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NBA Positional Power Rankings: Harden, Westbrook Are Insane

By Steven Abramo

Dec 14, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates after making a three point basket during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates after making a three point basket during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-102. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-102. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Small Forwards

1. Kevin Durant: December was quite a productive month for KD, as it saw Durant tally four 30+ point performances and six double-doubles. In spite of the fact that Durant failed to finish off a stellar performance against Cleveland on Christmas Day (sorry I couldn’t resist), Durant continues to sport his best field goal percentage (53.8 percent) and offensive rating (125) of his career.

Not to mention, Durant is averaging 27.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per 36 minutes of play, that such rate is the best rate in the league amongst qualified small forwards.

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Washington Wizards: Can Poole or Kuzma make the All-Star game next season?
Washington Wizards: Can Poole or Kuzma make the All-Star game next season? /

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    • 2. LeBron James: I would be remiss to not consider LeBron into the early 2017 MVP discussion. For this season’s first two months, LBJ has out shined the majority of his peers on both ends of the floor respectively. On offense, he’s producing at a ridiculous pace; scoring 34.7 points and shooting 51 percent from field over the course of 100 possessions.

    Defensively, he’s discovered an edge on the glass, scooping up 18.4 percent of Cleveland’s defensive rebounds. 

    This sort of production isn’t to be expected by a 32 year-old who is in his 14th professional season. But that’s what makes LeBron so unique. No matter what the circumstance, he continues to tinker and adapt a different aspect of his game annually.

    There should be no unexplainable reason for why James is averaging a career-high in assists (8.4 per game) at this point. But he is. And for that I’m placing him just a slight tick below Durant. 

    3. Kawhi Leonard: Leonard continues to stabilize the Spurs’ perimeter defense this season, as he’s limiting opponents to shoot 44 percent against from the field and 32.1 percent from 3. With that, Kawhi remains one of the best defensive rebounders at his position, grabbing 16 percent of all opponents’ missed shots. 

    Although Leonard is experiencing a slight decline in field goal percentage (47.1 percent), he’s making up for it by driving more, which is translating into better production offensively. Through December, Leonard is experiencing career-highs in Offensive Rating (121), free throw attempts (7.1 per game) and points (24 per game).

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