I recently answered a question for a Blazers sportswriters round table. It was about whether Robin Lopez deserved consideration for Most Improved Player this season. I answered that both Lillard and Aldridge (especially Lillard) deserved more consideration and that guys on other teams were more likely to win it. Two guys on Indy, in fact: Stephenson and George. Stephenson is the likely winner, IMO. However, the Bulls actually have three guys who deserve consideration, no? Noah pretty much finished last season averaging about 4 assists/game. For the second half of this season, he's averaging near 8, right? That's a pretty huge improvement, and I think he's gone from being the defensive motor and guy who cleans up the missed shots to the central focus of the offense. Taj is scoring 5.4 PPG more than last season, but in more minutes. Per 36, he's scoring about 4 PPG more, which is a HUGE improvement at the offensive end. He's still not as good as Boozer on offense, but he no longer gives us so much less he could be considered for the starting job. His PER has taken a nearly 2 point jump as well. He could win both MIP and 6th man award, no? Jimmy Butler is playing 11 more minutes a game than last season and is scoring over 4 more points per game. His 3pt shooting has gone from a respectable .381 to a terrible .264 though. He no longer looks at his feet when he dribbles, which shows in his higher APG (and per 36) numbers. Did he pretty much shut down LeBron last game or what?
The MIP award is not handed out very accurately. I lump it together with most defensive accolades as awards that don't deserve the prestige they're given. It always goes to nothing-to-something players even though going from good-to-great is usually more difficult. Most guys in the NBA are probably capable of putting up decent numbers in the right situation, it's just a matter of finding the right fit. Guys like Robin Lopez and DJ Augustin. What Noah and Aldridge have done is much more impressive though....they've elevated their games to best players on very good teams.
Generally, the MIP isn't a comparison of this season to the rest of your career, but rather this season to your last season. Augustin has gone from a minor role player (16mpg) with below average production for Indy to a 30+mpg key contributor with the Bulls. UI realize that he won't win it and doesn't fit your narrative, but he deserves as much consideration as any Bull.
I see the case you're making, but he was the same player all along. That's why he's not "improved." He's just getting playing time for lack of anyone else (or Kirk!). His per 36 numbers are only slightly above his career numbers: 16.6PPG vs. 14.3 PPG career .413 FG% vs. .402 6.1 APG vs. 5.8 Maybe Taj isn't such a good candidate after all. He's most definitely in the mix for 6MOY, though.
OK, then I guess Thibodeau only gets credit for playing Augustin, and maybe not even that since he pretty much had to. I'm good with that.
Yeah, I think Kirk was hurt so we badly needed to pick up a PG and Augustin was a steal. No doubt he was a steal. He was an NBA starter. He also started out really hot for the Bulls, but hist stats are tailing off quite a bit, no? There's also the seeming trend of PGs who aren't very good performing really well for Thibs. JLIII for example. Even CJ Watson - you even wrote an article about how great he was doing once
