http://www.nba.com/news/ellis_mostimproved_070426.html <div class="quote_poster">Quoting "nba.com":</div><div class="quote_post">Closest Race Ever as Ellis Edges Sacramento’s Martin for Honor NEW YORK, April 26, 2007 – Monta Ellis of the Golden State Warriors was named the winner of the 2006-07 NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today. The annual award is presented to a player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons. Ellis received a total of 352 points, including 47 first-place votes, from a panel of 129 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The Sacramento Kings’ Kevin Martin finished second with 349 points (44 first-place votes) followed by the Utah Jazz’s Deron Williams with 101 points (13 first-place votes). Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third place vote received. This is the closest finish in the history of the award since 1990-91 when Scott Skiles of Orlando edged out Kevin Gamble of Boston by four votes After averaging 6.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists and .415 shooting for the Warriors in 2005-06, Ellis increased his scoring by 9.7 points (16.5 ppg) – the largest increase in the NBA this season -- to go along with his averages of 3.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.71 steals. Starting 53 of the 77 games he appeared in, Ellis reached double figures in scoring 68 times, including 24 games of 20 or more points. The 6-3 guard recorded three or more steals 20 times and had at least five steals three times, including a career-high six at Seattle (March 17). Selected by the Warriors in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft (40th overall), Ellis was second only to Chris Paul (17.2 ppg) of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets in scoring among players from that Draft class. Ellis also noticed a significant increase in his assist numbers as he dished five or more assists 33 times, including a career-high 13 at the Los Angeles Clippers (Feb. 24). Attached are the voting results for this year’s NBA Most Improved Player Award and the all-time list of winners. 2006-07 NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD VOTING RESULTS Player, Team 1st 2nd 3rd Pts Monta Ellis, Golden State 47 34 15 352 Kevin Martin, Sacramento 44 38 15 349 Deron Williams, Utah 13 6 18 101 Tyson Chandler, NOK 6 9 72 Andris Biedrins, Golden State 8 4 12 64 Al Jefferson, Boston 2 13 13 62 Luol Deng, Chicago 2 7 13 44 Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix 3 3 -- 24 Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 1 2 3 14 David Lee, New York -- 3 3 12 Jason Kapono, Miami -- 1 7 10 Josh Howard, Dallas 1 1 1 9 Mikki Moore, New Jersey - 2 3 9 Carlos Boozer, Utah 1 - 3 8 Jose Calderon, Toronto - 2 -- 6 Amar? Stoudemire, Phoenix 1 -- -- 5 Matt Carroll, Charlotte -- -- 3 3 Bostjan Nachbar, New Jersey -- 1 -- 3 Eddy Curry, New York -- 1 -- 3 Caron Butler, Washington -- -- 2 2 Josh Smith, Atlanta -- -- 1 1 Gerald Wallace, Charlotte -- -- 1 1 Ben Gordon, Chicago -- -- 1 1 Sasha Pavlovic, Cleveland -- -- 1 1 Nene, Denver -- -- 1 1 Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers -- -- 1 1 Luke Walton, L.A. Lakers -- -- 1 1 Dwight Howard, Orlando -- -- 1 1 Chris Wilcox, Seattle -- -- 1 1 ALL-TIME NBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD WINNERS 1985-86 Alvin Robertson, San Antonio 1986-87 Dale Ellis, Seattle 1987-88 Kevin Duckworth, Portland 1988-89 Kevin Johnson, Phoenix 1989-90 Rony Seikaly, Miami 1990-91 Scott Skiles, Orlando 1991-92 Pervis Ellison, Washington 1992-93 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Denver 1993-94 Don MacLean, Washington 1994-95 Dana Barros, Philadelphia 1995-96 Gheorghe Muresan, Washington 1996-97 Isaac Austin, Miami 1997-98 Alan Henderson, Atlanta 1994-95 Dana Barros, Philadelphia 1998-99 Darrell Armstrong, Orlando 1999-00 Jalen Rose, Indiana 2000-01 Tracy McGrady, Orlando 2001-02 Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana 2002-03 Gilbert Arenas, Golden State 2003-04 Zach Randolph, Portland 2004-05 Bobby Simmons, L.A. Clippers 2005-06 Boris Diaw, Phoenix 2006-07 Monta Ellis, Golden State </div> The race was very close, wow. It didn't really matter if Monta Ellis won this award or not, because he made tremendous performances this season compared to last season when Montgomery refused for most of the year to at least use his defense to cover up Derek Fisher's and the team's lack of perimeter defense. Monta Ellis clearly earned being either 1a. or 1b. with Kevin Martin for MIP this season. Right now, he joins a very interesting list of players, I must say. It is a great accomplishment and achievement for Monta Ellis. I hope this is just the start of more and better things to come. What a season for Monta Ellis! Now we have to make sure to re-sign this guy for sure . No more Arenas situations, hah
I find it funny Mikki Moore got 5 votes, unusual for a guy in his late 30s to get votes for MIP. Congrats to Monta.
I thought Kevin Martin would've gotten this award close over Monta Ellis. He's certainly taken a step forward replacing Bonzi Wells and scoring at a consistent rate every night. I guess Monta's teams' success made his case better, but either guy wouldn't be a bad choice. Congrats to Monta.
More comparisons to Gilbert - both were second-year players to win the award. Congratulations to him.
<div class="quote_poster">Will637 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I thought Kevin Martin would've gotten this award close over Monta Ellis. He's certainly taken a step forward replacing Bonzi Wells and scoring at a consistent rate every night. I guess Monta's teams' success made his case better, but either guy wouldn't be a bad choice. Congrats to Monta.</div> I think Monta's performance in All-Star weekend along with his team making the playoffs gave him that slight edge that he got in winning the award. But there is no doubt that Kevin Martin will be a very good player as well, if he isn't already.
I want to point out there are a lot of busts on that list...hopefully Monta isn't one of them. I think he has what it takes to make it but his game still has a lot of question marks for me.
I thought that Kevin Martin would take the award home. But, still a good choice for MIP since he obviously stepped up his game to another level. I think Monta is gonna be a great player inb the NBA after about 2 to 3 seasons. Congrats Monta!!!
Thing with Deron Williams is that he was the 3rd pick overall... while Monta was like what, 40 or 41?
Seems stupid to give the MIP award to second year players, but whatever... can't really argue against his improvement.
<div class="quote_poster">44Thrilla Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Seems stupid to give the MIP award to second year players, but whatever... can't really argue against his improvement.</div> What would you suggest? 3rd year and onward? If that was the case than Andris Biedrins would have gotten it I think.
<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What would you suggest? 3rd year and onward? If that was the case than Andris Biedrins would have gotten it I think.</div> Kevin Martin just finished his 3rd year.
<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What would you suggest? 3rd year and onward? If that was the case than Andris Biedrins would have gotten it I think.</div> Monta Ellis 352 pts, Kevin Martin 349 pts, Deron Williams 100. Kevin Martin is a 3rd year player, so its seems if it was 3rd year players and onward it would be Kevin Martin by a landslide.
<div class="quote_poster">Skiptomylue11 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Monta Ellis 352 pts, Kevin Martin 349 pts, Deron Williams 100. Kevin Martin is a 3rd year player, so its seems if it was 3rd year players and onward it would be Kevin Martin by a landslide.</div> Ah, forgot about that. Then yeah, he'd get it. What sucks is that this will raise Monta's value... gives his agent another weapon.
<div class="quote_poster">AnimeFANatic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Ah, forgot about that. Then yeah, he'd get it. What sucks is that this will raise Monta's value... gives his agent another weapon.</div>Yea, that is always a difficult situation, you want your players to play great, but you don't want them to outprice themselves for your team.
