NBA Awards Watch #5 (November 26, 2012)

Welcome back to the fifth edition of our NBA Awards Watch! We’re here every Monday throughout the NBA season to take a look at the top-three candidates for each of the individual awards in the NBA.

Stats listed are current as of games completed on November 25th.

Most Improved Player

1. James Harden

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	23	HOU	NBA	13	13	38.4	7.5	17.2	.439	1.8	5.8	.320	8.2	9.8	.836	0.8	3.5	4.2	4.9	1.7	0.6	4.1	2.3	25.2
Career			NBA	233	20	27.3	4.0	9.1	.444	1.5	4.0	.366	3.9	4.6	.835	0.6	2.9	3.5	2.6	1.1	0.3	1.7	2.5	13.4

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

2. Kyrie Irving

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	20	CLE	NBA	10	10	35.2	8.2	17.7	.463	1.8	4.6	.391	4.7	5.7	.825	0.5	3.2	3.7	5.6	1.1	0.3	4.1	2.9	22.9
Career			NBA	61	61	31.3	7.1	15.1	.468	1.5	3.8	.397	3.6	4.1	.862	0.8	2.9	3.7	5.4	1.1	0.4	3.3	2.3	19.2

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

3. Nicolas Batum

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	24	POR	NBA	13	13	38.6	6.5	14.1	.464	2.6	7.2	.366	2.9	3.6	.809	1.5	4.2	5.8	3.3	1.7	1.2	2.7	1.8	18.6
Career			NBA	268	215	26.8	3.9	8.4	.461	1.4	3.8	.372	1.5	1.8	.833	1.2	2.8	4.0	1.4	0.8	0.7	1.1	2.0	10.6

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

The most improved player award is always one of the most difficult to choose. Players don’t usually come out of the woodwork to become superstars. Harden has improved from a borderline star to a bonafide star. Irving deserves a lot of credit for his play, even though the Cavaliers are struggling as a team. Batum would be getting a lot more credit on a better team. He’s been worth every penny of that extension.

Sixth Man of the Year

1. Jamal Crawford

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	32	LAC	NBA	13	0	28.9	6.1	12.9	.470	2.1	5.0	.415	4.4	4.7	.934	0.2	1.8	2.0	0.9	1.2	0.1	2.1	1.2	18.6
Career			NBA	825	399	31.7	5.3	13.1	.409	1.7	4.9	.349	2.9	3.4	.854	0.4	2.2	2.6	3.8	1.0	0.2	2.0	1.6	15.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

2. Kevin Martin

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	29	OKC	NBA	14	0	30.7	4.6	9.9	.460	2.4	4.9	.500	4.4	4.6	.938	0.1	2.6	2.7	1.8	1.3	0.1	1.8	2.0	15.9
Career			NBA	489	387	31.2	5.5	12.5	.443	1.6	4.2	.381	5.7	6.6	.866	0.6	2.8	3.4	2.1	0.9	0.1	1.8	2.0	18.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

3. Ramon Sessions

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	26	CHA	NBA	12	0	29.4	5.5	13.7	.402	0.6	2.7	.219	5.6	6.8	.817	0.5	3.3	3.8	4.3	1.0	0.0	2.0	1.3	17.2
Career			NBA	335	108	25.5	3.9	8.8	.447	0.2	0.6	.315	3.3	4.1	.789	0.6	2.5	3.1	5.0	0.8	0.1	2.0	1.6	11.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

If the season continues as it has, Crawford would lead the Clippers in scoring as a bench player. He’s running away with this award right now and if he stays healthy, he’ll be the winner. Martin has been extremely good with the Thunder and is reminding everyone why he was regarded so highly a few years ago. Sessions is one of the surprising Bobcats that could actually make the playoffs…wow.

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Tim Duncan

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	36	SAS	NBA	14	14	31.4	7.4	14.4	.517	0.1	0.1	.500	4.1	5.4	.760	1.9	8.6	10.5	2.6	0.9	2.4	1.5	2.0	19.0
Career			NBA	1125	1123	35.4	7.8	15.5	.507	0.0	0.1	.181	4.6	6.7	.689	2.9	8.3	11.3	3.1	0.7	2.2	2.6	2.5	20.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

2. Josh Smith

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	27	ATL	NBA	11	11	34.9	6.8	15.5	.439	0.3	1.0	.273	1.3	2.9	.438	1.5	5.6	7.1	3.5	1.2	2.1	3.3	3.2	15.2
Career			NBA	611	589	34.0	5.8	12.5	.464	0.3	1.2	.278	3.1	4.6	.667	2.1	5.8	7.9	3.1	1.3	2.2	2.5	2.9	15.1

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

3. Roy Hibbert

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	26	IND	NBA	14	14	29.7	4.1	10.9	.379	0.0	0.0		1.3	2.4	.545	4.4	4.4	8.7	1.5	0.7	3.1	1.9	3.4	9.6
Career			NBA	311	270	24.6	4.5	9.4	.475	0.0	0.0	.273	2.1	3.0	.719	2.4	4.1	6.5	1.6	0.4	1.7	1.7	3.2	11.0

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

Duncan will never tell where that fountain of youth is. He’s playing like it’s 2004 and could win this award. He’s always been an excellent defender, despite lacking elite athleticism. Smith has had that athleticism and is putting it on display for the upstart Hawks. Hibbert is struggling on offense, but his triple-double with blocks last week shows that he’s still an awesome defender.

Rookie of the Year

1. Damian Lillard

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	22	POR	NBA	13	13	479	6.8	14.6	.464	2.5	5.9	.418	3.2	3.8	.824	0.6	2.6	3.2	5.9	1.4	0.3	3.2	1.8	19.2
Career			NBA	13	13	479	6.8	14.6	.464	2.5	5.9	.418	3.2	3.8	.824	0.6	2.6	3.2	5.9	1.4	0.3	3.2	1.8	19.2

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

2. Anthony Davis

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	19	NOH	NBA	6	6	28.3	5.8	11.8	.493	0.0	0.3	.000	4.3	5.2	.839	3.3	5.0	8.3	0.8	1.0	2.2	1.5	1.8	16.0
Career			NBA	6	6	28.3	5.8	11.8	.493	0.0	0.3	.000	4.3	5.2	.839	3.3	5.0	8.3	0.8	1.0	2.2	1.5	1.8	16.0

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

3. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	19	CHA	NBA	12	12	27.9	4.2	8.8	.472	0.1	0.1	1.000	3.3	4.3	.765	2.2	4.8	6.9	1.7	1.3	1.5	1.6	3.1	11.7
Career			NBA	12	12	27.9	4.2	8.8	.472	0.1	0.1	1.000	3.3	4.3	.765	2.2	4.8	6.9	1.7	1.3	1.5	1.6	3.1	11.7

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

If Davis were healthy, he’d still likely be at the top of the list. When he’s right, he’s been fun to watch and we haven’t even seen all of Davis’ gifts. Lillard is healthy and is carrying the Blazers right now. Nobody expected them to be good with that horrid bench, but Lillard is doing his best with what he has. Kidd-Gilchrist has been a solid all-around player for the Bobcats and although his numbers don’t jump out, he’s been a solid contributor.

Most Valuable Player

1. Kevin Durant

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	24	OKC	NBA	14	14	40.0	8.5	17.4	.490	1.6	3.6	.431	7.9	8.9	.895	0.7	8.7	9.4	4.5	2.0	1.4	3.8	1.4	26.5
Career			NBA	394	394	38.2	8.9	19.0	.469	1.5	4.0	.366	6.9	7.9	.879	0.9	5.8	6.7	2.9	1.2	1.0	3.2	1.9	26.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

2. Kobe Bryant

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	34	LAL	NBA	14	14	36.5	9.0	17.6	.510	1.9	4.6	.415	6.9	7.9	.874	0.7	4.3	5.0	5.1	1.4	0.0	3.7	2.9	26.9
Career			NBA	1175	1027	36.5	8.9	19.5	.454	1.3	3.9	.338	6.4	7.6	.838	1.2	4.1	5.3	4.7	1.5	0.5	3.0	2.6	25.4

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

3. LeBron James

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	28	MIA	NBA	13	13	37.2	9.9	18.7	.531	1.4	3.2	.439	3.9	5.8	.671	1.5	7.4	8.8	6.5	0.8	1.0	2.4	1.8	25.2
Career			NBA	702	701	39.9	9.9	20.4	.484	1.3	4.0	.332	6.5	8.8	.746	1.2	6.0	7.2	6.9	1.7	0.8	3.3	1.9	27.6

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/26/2012.

This could be the year that Durant finally breaks through. He’s finished in the top-five in MVP voting the last three years, but he’s raised his game another notch this year. Bryant is playing great for the Lakers right now, but the fact that they’re struggling as a team hurts him. James is having a great year and shooting 53 percent is tremendous, but he won’t overcome Durant and Bryant without upping his steals and blocks average.

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Monday – NBA Awards Watch
Wednesday – NBA Power Rankings
Friday – NBA Stat Central
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