1. LeBron James, Cavs	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		63	39	.506	.347	.777	1.7	1.0	7.2	8.5	30.0	32.0
	The league's leading scorer and reigning MVP has missed Cleveland's past two games since twisting his right ankle. But he is expected to return to the Cavs' lineup Friday against Philly. (Last week: 1 | Team record: 50-15)

	2. Kevin Durant, Thunder	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		62	39.6	.477	.377	.885	1.4	1.0	7.6	2.8	29.6	25.3
	OKC is 14-3 in its past 17. Durant has showed improvement on defense while becoming arguably the top scoring threat in the league. His lone negative is turnovers. (Last week: 2 | Team record: 38-24)

	3. Kobe Bryant, Lakers	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		59	38.8	.458	.316	.826	1.7	0.3	5.3	4.8	27.7	23.0
	For the first time since Pau arrived, the Lakers dropped three in a row. Kobe is the game's best finisher, but he couldn't save the Lakers from losing to the Magic on Sunday. (Last week: 3 | Team record: 46-18)

	4. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		64	37.9	.479	.352	.906	0.9	1.1	7.7	2.6	25.3	23.0
	The new additions and the improved play of Jason Kidd are getting a lot of attention during Dallas' 12-game win streak, but Dirk has been performing as well as anyone. (Last week: 5 | Team record: 44-21)

	5. C. Anthony, Nuggets	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		50	37.8	.462	.333	.827	1.3	0.4	6.2	3.5	28.7	23.1
	The Nuggets are riding a three-game win streak with Anthony scoring at least 30 points in all three of those contests. Denver trails the Lakers by just 3½ games in the West. (Last week: 6 | Team record: 42-21)

	6. Dwight Howard, Magic	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		64	35.1	.598	.000	.608	1.0	2.8	13.2	1.6	18.5	23.9
	His scoring has been up-and-down, but his true value to the Magic comes on defense, where he has the ability to change games like few others. (Last week: 4 | Team record: 44-20)

	7. Steve Nash, Suns	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		64	33.6	.506	.415	.940	0.5	0.2	3.3	11.2	17.0	21.9
	His abdomen and back pain have caused him to score less, but he is dishing out assists at his usual pace. Leandro Barbosa is returning, which means more rest for Nash. (Last week: 7 | Team record: 40-25)

	8. Deron Williams, Jazz	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		56	37.1	.473	.379	.781	1.2	0.3	4.1	10.1	18.4	20.1
	A case can be made for Carlos Boozer to have this space, but D-Will, who has had at least nine dimes in every game since Jan. 27, gets the nod for making others better. (Last week: 10 | Team record: 40-22)

	9. Dwyane Wade, Heat	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		59	36	.466	.300	.757	1.8	1.0	4.6	6.7	26.4	27.8
	The Heat are barely above .500, but could you imagine what their record would be without Wade? Miami's record is the only thing that places him this low. (Last week: NR | Team record: 32-31)

	10. Tim Duncan, Spurs	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		58	32.2	.515	.125	.739	0.6	1.7	10.7	3.1	18.9	25.9
	After fracturing his right hand, Spurs point man Tony Parker is done for the regular season. Does that mean Duncan's streak of never missing the playoffs is a wrap, too? (Last week: 9 | Team record: 36-25)

Nov. 17 | 24 | Dec. 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29 | Jan. 5 | 12 | 19 | 26 | Feb. 2 | 9 | 23 | March 2

Brooks

1. Aaron Brooks, Rockets: He leads the league in 3-pointers made with 156. So much for Kevin Martin slowing him down. Brooks has averaged 23.8 points, 6.0 assists and 3.4 rebounds in his past five games. (Last week: 1)

2. Josh Smith, Hawks: I have to ask again, why wasn't this guy an All-Star? He scored a season-high 29 points Friday against the Warriors and has averaged five assists in his past five games. (Last week: 2)

3. Marc Gasol, Grizzlies: The rugged big man has posted double-doubles in five of his past six games and, with Zach Randolph, is the main reason Memphis has been one of the league's top surprises. (Last week: 4)

4. Carl Landry, Kings: The power forward has changed uniforms, but his level of play hasn't slipped one bit. In nine games with Sacramento, he is averaging 17.7 points, 7 rebounds and 1.2 steals. (Last week: 3)

5. Corey Brewer, Wolves: His franchise record of consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer is now at 28. He is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and shooting percentage. (Last week: NR)

Howard

1 (tie). Dwight Howard, Magic and Ron Artest, Lakers: Howard leads the league in rebounding, blocked shots and intimidations. (Is that an official stat? If not, it should be.) But as Lakers Nation would be quick to point out, Ron-Ron (despite sporting this hairdo) has been the league's top defender for the past month.

Howard allows his teammates to gamble more because he is always the last line of defense and is able to cover up their mistakes. Artest is the NBA's top perimeter defender, constantly aggravating his opponent with his chest-to-chest style. (Last week: 1 and 2)

2. Andrew Bogut, Bucks: He is averaging 2.5 blocks and more than 10 rebounds per game. In the past, he would try to draw a charge, but this season he is attempting to swat shots away. (Last week: 4)

3. Gerald Wallace, Bobcats: Ask the Warriors about what kind of terror Wallace is on defense -- he blocked five of their shots Saturday night. (Last week: 3)

4. Josh Smith, Hawks: The league's fourth-best shot-blocker has at least two rejections in five straight games. (Last week: 5)

5. Anderson Varejao, Cavs: I've been reading that LeBron is a top-three DPOY candidate, which is interesting because he is not even the top defender on his own team. Varejao's energy and toughness around the basket tend to get overlooked. (Last week: NR)

Brooks

1. Scott Brooks, Thunder: Coach of the year is usually awarded to coach of the team that comes out of nowhere to make a big improvement in the win column rather than a team stacked full of talent that finishes with the league's best record. Because OKC may win 27 more games this season than it did last season, the honor will go to Brooks. (Last week: 1)

2. Scott Skiles, Bucks: Brandon Jennings has hit the rookie wall, but even that hasn't been enough to derail the playoff-bound Bucks. (Last week: 3)

3. Nate McMillan, Blazers: The Trail Blazers have already missed a combined 269 games because of injuries this season, yet they are nine games above .500. (Last week: 2)

4. Jerry Sloan, Jazz: Utah has won eight of its past 10 road games to move one game above .500 away from home. (Last week: 4)

5. Lionel Hollins, Grizzlies: Memphis has set a franchise record by winning six consecutive road games. (Last week: 5)