NBA MVP Power Rankings: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rises, who drops?

5. Jayson Tatum

Last week's rank: 6

Jayson Tatum reaches the top five for the first time after a multiple-week absence. It's hard to deny what the Celtics have done since the trade deadline, and that includes winning eight games in a row.

The Boston Celtics have now won eight in a row and have won 10 of their last 11 games. Tatum has been a huge reason why the Celtics are so successful, and in his last 10 games, Tatum has averaged 27.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game.

Additionally, the Celtics have now earned the best offense in the league with their 121.2 offensive rating. Leading the league in offensive rating is huge, considering the bulk of their offense is created through Tatum and their starting five.

The Celtics now have the number one offense in the league, but there can also be an argument made that they have the best starting five in the league as well. Guard Derrick White could be considered the Celtics' weakest link on their starting five, but on any other NBA team, he could be a second or third option.

Tatum has also emerged as the Celtics' leader by taking vocal leadership of the locker room and during timeouts. Often, head coach Joe Mazzulla allows Tatum the control of his plays during timeouts in close game scenarios. This is something fans often see with Lebron James.

The Celtics' next game will be against the Philadelphia 76ers on national TV.