MVP? Please! Show Me the Real Studs Like Chris Paul!

Nows the time to be excited, right? 

The West is separated by just one or two games from No. 1 to No. 8.  The MVP award is being fought over worse than a toy in the sand box, and the worst teams in the league are losing (or winning) their way to the number one pick, more commonly referred to as Michael Beasley. 

But, for a moment, lets take a look at another brain teaser that has been on my mind;  the Most Improved Player award.

There are several players that come to mind when selecting such a underrated award; Deron Williams, Mo Williams, Pau Gasol maybe? 

No, this award has larger implications at stake.  It's more than just an award; it's an acknowledgment of a player who has put the time and sweat into getting better for not only the team, but for the fans, to make the game more enjoyable and interesting.

I have selected four players that seem worthy to be chosen as the most improved player. 

First and foremost, Hedo Turkoglu.  He has shown great strides from last year to now, it wasn't just his elevated scoring touch either. At six boards a game, he is averaging two rebounds more a game then last season, despite having one of the most dominate young big man in the game in Dwight Howard. 

The same goes for his passing.  The man is dishing out an additional two dimes a game compared to last season for a total of five a game; not bad coming from a big man that can shoot. 

Even though Hedo has been in the league for eight seasons, he has almost doubled his double-double totals with eight this season.  Also, he achieved a triple double twice this season—the first and second of his career. 

Finally, we have arrived at the most compelling stat line of this season's turn around.  He is averaging twenty points a game in only his second season of full time starting duty.  Oh yeah, one more thing:  He has helped restore the Orlando Magic as a powerful, play off bound force in the East, and lets be honest, the east needs all the talent it can steal from the West.

On deck is Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets.  Now this one may not have been so suprising.  In only his third year in the league CP3 has elevated his game to superstar level.  Without a doubt, he is the future of the point guard position.  He has almost single handedly transformed the Hornets from the bottom dwellers of the west to the number one seed in the Western Conference! 

He can shoot, pass, drive and make everyone around him play better. 

Now let's down to business.  Last season Paul averaged about four boards a game and that really hasn't changed this season, but that really doesn't hurt his stock much.  What does matter is that he has bettered his assist average by about two and a half per game. 

As it stands now, he is getting the ball to his teammates roughly eleven times a game.  Last season he averaged seventeen points a game. Which is good for a second year player.  But this year we are seeing a whole new Paul—he is being more assertive on the offensive end and is scoring twenty one points a game. 

He has had over fifty double doubles this season, and has almost zero reason not to have a double double every night.  He is also shooting nearly fifty percent from the floor, which is a direct result from him getting to the basket more and using his body. 

If defense wins championships, shouldn't Paul play by that rule to?  Well of course he does! He has picked more pockets than a group of carnies.  The man is averaging three steals a game which is more than one steal a game better than last year.

This next player is for me, a very important one.  He is a raw player that screams potential.  His name is Al Jefferson.  Have you ever heard of him? Yes? Good! 

Last year, big Al spent his time with the then drowning Celtics.  You can't help but feel sorry for the guy.  He has never played for a winning team and will never reach his full potential until he does. 

Even with all that aginst him he still owns the low post night in and night out.  When he was traded this offseason for the big ticket, he immediatly owned the court.  There was no one around him that would make a huge impact on how the Minnesota Timberwolves played.  That being said, Jefferson quickly blossomed into an offensive workhorse. 

He went from averaging sixteen points a game last season, competing with Paul Pierce for points, to averaging a respectable twenty-one PPG. Respectable because he came straight out of high school and came off the bench for the first two seasons of his career. 

He has fifty double doubles at this time in the season, which is hard to do when you are the main focal point for defenses.  Rebounding has remained the same for the most part, he is hovering around eleven RPG.  Don't let these numbers fool you, Al Jefferson can explode at any time, in any game, at his will.

Last on this short list is an Aussie.  That's right, Im talking about Andrew Bogut.  Ok, ok, I know what your thinking. But if you look at his improvment as an overall he does make a strong case. 

In the past he has come across as a weak player that seemed to lack the toughness that it takes to play down low on the block against some of the worlds best.  But this season he has done a complete 180.  He gave up his long surfer hair for the buzz cut, which makes him appear a bit more serious in what he sets out to do; that is, defend the post. 

Not only did he give up his hair but over the summer he put on 15 pounds of pure muscle.  He no longer gets pushed around in the post.  He also learned how to play defense. I have no idea where. He still plays for Milwaukee, right? 

Anyway, he has become a sort of shot blocker, which is unexpected considering the sum of the his two previous season totals is only 103! This year he is averaging 2 blocks a game for the Bucks. 

His rebounding and scoring has steadily increased each season but this year it took a considerable jump.  He has over 35 double doubles this season which is more than the combined amount of his first  two seasons. All together, Bogut is averaging 10 rebounds a game and 14 points a game.  That's good for him; not quite number-one-overall-pick good, but hey, at least he isn't Kwame.