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That's the main reason why he climbed to the top of this week's Kia race at MVP Ladder. He has spent a lot of time on the list of the last two seasons, but outside the top five because of the lack of success of Team Bucks.
But, with the new look of Budenholzer, the Greek Freak is free to sort the different plans that could lead to the finish line of this marathon.
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The top five in the week 1 edition of the Kia Race 2018-19 at the MVP Scale:
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1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Statistics of the season: 25.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 blocks
Antetokounmpo respects his character "Greek Freak" every evening, filling in the statistics sheet and collecting amazing games not to be missed. The difference this season is that his work is behind the rebirth of first-year coach Mike Budenholzer, whose changes have worked wonders for his best player and the lineup. Look no further than the (somewhat) surprising bust of the Golden State Warriors Bucks on Thursday night at Oracle Arena. Antetokounmpo led the way with 24 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 2 interceptions as the Bucks broke the Warriors' eight-game winning streak on a night where Warriors star Stephen Curry withdrew early with an adductor injury. It was not the only statement of the Bucks at the start of the season, but it was without a doubt their biggest success so far, indicating to the rest of the league that what they've seen so far from Antetokounmpo and his team is very real.
2. Stephen Curry, warriors of the state of the gold
Statistics of the season: 29.5 points, 6.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds
The collective blast you heard on Thursday night was the Warriors Nation who had reacted to the announcement that Curry, after just 26 minutes, was over for the night after being injured in the groin. An assortment of injuries is the only thing that has slowed Curry in recent seasons. The Warriors have managed to do without Curry in the past and will probably do it this time (if necessary). But Kia's double-player par excellence had a busy start to the season and needed nothing to block what had the advantage of winning a new monster campaign. The Warriors certainly felt his absence against the Bucks, who limited Curry to just 10 points on a 5-on-14 shot (0-4 of 3 points) before leaving the ground for the locker room. Meanwhile, the Warriors can only wait for the medical staff on the Curry situation.
3. Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
Statistics of the season: 26.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists
If this 11-1 NBA season debut, the best of this season, saw Leonard operate at half speed while he feels comfortable in Nick's coaching system Nurse, as Leonard said after Wednesday's win against the Sacramento Kings, it's scary to think how good the Raptors will be when Leonard will finally find his groove. As things stand today, Leonard has been performing well in the Raptors engine this season and All-Star playmaker Kyle Lowry himself has created his own case. The depth of the Raptors at each position has allowed them to maintain an elite level of play with or without Leonard on the ground so far this season. (Toronto easily manipulated the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz on their current trip without Leonard in the mix due to a foot injury). He returned to the composition of the Sacramento victory with 25 points, 11 rebounds and two assists. The real beauty of his fit with the Raptors is that he was able to fit in perfectly without even knowing the ins and outs of the system.
4. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Statistics of the season: 26.6 points, 5.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds
The Trail Blazers have won three straight games and six of their last seven on the wave created by Lillard and his teammate at the back, C.J. McCollum, early in the season. The Blazers have done something difficult to do in this league: improve dramatically without infusion of star talent. Much of what works for them now is the comfort of continuity. Without leaders like Lillard and McCollum, a youngster like Zach Collins might not be allowed to contribute as he did in his second season. But with the tone given during the off season, there is no confusion as to the roles of each Blazer. Lillard remains the real catalyst, the alpha if you will, and the man responsible for finishing the matches as he did on Thursday night at the Moda Center against the Los Angeles Clippers. This boost will be useful when the Boston Celtics arrive in town Sunday night for a duel between two of the best finishers in the game, Lillard and Kyrie Irving.
5. Anthony Davis, Pelicans of New Orleans
Statistics of the season: 24.4 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.3 blocks
Davis should be the easiest player in the league to score match by match because of the way the pelican's final result is based on him. And it is not his performance that dictates his fortune, because he operates at the highest level on a regular basis. It is his availability that is the true measure for pelicans. They lost six straight games after a 4-0 start this season, a slip that coincided with a sprained elbow that cost Davis three games and undermined the entire group of much of that early energy. In Wednesday's win over Chicago, Davis made a 32-point, 15-rebound lead in four blocks, winning this losing streak and coming out of an individual funk series the same night. Davis missed his first five shots against the Bulls before going into a rift and scoring eight goals in a row for his first 30-point game since Oct. 23. The Pelicans were desperate to win their first game at home after a 0-5 draw. journey on the road. If you adhere to the theory that the true indicator of a player's value for his team is how he manages without him or when he is at a level below his maximum strength, Davis must figure on the list of the most interesting players in this league. .
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The next five
6 Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
7. Kevin Durant, warriors of the state of the gold
8 Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
9 LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
ten. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
And five others: DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio Spurs; Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics; Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers; Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets; Russell Westbrook, Thunder Oklahoma City
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Sekou Smith is a veteran journalist and analyst for NBA TV. You can send him an email here, find his archives here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting.
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