Chris Paul following closely. The thing is that one of these highlighted players is gonna be the next MVP this year, but the question remains - who's gonna be the one? Clearly, LeBron has established a steady course to this title, but the problem is that he has been named MVP 4 times already and such thing as "voter fatigue" can play against him this year. But who will it be then? Kevin Love is putting together an all-star season, but Wolves won't do well enough to help Love achieve this goal. Andre Drummond is a superior rebounder and he can put up some points, but that is basically it. Being in the Pistons team won't help either. Then we are left with Chirs Paul, Paul George and Kevin Durant. Paul George and Pacers have been outstanding this far into the season, but the problem is wether or not they are gonna maintain this level till the end of the season? Problem is that their bench is one of the worst benches in the league at the moment and Vogel is playing his starters a lot. Paul George would fit MVP at the moment, but I have some doubts that his performance will deteriorate a bit as the season goes one. Then there is Chris Paul, who has been doing everything right so far. He is greatly contributing to the overall team effort and putting up some outstanding individual numbers, but I don't think that Clippers have much chances to get far enough in playoffs for Paul to take the cake. Kevin Durant then? This would be my second option at the moment (in case LeBron doesn't get his prize due to the reason I mentioned above), KD does what is expected from MVP, for sure, and, in my opinion, OKC do have real chances of getting all the way to the finals this year and that should seal the spot for KD. But there is plenty of time left and things to change. Let's see how things unfold.

J.