James Harden has settled nicely into phase two of his NBA stardom. He’s no longer the one-man elite offense who dominated every aspect of the game in Houston, but he’s still a master manipulator who consistently elevates teammates and who can still score in bunches when called upon. His pick-and-roll chemistry with Joel Embiid has developed to the point of comical effectiveness and he’s still a nightly triple-double threat. He’s an old master at work.
Damian Lillard has returned to superstar form after genuine longevity concerns tied to his core muscle ailment. The Blazers haven’t built a contender around him unfortunately, but Lillard’s talent for pull-up shooting and creating for others is still plainly evident in the box score and on film.
The abnormally high volume of top-notch MVP candidates has pushed Ja Morant’s spectacular season to the periphery for some, but it’s hard to overstate the difficulty of winning with a young team. The Grizzlies deploy very few true veterans, and it is Morant’s leadership that keeps the ship on such a promising course. He can get to the rim at will, his 3-point shot improves every season, and his talent for collapsing the defense naturally leads to opportunities for teammates.