2013-14 NBA Picks and Predictions: Scoring Title Favorites, Contenders and Sleepers

2013-14 NBA Picks and Predictions: Scoring Title Favorites, Contenders and Sleepers: While basketball is a team game and there are countless factors that go into deciding the outcome of a game, scoring points will always be the main category used to judge the ability and success of an individual player. In fact, the NBA awards the scoring title each year to the player that averages the most points per game, and the honor has been dominated by the league’s superstars. Michael Jordan’s 10 scoring titles are the most all-time, and Wilt Chamberlain, Goerge Gervin and Kobe Bryant are just a few of the other winners. Last season, Carmelo Anthony took home the first scoring title of his career, and while he will be looking to repeat, there are several other players that could stand in his way. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the players with the best chance to win the scoring title in the 2013-14 NBA season.

The Favorites

He won his first scoring title last year with an average of 28.7 points per game, and New York’s Carmelo Anthony is a near lock to be in the mix for this year’s crown, as well. After all, he really the only starter for the Knicks that can create his own shot, and the team’s offense is basically designed to have him shoulder the offensive load. Anthony averaged more shots per game than any other player last year, and he has the versatile offensive skills to take advantage of the opportunities.

Although he failed to four-peat as scoring champ last year, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant still finished second with an average of 28.1 points per game. More importantly, he could easily regain in his crown in the 2013-14 season. After all, Durant is a matchup nightmare for defenders. He has the size to get his shot off at will, and he has range out beyond the arc. Not to mention the fact that he is one of the best in the NBA at getting to the foul line. The fact that his Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook will miss at least the first month of the year only means more shots.

Other Contenders

Since winning his lone scoring title to date in 2007-08, Miami’s LeBron James has remained one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA. In fact, he has finished in the four in scoring in each of the last five seasons, and he has been runner-up three times. While moving to the Heat has forced him to share his shot opportunities with his star teammates, his dramatic increases in efficiency, especially from beyond the arc, has offset the drop in attempts. The only real hurdle James faces is that he is such a willing passer when his team doesn’t need to shoulder the scoring load.

After coming off the bench in Oklahoma City for a few years, James Harden shined in his first year as a starter for the Houston Rockets. His 25.9 points per game was the fifth-best scoring average, and Harden got to the foul line more than any other player in the NBA last year. He also ranked in the top 10 in 3-pointers made per game, and that total could be shooting up now that Dwight Howard will be drawing attention in the middle. Either way, Harden clearly has the offensive game and aggressive style to contend for a scoring title in 2013-14.

The Sleeper

While he seems like an established star, Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving is entering just his third year in the NBA. As a sophomore, he saw his scoring average jump from 18.5 points per game to 22.5 point per game, putting him eighth in the NBA in the category. Meanwhile, he made more 3-pointers and free throws per game last year without sacrificing much in the way of efficiency. If he experiences a similar jump in his numbers 2013-14, Irving should be right in the mix for the scoring title.

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