<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">And basketball isnt linear in that if you play 10 minutes and get 2 points you'll get 8 points in 40 minutes. Mike James being the player he was this year attracted far more defensive attention. Where as last year he wasnt one of the top threats on the team, this season he was the #2 guy. He also was counted on to perform in tight situations, the end of game stiffling defence which he didnt see as much in Houston.</div> With talented players, it kinda is in a sense. It's not actually linear, but one thing we need to note is that most perimeter players that can score in the NBA were at one point scorers in there basketball career. The impressive thing about Mike James is that he was able to increase his percentages all over, as opposed to him scoring more points. If you're a good scorer, and get more minutes, you will scorer more over a time period. It's not like if in one game you get 20 minutes and score 10 points you'll score 20 points in 40. It's if through 30 games you play 10 MPG and average 10 PPG, if you play 40 MPG through another 30 games, and are used at the same rate, you will very likely average 20 PPG, though it could be a little harder as you move up the option ladder. With Mike James though, you can see he's a superior scorer when the ball is in his hands as opposed to just catching and shooting, though he is very capable in that area. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Diaw is another one but i think much of his improvement is because of Nash and Mike D.</div> I can agree with D'Antoni and the Suns system, but in games Nash missed, Diaw has averaged 12.3 APG, and Marion 26 PPG, and 50.9% FG, so I don't think his improvement has anything to do with Nash, unless it's one of those magical leadership things that no one really knows if it's there, but it's just an argument that can't really be proven or disproven.
The award should go to either Boris Diaw or David West. No one else apart from those 2 should get it.
Aight I'm opening myself up to some serious death threats with this one but what about a guy that I like to refer to as: Kobe Bryant. He has increased his scoring average by over 7 ppg to a mind boggling 35.4 while being the focus of every defense all season long, shot 2% better than the field, and his endurance is incredible...talk to me people
lol, no way in hell will Kobe win or deserves the award. He has been great the last 6 seasons, compared to some one like West who went from averaging 6, 2, 2 to 17, 7, 3 or what ever it is.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NTC187:</div><div class="quote_post">The award should go to either Boris Diaw or David West. No one else apart from those 2 should get it.</div> James should be considered.....I dont think he should win..but in my opinion he's in the top 3 with Diaw and West
While I think Mike James has had an excellent season (and as the stats show), as RipCity said, Mike James showed signs last season that he was capable of the season he had this year. Last year he started 5/74 games, played 74 off the bench and still managed 871 Points, 263 Assists, 202 Rebounds in 1,859 minutes. This season he came to argurbally the worst team in the league, was their number #1 PG option and notched up 1,604 Points, 460 Assists, 262 Rebounds starting 79/79 games, playing 2,925 minutes. I dont really think that warrants a Most Improved award, he doubled his playing time from the season before, and only doubled his numbers along with it, which is good no doubt, but not as impressive as West or Diaw who really came out of nowhere.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">Aight I'm opening myself up to some serious death threats with this one but what about a guy that I like to refer to as: Kobe Bryant. He has increased his scoring average by over 7 ppg to a mind boggling 35.4 while being the focus of every defense all season long, shot 2% better than the field, and his endurance is incredible...talk to me people</div> Yes, because this is extremely stupid, Kobe averaged 30 PPG a few seasons ago also. I don't see what's the big deal about being the focus of the defense when many other guys are in the same situation. Kobe also didn't go up in rebounds or assists this year. Arenas went up almost 4 PPG, no one is saying he's MIP [he already won one also]. If anyone was going to be MIP for becoming a better scorer, how about Carmelo who went from 20.8 PPG to 26.5 PPG, but no.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">Aight I'm opening myself up to some serious death threats with this one but what about a guy that I like to refer to as: Kobe Bryant. He has increased his scoring average by over 7 ppg to a mind boggling 35.4 while being the focus of every defense all season long, shot 2% better than the field, and his endurance is incredible...talk to me people</div> To even bring his name up is ridiculous.
Boris Diaw. I've been hyping Diaw when the trade went down, alot of people looked down on me saying Phoneix will be better without Johnson and Richardson and better with Bell and Diaw. I stand right AGAIN....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">Aight I'm opening myself up to some serious death threats with this one but what about a guy that I like to refer to as: Kobe Bryant. He has increased his scoring average by over 7 ppg to a mind boggling 35.4 while being the focus of every defense all season long, shot 2% better than the field, and his endurance is incredible...talk to me people</div> are you serious? This is the dumbest thing i ever heard. i know you like Kobe but he can't get all the awards. kobe and most improved? NO!.. Just because his scoring improved doesnt mean he is the MIP. You have to look at the other stats as well. Kobe's scoring improved a lot, but you can't consider him for the MIP award, thats why he is considered as an MVP
