About one fourth of the NBA season is over. Who do you think will win the Most Improved Player award based on their performance so far? Here are my top six candidates - 1)Flip Murray (22.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.3 apg = <font color="Blue">+ 20.9 ppg</font>, + 3.9 rpg, <font color="Blue">+ 3.9 apg</font>) 2)Erick Dampier (12.7ppg, 14.1 rpg = + 4.5ppg, <font color="Blue">+ 7.5 rpg</font>) 3)Vin Baker (15.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg = + 10.5 ppg, + 3.4 rpg) 4)Zach Randolph (20.4 ppg, 11.4 rpg = + 12ppg, +6.9rpg) 5)Emanuel Ginobili (15.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.8 apg = +8.2 ppg, + 3.6 rpg, + 2.8 apg) 6)Michael Redd (21.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 91% FT = + 6.7 ppg, + 1.7 rpg, <font color="Blue">+ 10% FT</font>)
I don't like 2nd year players being nominated for the award. I believe they are still growing and maturing. Mnay of them are finally just getting time, so how can we judge that as improving? I don't like Vin Baker here because he has shown he has done this before (and was much better) However I belive "Comeback Player" would fit him well. Erick Dampier to me fits the bill. He has had problems with fouls in his career, so he has worked on better positioning. Manu is a 2nd year player that was hurt for the majority of last season with an ankle injury. Randolph when he has had time, has showed that this is what he will do on the basketball court, even doing it in the playoffs against Dallas. Same goes for Redd, 15.1 in 28.2 minutes last season, 21.8 in 36.6 minutes this year. That shows that with time, he will produce. Flip only played 124 minutes going into this season, and was 22-62 from the field for a .354 FG%, and now this year he is shooting .479%, which is amazing. Going from nothing to ranking #7 in the NBA in Points Per Game(22.8) just might give him a nod to get in.
Flip Murray IMO is the most deserving. If Jamal Crawford started, i would hope that he would be up there, too. Thats not the case right now though
Jamal Crawford has been said to be up for this award every year it seems...I'm getting tired of the expections about this kid.I say give this award to Flip Murray or Zach Randolph...to go from a bench player to a 20 and 11 player in one season is truely amazing.Even if we knew he had the skills..
Flip had 42 minutes total in his first year, going by the criteria they use he's probably the most improved but considering he didn't get a chance in his first season it's hard to gauge improvement. At the moment I'd say Zach Randolph and Erick Dampier. As KJ said, Dampier has always had a problem with fouls, and Randolph has really improved his fitness and agility, even though he's getting way minutes this year.
Although Dampier has been putting up amazing numbers on the glass, I feel like those numbers will plunge greatly once Troy Murphy gets back and Dampier gets some help on the boards. KingJames, no matter how you feel about second year players the fact of the matter is that they are qualified to win the award and the league is probably looking at Ronald Murray as the favorite right now. I do not feel that Zach Randolph should win the award basically because he didn't improve whatsoever. He just got the minutes he had deserved. I doubt that his stats per minute changed at all. Again, the league most likely won't look at that though. I think that Emanuel Ginobili deserves attention. He has sincerely improved not only because he has recieved more minutes, but because he has worked on his game. In every area he has improved nicely. While his stats don't jump right out at you, they are the most well-rounded of the six players I mentioned. When the season ends I think that you will see <u>Zach Randolph</u> with the award. I believe that when Ray Allen comes back off of the injured list Ronald Murray's productivity will be crushed severely. However, if the Sonics trade either Allen or Murray then my favorite for the award is <u>Flip Murray</u>.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">When the season ends I think that you will see <u>Zach Randolph</u> with the award. I believe that when Ray Allen comes back off of the injured list Ronald Murray's productivity will be crushed severely. However, if the Sonics trade either Allen or Murray then my favorite for the award is <u>Flip Murray</u>.</div> If Flip continues to put up his current numbers, my belief is Nate will have no choice but to give him big minutes, and Ridnour and Daniels will be the odd men out. Flip's shown an ability to handle to ball which management didn';t have before, hence you'll see a 3 guard rotaion Allen, Flip and Barry, 3 shooting guards who can handle the ball, depending on matchups. I'd be surprised to see Flip go under 16-18 ppg by the end of the season, and even that would probably get him the award. Zach's a beast tho.
How about Baron Davis? +8 in points, +1 in steals, +2 assists (well 1.7), +1.2 in rebounds from last season as well as 40% from three. It's not just the players that used to suck that can win the award to me. It's most improved and Baron sure as hell has improved from last season. Also, on a sidenote, Kenyon has also improved. As of now he's putting up the 20 and 10 season people said he should if he wants his big contract.
I'd go with Zach .. I don't expect Flip to keep up those numbers .. and Zach is posting up KG kind of numbers
I would say either Flip or Dampier. As KJ said, I don't like the second here guys winning this award but they are elligible so as of right now the award goes to Flip. The season is still young so well will have to wait and see.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sunsfan1357:</div><div class="quote_post">How about Baron Davis? +8 in points, +1 in steals, +2 assists (well 1.7), +1.2 in rebounds from last season as well as 40% from three. It's not just the players that used to suck that can win the award to me. It's most improved and Baron sure as hell has improved from last season. </div>Although the player technically doesn't have to start off as crappy player, that is usually the case. I doubt Baron Davis will win it, although he is seriously gunning for the MVP award.
I agree with King James in the fact that I don't think 2nd year players should be able to get it either. That's why I think last years wasn't that good is cause Arenas was only in his 2nd year. But, since the NBA doesn't really care about that thought process, this will be assuming he can keep it going, Flip. Right now, he's doing all this great stuff, but, don't forget, Ray Allen is still injured. Once he gets back it'll be interesting to see how effect Flip will be as the 2nd or 3rd scorer. But, I think it should go to Dampier or Randolph. Though, with each of them it's also kinda like the Michael Redd situation. With minutes comes production. So, really, I think the clear cut guy right now is probably Flip. Though, he's only a 2nd year guy, he's had mad improvements in everything from PPG to FG%.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting InNETSweTrust:</div><div class="quote_post">Flip or Zach...they just came out of nowhere...</div>Ronal Murray came out of nowhere, but everyone saw Zach Randolph coming from a mile away. He got a thirty point and twenty rebound game last year. Every time he got minutes he played big.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't like 2nd year players being nominated for the award. I believe they are still growing and maturing. Mnay of them are finally just getting time, so how can we judge that as improving? I don't like Vin Baker here because he has shown he has done this before (and was much better) However I belive "Comeback Player" would fit him well. Erick Dampier to me fits the bill. He has had problems with fouls in his career, so he has worked on better positioning. Manu is a 2nd year player that was hurt for the majority of last season with an ankle injury. Randolph when he has had time, has showed that this is what he will do on the basketball court, even doing it in the playoffs against Dallas. Same goes for Redd, 15.1 in 28.2 minutes last season, 21.8 in 36.6 minutes this year. That shows that with time, he will produce. Flip only played 124 minutes going into this season, and was 22-62 from the field for a .354 FG%, and now this year he is shooting .479%, which is amazing. Going from nothing to ranking #7 in the NBA in Points Per Game(22.8) just might give him a nod to get in.</div> so who do you think should it get it?
