2013 NBA Season Awards Predictions: Handing out the hardware on season’s last day
By Matt Shetler
We are about to close the book on the 2012-13 NBA season and it is time to look back on the season that was.
With that being said, it’s time for my 2013 NBA Season Awards predictions, as I hand out some hardware to the best of the best throughout the year.
Apr. 15, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA: Houston Rockets guard James Harden against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Rockets 119-112. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Throughout the next couple weeks, the NBA will announce who will win their annual awards, but I will end the suspense now as I look at who should win each category.
Let’s not waste any time and hand out our first award.
Most Improved Player- James Harden, Houston Rockets
There were quite a few candidates for this award as guys like Jrue Holiday and Omer Asik certainly have thrown their name in the hat. However Harden has taken the step from sixth man to franchise player and has done so in a big way by averaging 25.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.8 rebounds this season, with a 23.13 PER, all while shooting 44% from the field.
The most impressive part of his season has been Harden’s ability to get to the charity-stripe, exactly what a superstar should do. On the season, Harden has gotten to the free-throw line 10.1 times per game, making 8.6 of those.
He has the fifth-highest scoring average in the league and led a Rockets team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2009. The best is yet to come from the bearded one. Harden may have already been a star, but the jump he has made this year wins him the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
Runner’s Up: Holiday, Asik