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Race to the MVP Ladder The Race to the MVP Ladder walk away with the Trophy award). The rankings are written by HangTime blog have an Sekou,

Smith Shaking Off Current Rankings Rank

Critics One By One 1

Dec. 14 -- Few players in basketball inspire debate the way Hawks 2 forward Josh Smith does. 3 Folks either love or hate his game. 4 It's been going on this way from the moment he set foot on the stage 5 at Madison Square Garden on Draft night in 2004, when the hometown Hawks selected him with the 17th pick and ESPN analyst 6 Jay Bilas dropped that hard-to-shake label on him. 7

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"If you had to pick which guy was most likely to be a bust in the Rank Status Player first round, it would be this guy," Bilas said. "He has no right hand, 8 NR and he can't shoot." 9 Smith has been fighting that characterization one way or another since he's been in the league, being skewered for his perceived 10 NR shortcomings when he doesn't play the way fans and pundits want, yet producing in ways that few players can match. He is well on his way to becoming one of just 24 players in league history to reach 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 2,000 assists and 1,000 blocks and just the ninth player to do so with one team, joining a list of , , , , , Tim Duncan , and . (Both and could join this list this season, but not one of the guys who have done it with one team.) That's pretty lofty company for a guy picked as the most likely first- round bust of his class. Smith joins another elite list this week, making his season debut on the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder fresh off an Eastern Conference Player of the Week nod. The Hawks, winners of 11 of their last 13 games, are shoving their way into the top three of the Eastern Conference playoff chase. Smith is averaging a team-leading 17.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.4 steals, as Atlanta, at 14-6, is tied with the NBA- and Southeast Division-champion . "He's impacting games in every way imaginable and doing it as the team leader, a role some of us weren't sure he was capable of handling when they traded to Brooklyn," said a Western Conference executive. "I'll be the first to admit that I've had to throw away some of my old notes on him. He's grown up a lot. He's matured over the years and he's really settled into his game in ways that have been great for the Hawks." Oh, and as for Bilas' lick about Smith being a poor shooter? For years, the data backed that up -- particularly Smith's 3- shooting (he'd never shot over 33 percent before this season). Hawks fans, innocent basketball bystanders, analysts and basketball purists around the globe have been groaning for years when they see the 6-foot-9 lefty line up a 3-pointer. This season, Smith is shooting an outlandish .433 (13-for-30) from deep, in the same neighborhood as Hawks specialist and 3-point leader, Kyle Korver (.438). None of it surprises Hawks coach , who has been with Smith every step of the way in his NBA career, first as an assistant coach and now in his third season as the Hawks' coach. "He is certainly a player, one of the few players, who can impact the game on both ends of the floor," Drew said. "But as a young man I'm

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proud of how he has matured. I notice something different about him every year we come back. You can see that he is going to take every challenge I throw at him. That is who he is." The next five: , ; , ; , Utah Jazz; , Golden State Warriors; Monta Ellis/ , Milwaukee Bucks Falling out: , Brooklyn Nets; Tony Parker , San Antonio Spurs; , Got something to say about this week's Race to the MVP Ladder? Give us a shout !

1 : New York Knicks

LAST WEEK: 36.3 ppg | 4.7 rpg | 1.3 apg Anthony has come a long way since Linsanity, that stretch last year when Knicks fans were actually questioning whether he should step aside and let lead New York. Anthony is a legitimate threat to shake up the MVP race everyone thought would be a two-man competition. He's setting the table every night for IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES: the best team in the East (36.3 points on .566 shooting from the floor, .550 from deep, in the Scores 30 on Lakers (Dec. 13) past three games). He had 30 on 10-for-15 shooting in just 23 minutes (sprained ankle) in the Leads rally vs. Nets, scores 45 win over the Lakers last night. Minus injury this (Dec. 11) season, he's been unstoppable. Has 34 against Nuggets (Dec. 9)

> Anthony's stats & bio

2 : Oklahoma City Thunder

LAST WEEK: 25.7 ppg | 5.7 rpg | 4.0 apg Durant is putting together one of those mercurial seasons that other superstars wish they could and somehow he seems to be doing it without much national fanfare. He's scoring (27.3), rebounding (8.5) and facilitating (4.3) for the Thunder in the same way the reigning MVP does for the Miami Heat. The Thunder aren't having IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES: any trouble putting teams away, though. They've won 17 of their past 19 games and nine straight Scores 35 vs. Hornets (Dec. heading into tonight's game against the Kings. 12) Thunder roll Pacers (Dec. 9) Goes for 36 vs. Lakers (Dec. 7) > Durant's stats & bio

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3 LeBron James : Miami Heat

LAST WEEK: 27.3 ppg | 5.0 rpg | 6.0 apg LeBron hasn't had to go through the sort of three -man MVP shuffle he's dealing with this season in quite some time. He hasn't been able to separate himself from the other contenders the way he did last season, when he was statistically head and shoulders above the rest. He's playing lights out (26.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.7 IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES: assists in his last 10 games) but the Heat have stumbled of late, playing uncharacteristic .500 Scores 31 vs. Warriors (Dec. ball (3-3) this month. 12) Leads Heat past Hawks (Dec. 10) Drops 24 on Hornets (Dec. 8) > James' stats & bio

4 :

LAST WEEK: 17.3 ppg | 7.3 apg | 2.0 spg Whatever was bothering Paul and the Clippers during that mini-slide last month has vanished. Paul's been on a tear and the Clippers have followed suit, winning eight straight games and scoring 100 or more points in seven of those games. Paul's new aggressive offensive approach, however, has had as much to do with IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES: the Clippers picking up the pace as anything. Paul has these Clippers looking like the Double-double vs. 'Cats (Dec. contender many thought they could be. 12) Burns bulls for 18 points (Dec. 11) Scores 16 vs. Raptors (Dec. 9) Double-double vs. Suns (Dec. 8)

> Paul's stats & bio

5 : Memphis Grizzlies

LAST WEEK: 17.0 ppg | 10.0 rpg | 0.7 bpg Z-Bo has been steady even as the Grizzlies have stumbled a bit here recently, losing three of their last five games and showing a few signs of fatigue since their early season assault on the West standings. Randolph's consistency on the glass (12.8 rpg) all season is easily the most impressive aspect of his work this season. He's IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES: grabbed double-digit rebounds in all but three games this season. Double-double vs. Suns (Dec. 12)

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Dominates in loss to Hawks (Dec. 8) Quiet night vs. Hornets (Dec. 7)

> Randolph's stats & bio

6 : Los Angeles Lakers

LAST WEEK: 35.5 ppg | 4.5 rpg | 4.5 apg If the MVP formula was strictly about statistics, Kobe would have to rank among the top two or three players on anyone's list. Tracy McGrady might have two or three MVP's, too. So enough of that foolishness. While Bryant continues to shoot and score the Lakers out of their current mess, the Lakers continue to struggle. They are 1-11 IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES: this season when he scores 30 or more points. He has to come up with another method or Another big night, another loss simply wait like Mike D'Antoni and everyone (Dec. 12) else and see if Steve 's return fixes some of the Lakers' outstanding issues . Scores 42 in loss to Cavs (Dec. 11) Can't overcome Jazz (Dec. 9) Drops 35 in loss to OKC (Dec. 7)

> Bryant's stats & bio

7 Josh Smith :

LAST WEEK: 20.0 ppg | 6.8 apg | 4.0 apg The reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, the Hawks All-Star (whoops, he's still waiting for the powers that be to get that right) is putting together a stellar all-around season as the face of the franchise. The Hawks are 11-2 in their last 13 games behind the versatility of Smith and fellow franchise pillar Al Horford 's IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES: dirty work inside and out. But Smith's ability to create scoring opportunities for others set him Paces rout of 'Cats (Dec. 13) apart from most power forwards in the league. Dominates Magic (Dec. 12) Hawks fall in Miami (Dec. 10) Drops 24 on Grizz (Dec. 8) Scores 23 vs. Wizards (Dec. 7) > Smith's stats & bio

8 Tim Duncan : San Antonio Spurs

LAST WEEK: 14.2 ppg | 10.8 apg | 3.2 bpg

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Who you calling old? Not Timothy Theodore Duncan, who has rediscovered his youth a bit this season for the seemingly ageless warriors from San Antonio. Duncan's 22 points, 21 rebounds and six blocks against the Jazz Wednesday night marked the fourth time in his career he posted a 20/20/5 game, the most of IN LASTany WEEK'S active player. GAMES: The only other player in the league to come close to that mark is fellow Lillardgraybeard too much Marcus (Dec. 13)Camby , whose done it three times. The fact that Duncan can still do it at 36 Jazzmakes win atit evenbuzzer more (Dec. remarkable. 12) Spurs outlast Houston (Dec. 10) Rolling in Charlotte (Dec. 8) Spurs romp past Rockets (Dec. 7)

> Duncan's stats & bio

9 Stephen Curry : Golden State Warriors

LAST WEEK: 21.5 ppg | 4.3 rpg | 6.0 apg Curry's Warriors are legit this season, winning when he plays his best and also winning on a night when he struggles a bit as well (see 's game-winner to topple the Heat Wednesday night). Now that Curry's name comes first on every opposing team's scouting report, he'll have to redesign his attacks and make sure IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES: he sets up his teammates so he can maintain his offensive aggressiveness and keep the team Thriller in Miami (Dec. 12) winning. Thrives in homecoming vs. 'Cats (Dec. 10) Warriors halt Wizards (Dec. 8) Hangs 28 on Nets (Dec. 7) > Curry's stats & bio

10 Rajon Rondo : Boston Celtics

LAST WEEK: 13.0 ppg | 13.3 apg | 3.0 spg Like a dual-threat quarterback with spotty mechanics but sterling results, Rondo makes it hard to overlook the fact that he's one of the most dynamic forces in the league, regardless of position. His numbers (league-leading 12.9, the only player in the league in double digits) look like rebounding numbers. It's a story IN LAST WEEK'S GAMES: when he doesn't drop 10 or more dimes these days. As long as he stays healthy the Celtics Double-double vs. Mavs (Dec. should have no problem digging their way back 12) into thick of things in the East. Eleven assists vs. Sixers (Dec. 8)

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Triple-double in defeat (Dec. 7)

> Rondo's stats & bio

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