Carlos Boozer finished behind (big gap) Zach Randolph in most improved player votes. Boozer finished ahead of Posey. Nice props for the big unit. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NEW YORK (Ticker) - Portland Trail Blazers forward Zach Randolph, who more than doubled his averages for points and rebounds, was named the NBA's Most Improved Player on Thursday. Randolph received 59 first-place votes and 379 points from a panel of 121 writers and broadcasters who cover the NBA. Cleveland Cavaliers forward Carlos Boozer finished a distant second with 12 first-place votes and 166 points. Memphis Grizzlies forward James Posey received more first-place votes (17) than Boozer, but was third overall with 137 points.</div> http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=rand...ov=st&type=lgns
If this summer he really works on his quicks and defense, we'll have one hell of a power forward. BTW : I'm out folks for the long weekend down here in Australia. Radiohead tonight! Back on board Monday your time!
If Boozer played the same way he did the second half of the year all year he would have gotten it in my opinion.
Boozer didn't get a chance to shine in the 1st half of the season. We had the infamous Ricky D and D Miles ahead of him taking shots. Same with Zydrunas. Our low post players became more of a threat when those two left.
Carlos Boozer deserved the award more than Randolph this year IMO, Boozer has improved so dramatically he has an astounding affect on his team while Randolph is a side step for the Blazers DA and Theo are before him on team impact. Boozer is the backbone of the cavaliers and should have won this award but anyways congrats to Boozer and Randolph.
Well I like Boozer but he didn't deserve it, this is my take on the award: As we all should <u>hopefully</u> know, the most improved award isn't given to whoever actually improves their game the most, but its more of a most improved minutes award. It's about who got the largest increase in minutes from the last year. Zach Randolph, Boozer and Redd etc weren't <u>most</u> improved players, they shouldn't be candidates because of course the likely improved in the summer but their statistical change is due to minutes. Tmac going from Toronto to Orlando didn't jut improve in minutes but improved statistically. This year the only guy's I would say improved were: Erick Dampier James Posey Lamar Odom, the work he put in to become a PF was spectacular. Joe Johnson Brian Cardinal Mark Blount Q-Rich a little Flip Murray, he improved a little, but he was already lighting up in practice and summer league last year. Yao improved slightly but his offensive rebounding and blocking could have been better. Manu Ginobili Jason Williams Marcus Camby and Raja Bell The rest of the guys made slight imprvements, but just got more minutes or produced about the same with less minutes. Randolph, Boozer, Redd, Mason, Magloire, Dalmbert, Arroyo, Artest, Maggette, Dunleavy, Tayshaun, Gasol, K.Thomas, and Nene Rafer Alston I saw him doing this his last few months in Toronto. and.... Richard Jefferson became a worse rebounder and he improved his scoring because he got a three point shot and became a better free throw shooter, but his improvement wasn't anything big. Stephen Jackson had no improvement but his minute and his scoring, and that was due to him going to Atlanta where he got more shots.
If Boozer could spend the entire summer working on his lateral quickness so he could actually play some tough defense (we all know he is strong enough), we could be looking at a top 5 PF in the NBA. Seriously... if gets quicker and works on getting rid of his bitch hands (he gets the ball poked away A LOT) then he could/should be an all-star next year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CBBI:</div><div class="quote_post">If Boozer could spend the entire summer working on his lateral quickness so he could actually play some tough defense (we all know he is strong enough), we could be looking at a top 5 PF in the NBA. Seriously... if gets quicker and works on getting rid of his bitch hands (he gets the ball poked away A LOT) then he could/should be an all-star next year.</div> Interesting post, in light of the fact that Boozer is tied with Nowitzki at 1.8 T/O's per game, the lowest of the season for any of the top PF's in the league.......Tank
I rather have Boozer in 1st place then Zach Randolph. Zach didn't do that much in the second half of the season. But Ginobili or Flip should have came close.
Sorry for going off topic but, doesn't LeBron look like a happy faced-Ma$e in that picture? Anyways. Zach's numbers were doubled from last season's and was consistant with it all year around. Boozer didn't come out of his shell until a few games before the break.
actually boozer was playing at an extremely high level as far back as january, remember he also got named nba player of the week quite a while before the break i think it's obvious boozer has completely upped his level of play to be among the elite in pfs, but i'm not that upset about him not winning MIP, he still got quite a few votes and i didn't see randolph enough to be able to speak knowledgeably about his improvement
The interesting thing about Carlos Boozer is the fact that he still has the ability to improve further next season and for years to come. He certainly has all the skills to improve, whether it's his outstanding jumpshot from just a few feet inside the line, his passion for grabbing boards, or his ability to play in the low post. I honestly believe with more touches, and more shot attempts he could improve to a 20 point 10 rebound a night type player. With Big Z also getting quality minutes and the majority of touches in the low post, it limits Boozer's contributions to a certain extent. I honestly believe if he was on a team without another low post presense, he could have easily been an allstar this season.
He deserves it, all places do, although I myself wanted Redd way up there amongst Boozer and Randolph. Some 2nd Rounders are just such amazing players. The thing is, they were always good, it's not really or shouldn't be about the stats, they were simply not used at the time. If Booze could work on his defense, then damn he'd be a pretty, well hell, let's just say one hell of a complete player. Randolph worked hard, he's been kind of whiney occasionally but he's proven his worth. I myself would've had those 3 sharing it.
I kinda thought Redd would be 2nd in votes. That's what I thought, but Boozer does deserve it too. With all double doubles and a big reason why the Cavs was pushing for the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr_Infante:</div><div class="quote_post"> Sorry for going off topic but, doesn't LeBron look like a happy faced-Ma$e in that picture? Anyways. Zach's numbers were doubled from last season's and was consistant with it all year around. Boozer didn't come out of his shell until a few games before the break.</div> Heh, sorta looks like it. He looks pretty cool excpt for his smile.
Boozer deserved to be a candidate, but not the winner. If Randolph, Posey or Redd were in Cleveland you'd all say they would deserve it over Boozer. Gotta love that home town loyalty.
