NBA MVP Power Rankings: New No. 1 emerges after spectacular week

5. Jayson Tatum

Last rank: 6

Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics have contined to steamroll over opponents despite losing two of their last four games. The Celtics now rival the Mavericks and the Rockets for the hottest stretches during March after winning 11 of their last 13 games.

Tatum has become a big piece of why the Celtics have clinched the first seed in the Eastern Conference and likely another run at competing for the NBA Championship. In the Eastern Conference, there has yet to be a team that can rival the Boston Celtics for dominance, which is why their route to the Finals could be easier than fans realize.

The Celtics rely heavily on what Tatum can bring to the floor, and over this past month, it seems as though Tatum's usage rate has skyrocketed. The Celtics have relied heavily on both his creation and playmaking when running their offense, which is why they currently rank first in offensive rating.

Over March, Tatum averaged a season-high in points with 28.1 and even converted his 3-point shot at a 45.9 percent rate, which would rank him among the league's best shooters over the calendar month.

Although Tatum's MVP case has largely dissolved, he has played some of the best basketball of the season over the last few weeks. The Celtics are well on their way to competing for yet another championship, but the big question has yet to be answered. Can Tatum lead the Celtics to a Larry O'Brien Trophy?