NBA MVP POWER RANKINGS: Where the top players stand with 3 weeks to go

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With LeBron James' slow start to the season and Kevin Durant missing more than half of the games so far, this season's MVP race is the most wide open in years.

Using Player Efficiency Rating (PER, avg=15.00), Win Shares, and Wins Above Replacement (WAR), as well as team performance and other more subjective factors, we ranked the top players based on who we think has the best chance of winning this year's MVP award.

As we move towards the end of the season Stephen Curry is the favorite. But there are seven other players who can also make a strong case.

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (previously: 1st)

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Team Record (rank in conference): 56-13 (1)

PER (rank): 27.51 (4)

Win Shares (rank): 12.9 (2)

Wins Above Replacement (rank): 15.72 (2)

One thing to know: Stephen Curry is averaging just 32.9 minutes played per game. No player has ever won the MVP playing fewer than 33.3 minutes per game and only two have won the award playing fewer than 35.0 minutes per game (Bill Walton 33.3 in 1978-79 and Steve Nash 34.3 in 2004-05).

2. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (previously: 5th)

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Team Record (rank in conference): 40-30 (8)

PER (rank): 29.55 (2)

Win Shares (rank): 9.1 (9)

Wins Above Replacement (rank): 9.85 (9)

One thing to know: There have been 40, 40-point games in the NBA this season. Russell Westbrook and James Harden each have seven and no other player has more than three. Westbrook also has ten triple-doubles this season. No other player has more than three.

3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (previously: 4th)

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Team Record (rank in conference): 46-26 (2)

PER (rank): 26.25 (7)

Win Shares (rank): 9.1 (9)

Wins Above Replacement (rank): 13.40 (3)

One thing to know: This season is starting to look a lot like LeBron James' first season with the Heat and if the season ended today, the Cavs would play the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.