2013-14 NBA Awards Watch: Week 2
This is the second week of the 2013-14 regular season edition of HoopsHabit’s NBA Awards Watch. Throughout the season, we will cover the potential winners for each award. Make sure to check back every Monday for the up-to-date projections.
Most Valuable Player
After two weeks and a 7-0 record, PG has emerged as the top candidate for MVP.(NBA.com photo)
1. Paul George
2. Kevin Durant
3. Kevin Love
The 23-year-old George is emerging as one of the top players in the league and he’s largely the reason Indiana is the only undefeated team left (7-0). He’s ranked third in scoring (25.1 PPG) and boasts a 25.98 PER. Leading the resurging Minnesota Timberwolves is Love, who continues his strong start to the season. He became the first player in NBA history to average 27 points, 14 rebounds and five assists through a team’s first six games (per @ESPNStatsInfo). He leads the league in rebounding and the Timberwolves are a surprising 5-2. Durant, on the other hand, is putting up his usual game-genie type of numbers the past two outings and is the game’s top scorer at 29.6 points per game. His best game of the season so far came against Washington in a close game Sunday when his stat line read 33 points, 13 rebounds, six assists.
Most Improved Player
The Unibrow just keeps getting better and better. (NBA.com photo)
2. Eric Bledsoe
3. Evan Turner
Davis has improved in every area of the game and his impact on defense was evident in his matchup against Pau Gasol, who credited Davis for his ability to block shots and run the floor. It’s been a monster start for Davis, averaging 23.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and a league-leading 4.3 blocked shots per game with a 31.01 PER. Who would have ever thought Phoenix would be 5-2? That’s because of the play of Bledsoe, who’s showcasing his star potential out there in the desert, averaging 20.3 points, 7.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds. In Philadelphia, there is a similar situation with Turner averaging 10 more points than last year (23.4) with the team having the conference’s second-best record.
Rookie of the Year
This award is MCW’s to lose. (NBA.com photo)
3. Nate Wolters
There is a feeling that this award will be MCW’s to lose. After two weeks of play, he’s separated himself from every other rookie, averaging 18.7 points, 8.1 assists (fifth in the league) and 5.9 rebounds per game. Oladipo had a down week, only reaching double figures in scoring in one out of three games, but still averages 11.4 for the season. A newcomer has been added to the list with Wolters, who’s taken over as the starter in Milwaukee playing close to 33 minutes a game. The 22-year-old is an effective passer, putting up 6.2 assists per game and he’s tied for third among rookies in scoring.
Defensive Player of the Year
Scoring. Rebounding. Blocked shots. Steals. Davis does it all.(NBA.com photo)
1. Anthony Davis
2. Roy Hibbert
3. Tony Allen
Because he is so active, Davis is always around the ball and can protect the rim with his incredible length. His 4.33 blocked shots per game is tops in the league and Hibbert is right behind him at 4.29. Allen is ranked fifth in steals and at 31 still remains one of the best one-on-one perimeter defenders around.
Sixth Man of the Year
No surprises here with J-Crossover averaging 16.7 PPG off the bench for LAC.(NBA.com photo)
2. Jeremy Lin
Crawford reached double figures in all four games this week, scoring 21 in the rout of Houston on Monday. He’s averaging 16.7 for the season and Lin is right behind him with 14.0. Ginobili has started the season slow (10.7 points per game), but you can expect his production to increase as the season progresses.
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