2013-2014 NBA Awards Watch: Week 3
This is the third 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
The monster season continues for Love. (NBA.com photo)
1. Kevin Love
2. LeBron James
3. Kevin Durant
Love takes over the No. 1 spot and continues his impressive start to the season, now averaging 26.8 points and 13.6 rebounds, putting up 23 and 19 against the Clippers in a two-point loss last Monday. It took a few weeks for LeBron to start dominating like he usually does, but he had a huge week scoring 33, 39, and 30 points in three straight wins against the Bucks, Mavericks and Bobcats. It’s no surprise Durant is still leading the NBA in scoring, putting on strong showings against the Warriors and Clippers.
Most Improved Player
All eyes continue to be on The Unibrow’s huge sophomore season. (NBA.com photo)
2. Eric Bledsoe
3. Evan Turner
No changes here after the third week. Davis now has the third-highest PER in the NBA, trailing only LeBron and Love. And yet, he’s only 20 years old. Bledsoe had a solid overall week, but his team did not do so well in losses to the Trailblazers and Nets. Turner has helped lead the 76ers to the top record (and only team above .500) in the Atlantic Division, scoring 23 points in a solid win against the Rockets on Wednesday.
Rookie of the Year
Due to a foot injury, MCW has missed the last three games. (NBA.com photo)
3. Nate Wolters
Nursing a foot injury, MCW has missed the last three games but it’s not considered to be serious. Still, he’s got a comfortable lead on every other rookie in most of the major categories. Oladipo is not scoring as much, but his contribution is not necessarily going to show up on the scoreboard. He’s still logging solid minutes and putting up 11.7 points per game. Wolters is a taller point guard at 6-foot-4 and is a key young player for the retooling Bucks and he remains third in scoring amongst rookies.
Defensive Player of the Year
Hibbert is one of the few “original” centers left in the league. (NBA.com photo)
1. Roy Hibbert
3. Anthony Davis
Without question, Hibbert has simply dominated games on the defensive side of the floor. Against the Bucks, he nearly finished with a triple-double with a stat line of 24 points, 10 rebounds and 8 blocks. Howard himself put together a strong week blocking shots, with five against the Raptors, six against the 76ers and four against the Knicks. Davis ranks second in blocks at 3.6 per game and nearly had a triple-double himself against the 76ers with 13 points, nine rebounds and eight blocks.
Sixth Man of the Year
Though he lost his starting spot, Lin is having a better season than last. (NBA.com photo)
1. Jeremy Lin
3. Mo Williams
In James Harden‘s absence against the 76ers, Lin was inserted into the starting lineup and had a big-time game, scoring 34 points. Against the Knicks and Nuggets coming off the bench, he scored 21 and 16, respectively. The Clippers have won four straight and Crawford over those four games has averaged 16.5 points per game. Williams has been a nice pickup for the red-hot Trail Blazers, who have won six straight. He’s backing up Damian Lillard and scoring 10.1 points per game.
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