NBA Awards Watch #6 (December 3, 2012)

We’ve reached the sixth edition of our NBA Awards Watch for 2012-13! 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 December 2nd.

Most Improved Player

1. James Harden

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	23	HOU	NBA	16	16	38.8	.427	.341	.834	0.8	3.3	4.1	5.4	1.7	0.6	4.1	2.2	24.1
Career			NBA	236	23	27.5	.442	.368	.835	0.6	2.9	3.5	2.7	1.1	0.3	1.8	2.5	13.5

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/3/2012.

2. Nicolas Batum

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	24	POR	NBA	17	17	39.1	.438	.379	.813	1.6	4.4	5.9	2.9	1.8	1.1	2.5	1.9	17.6
Career			NBA	272	219	27.0	.458	.373	.833	1.2	2.8	4.0	1.4	0.8	0.7	1.1	2.0	10.7

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/3/2012.

3. Jrue Holiday

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	22	PHI	NBA	17	17	38.5	.457	.392	.781	0.9	2.6	3.5	9.3	1.4	0.5	4.1	2.5	18.5
Career			NBA	237	215	31.7	.442	.378	.795	0.8	2.5	3.4	5.3	1.4	0.3	2.4	2.3	12.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/3/2012.

Harden and Batum have been mainstays on our list, but Holiday has been a big surprise this year. Aside from the horrid amount of turnovers, he’s putting up awesome numbers for a team that doesn’t play an exciting brand of offensive basketball. Any regression by Harden and Batum, and we could see Holiday sneak in and win this award.

Sixth Man of the Year

1. Jamal Crawford

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	32	LAC	NBA	16	0	28.8	.453	.407	.942	0.1	1.8	1.9	1.6	1.1	0.1	1.9	1.2	17.5
Career			NBA	828	399	31.7	.409	.349	.854	0.4	2.2	2.5	3.8	1.0	0.2	2.0	1.6	15.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/3/2012.

2. Kevin Martin

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	29	OKC	NBA	18	0	29.7	.462	.477	.928	0.2	2.3	2.4	1.7	1.2	0.2	1.6	2.0	16.1
Career			NBA	493	387	31.2	.443	.381	.867	0.6	2.8	3.4	2.0	0.9	0.1	1.8	2.0	18.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/3/2012.

3. Ramon Sessions

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	26	CHA	NBA	15	0	28.9	.387	.206	.821	0.6	3.2	3.8	4.4	1.0	0.0	2.0	1.4	15.9
Career			NBA	338	108	25.5	.445	.312	.789	0.6	2.5	3.2	5.0	0.8	0.1	2.0	1.6	11.3

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/3/2012.

No change in our Sixth Man of the Year voting from a week ago. All three of these men have been consistently impressive and unless Crawford falls off considerably, there’s no chance Martin or Sessions can pass him. With the Clippers and their tendency to go stale at times, Crawford is in a perfect spot to fire night after night.

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Tim Duncan

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	36	SAS	NBA	17	17	31.3	.538	.667	.775	1.9	8.1	10.1	2.6	0.9	2.4	1.5	1.9	18.9
Career			NBA	1128	1126	35.4	.507	.187	.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 12/3/2012.

2. Josh Smith

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	27	ATL	NBA	13	13	34.9	.444	.357	.478	1.8	5.8	7.6	3.7	1.4	2.4	3.2	3.3	16.1
Career			NBA	613	591	34.0	.464	.279	.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 12/3/2012.

3. Roy Hibbert

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	26	IND	NBA	17	17	29.1	.390	.000	.575	4.0	4.2	8.2	1.4	0.7	3.1	1.9	3.7	9.7
Career			NBA	314	273	24.6	.475	.250	.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 12/3/2012.

Duncan still leads the league in defensive rating and is even showing a little bit of emotion on the court. Smith continues to have a solid year and is one of few players averaging over one steal and two blocks. Roy Hibbert leads one of the best defenses in the league and is blocking 3.1 shots per game.

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	17	17	37.3	6.5	15.2	.430	2.5	6.2	.410	3.2	3.8	.844	0.8	2.5	3.3	6.2	1.4	0.2	3.4	2.1	18.8
Career			NBA	17	17	37.3	6.5	15.2	.430	2.5	6.2	.410	3.2	3.8	.844	0.8	2.5	3.3	6.2	1.4	0.2	3.4	2.1	18.8

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/3/2012.

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 12/3/2012.

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	15	15	27.3	4.1	8.9	.455	0.1	0.1	.500	2.7	3.5	.774	1.9	4.5	6.5	1.5	1.2	1.3	1.5	2.5	10.9
Career			NBA	15	15	27.3	4.1	8.9	.455	0.1	0.1	.500	2.7	3.5	.774	1.9	4.5	6.5	1.5	1.2	1.3	1.5	2.5	10.9

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/3/2012.

Lillard is running away with the award, although a big part is because of Davis’ health. Dion Waiters could find himself on this list if he improves his shooting percentage. Harrison Barnes has also been impressive in bunches, but his raw numbers don’t get him on our list. It’s Lillard’s award to lose at this point.

Most Valuable Player

1. Kevin Durant

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	24	OKC	NBA	18	18	39.0	.512	.438	.895	0.7	8.0	8.7	4.3	1.6	1.6	3.4	1.5	26.2
Career			NBA	398	398	38.1	.470	.367	.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 12/3/2012.

2. Kobe Bryant

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	34	LAL	NBA	17	17	37.1	.489	.395	.878	0.7	4.5	5.2	5.1	1.5	0.0	4.0	2.9	27.3
Career			NBA	1178	1030	36.5	.454	.338	.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 12/3/2012.

3. LeBron James

Season	Age	Tm	Lg	G	GS	MP	FG%	3P%	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2012-13	28	MIA	NBA	15	15	37.3	.533	.438	.659	1.5	7.3	8.9	6.5	1.1	0.9	2.5	1.9	24.7
Career			NBA	704	703	39.9	.484	.333	.745	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 12/3/2012.

For those looking for Carmelo Anthony, consider this – he doesn’t lead these four candidates in any category except personal fouls. Hard to put him in here with that consideration. Durant’s having a year for the ages and is making it look easy. James seems to take games over late and is putting up those numbers despite the fact he looks like he takes it easy for three quarters.

Thanks for visiting HoopsHabit.com! We’d love to hear your opinion in the comments section below!

Please visit our sponsors and like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our Youtube feed and tell your friends!

HoopsHabit’s Regular Column Schedule:

Monday – NBA Awards Watch
Wednesday – NBA Power Rankings
Friday – NBA Stat Central
Sunday – Your NBA Fix Podcast