Wow, what a week for the league's superstars.
Steph Curry, the top player on earth, experienced unprecedented problems with his shooting touch. His stiffest competition, LeBron James, was powerless in an embarrassing loss to his former team. And Oklahoma City's wicked duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook finally figured out how to protect fourth-quarter leads.
That's not to mention the seemingly daily improvement of San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge, and the sudden struggles of Chris Paul's Clippers.
There were some interesting developments near the top of our player rankings. But were they enough to force monumental changes?
Take a look.
Note: MVP odds from Ladbrokes.com
1. Stephen Curry
Golden State Warriors
RPM: 9.70 (No. 1)
MVP betting odds: 1-100
Previous rank: No. 1
I'm generally surprised when Steph misses one shot, so imagine how it felt to see him errant on 18 of his 21 3-point attempts over the past two games. The best shooter ever -- yes, still a fact -- shot just 28 percent against the Spurs and Timberwolves.
It was the worst two-game stretch of the season for him. In fact, relatively speaking, he has had an unusually high number of off nights this month. Curry has shot worse than 36 percent in four of his 11 games in March. He had just five such games in his previous 56 contests this season.
Fatigue? Mentally drained? Defenses figuring him out? Probably none of the above. It's much simpler than that: He's human.
2. LeBron James
Cleveland Cavaliers
RPM: 8.29 (No. 5)
MVP odds: 50-1
Previous rank: No. 2
I'm amazed that some of you think this ranking is too high for LeBron. Is he not playing better than anyone besides Curry? Kawhi can afford to have a subpar night in San Antonio. Ditto for KD or Westbrook in OKC. Not so here. When LeBron doesn't deliver -- or play -- the Cavs typically get shellacked. Sometimes they even get shellacked with him on his game (like in Miami on Saturday).
Lots of folks think he's too soft-hearted to hammer his boy, D-Wade. He better not be, because they could meet early in the postseason. And you know D-Wade will turn off the warm and fuzzy feelings once the ball goes up. If LeBron ever wants that No. 1 spot back, he better get his Cavs in order. And fast.
3. Kevin Durant
Oklahoma City Thunder
RPM: 6.15 (No. 10)
MVP odds: 22-1
Previous rank: No. 4
Did y'all think he had fallen permanently? Even when Kawhi moved ahead of him two weeks ago, the difference was more of a sliver than a gap. KD was a monster this week in leading OKC to some impressive wins. In the houses of desperate and playoff-hungry Boston and Indiana, he did it all.
In addition to his usual 29 points, he has averaged 11 rebounds and nearly eight assists over his past three games. His playmaking has been on the rise all month, but his turnovers were nullifying the uptick. This week, he cut the TOs to three per game, which OKC (and I) can live with.
4. Kawhi Leonard
San Antonio Spurs
RPM: 9.26 (No. 2)
MVP odds: 20-1
Previous rank: No. 3
He's definitely the Spurs' best player, but Aldridge has been carrying them a lot lately on the offensive end. That's the beauty of Kawhi, though: He doesn't have to be the leading scorer to have a huge impact on the game. Heck, against Golden State, he shot just 5-for-14, but he also contributed 14 rebounds (plus 18 points) and anchored San Antonio's shutdown defense. And even when he's flowing offensively, he does it within the system so Aldridge and the others can still do their thing.
5. Russell Westbrook
Oklahoma City Thunder
RPM: 8.56 (No. 3)
MVP odds: 40-1
Previous rank: No. 6
The only player he has shot better than over the past two games is Steph. LOL.
Westbrook had made just 32 percent of his shots heading into Tuesday's matchup with Houston, but he notched triple-doubles in each of those games, proving how much of an absolute force he is. In a league full of greyhounds, this dude is a flat-out cheetah. He's still turning it over too much for my taste but his nearest adversary, CP3, has been unable to stop an utter collapse by the Clippers, enabling Westbrook to rejoin the top five.
6. Chris Paul
Los Angeles Clippers
RPM: 7.24 (No. 7)
MVP odds: 100-1
Previous rank: No. 5
CP3 is still playing tremendously, leading his team in scoring almost nightly, dishing double-figure dimes and -- for the most part -- protecting the ball. But all the talk of him finishing second in the MVP race and the Clippers possibly being better without Blake Griffin has ceased. Suddenly, the Clippers need Blake in the worst way.
Losses to a D-League-infested Memphis squad and a New Orleans team missing Anthony Davis? The floor general has to take some of the blame for that, especially when not too long ago, his squad had a real shot at catching third-seeded OKC in the West.
7. Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers
RPM: 1.93 (No. 62)
MVP odds: 150-1
Previous rank: No. 7
Yes, Portland has dropped three of its past four games, but you could argue it was supposed to lose to OKC, San Antonio and Dallas (in Dallas).
Lillard's shot has been off a bit, but he still managed to average 27 points over the past three games. His defense could improve, but the point guard has helped the young Blazers get into the thick of the playoff hunt.
8. Kyle Lowry
Toronto Raptors
RPM: 7.37 (No. 6)
MVP odds: 150-1
Previous rank: No. 9
He jumps over James Harden because he has recently been scoring just about as much as the Rockets' star and his defense is light years ahead of Harden's notoriously listless resistance. Lowry was the best player on the floor when he scored 28 points against Indiana and he lit up Boston's Isaiah Thomas for 32 more.
Winners of seven of their past eight games, the Raptors are beginning to earn greater respect throughout the league with more and more executives thinking they have what it takes to push the Cavaliers in a seven-game series. That's a tribute to Lowry's sensational two-way play and leadership on the court.
9. LaMarcus Aldridge
San Antonio Spurs
RPM: 1.88 (No. 64)
MVP odds: 150-1
Previous rank: No. 11
Over his first month and a half with the Spurs, when he was averaging 16 points on 44 percent shooting, it was tempting to wonder if Aldridge had been overrated. No more.
Clearly more comfortable with the Spurs' system, Aldridge has become option No. 1A to Kawhi's No. 1. In March, Aldridge has led the Spurs in both scoring (23.4 PPG) and rebounding (9.7). His ability to punish Draymond Green when both the Spurs and Warriors play small could be a huge factor in San Antonio's favor if the clubs meet in the playoffs.
10. James Harden
Houston Rockets
RPM: 4.89 (No. 17)
MVP odds: 100-1
Previous rank: No. 8
I know, I know. His defense is horrendous. But this week, he averaged 29 points and 10 assists a game.
His warts this season have been aplenty, and not just on the defensive end. His inability to get the best out of Dwight Howard, his turnovers (6.7 per game over the past three outings) and his club's rapid descent into mediocrity are all big negatives. But everyone in the league knows what's coming -- and still, Harden can't be stopped.
The next 10
11. Paul George | SF | Indiana Pacers
Despite a losing effort, he scored 45 points in a mammoth matchup with KD. Not only has George come back strong from his horrible leg injury, but he's also better than ever.
Previous rank: No. 12
12. John Wall | PG | Washington Wizards
Wall averaged 22 points, 12 assists and more than six rebounds over the Wizards' five-game winning streak that included routs of Atlanta and two teams Washington is battling for a playoff berth -- Detroit and Chicago.
Previous rank: No. 14
13. Draymond Green | PF | Golden State Warriors
Nearly had a triple-double against San Antonio, and with Steph and Klay Thompson going cold, Green scored 24 to lead the Warriors past Minnesota.
Previous rank: No. 13
14. Anthony Davis | PF | New Orleans Pelicans
His season is over, but I'll keep him here for this week because he does have a solid chance of making an All-NBA team, especially if voters consider him a center.
Previous rank: No. 10
15. Klay Thompson | SG | Golden State Warriors
I don't care what the analytics say (Klay is the No. 57 SG in defensive RPM). Watch him play and you'll see this guy is a strong defender. He takes a lot of pressure off of Steph on that end of the floor.
Previous rank: No. 15
16. DeMarcus Cousins | C | Sacramento Kings
Cousins' skills are undeniable, but the Kings' atrocious record -- and, of course, his temper -- are problems. In defense of Cousins, even tremendous big men need top-flight perimeter players to win at a significant level.
Previous rank: No. 17
17. DeMar DeRozan | SG | Toronto Raptors
How does a shooting guard excel in the era of the 3-ball without much of a 3-point shot? He attacks the basket with ferocity. Only Harden and Cousins get to the line more than DeRozan.
Previous rank: No. 16
18. Hassan Whiteside | C | Miami Heat
Scores better than DeAndre Jordan. Blocks shots better than Andre Drummond. Shoots free throws better than both.
Previous rank: No. 20
19. Isaiah Thomas | PG | Boston Celtics
Averaged 25 PPG during a recent skid that saw the Celtics lose five of six games.
Previous rank: No. 18
20. Kemba Walker | PG | Charlotte Hornets
Walker hasn't shot the ball well for the past week or so and was essentially a non-factor in Charlotte's huge victory over San Antonio. Let's see if he continues to shine as opponents begin to take the surging Hornets seriously.
Previous rank: No. 19