The MVP race may be hailed by some as the most important race aside from the playoffs in the NBA today, I disagree with that. While selecting an MVP will take deep consideration, you only choose from 2 people. This year for example. Everyone knows its going to come down between Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant, not Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, or Dwight Howard. Those are all just extra names that were thrown into the mix to make the general public believe that its going to be anybody's race. On the otherhand, for the MIP award, there are at least 10 candidates worthy of that honor every year and this choosing really does take some thought.
Number one, there's a longer list of choices for the MIP award.
Number 2, this award isn't really wrapped up until maybe the last week of the season, whereas the MVP award is locked in with a month ago with the exception of this year.
Also the team's record has proven to be a deciding factor in the voting as well. Here are the last 5 reciepients
Monta Ellis
Boris Diaw
Bobby Simmons
Zach Randolph
Gilbert Arenas
What do they have in common? None of their teams had over 45 wins the year they won it. So that automatically eliminates most contenders with the exception of the proven ones.
Anyway, here's a list of players that I felt have the best chances of winning the coveted Most Improved Player Award
1.Hedo Turkoglu
The clear cut winner this year. Hedo's grown out of his Sacramento clothes and shown the NBA he can compete with the best of them. By transforming his game, he's become Orlando's 2nd-3rd scoring option and an automatic threat for the one defender that has to single handedly guard him.
- B/R Ticket Guide
He's having career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and minutes per game. A big reason why the Orlando Magic are in the #3 seed this year Not to mention his timely game winning shots.
The most significant: A three pointer over Paul Pierce to beat the Boston Celtics on January 27, on ABC Sunday. Hedo Turkoglu averages 19.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 4.9 APG.
2. Al Jefferson
After coming over via the colossal Kevin Garnett trade, Jefferson has transformed into one of the Western Conference's most elite centers.
In only his 3rd season as a pro, he ranks 2nd in the NBA in double-doubles with 50 behind Dwight Howard. Career highs in points, FT percentage, rebounds, assists, and steals per game can't hurt his resume either. Averaging 20.9 PPG, 11.2 APG, and 1.5 BPG, Al is definitelt turning heads around the league
3. Dwight Howard
The only reason Howard is not at the top of this list, is because everyone expected him to be a beast coming out of South West Atlanta Christian Academy.
Superman is posting 21.5 PPG, 14.5 RPG , and 2.3 BPG.
The last Orlando player to have numbers anywhere close to that was the Old Superman Shaquille O'Neal.
Points, rebounds, blocks, and minutes per game at their highest they've ever been and capturing at least the #3 seed is a boost to his cause. Howard leads the NBA in double-doubles, dunks, rebounds, and free throw attempts. A beast is an understatement for this kid.
4. Kenyon Martin
This may look funny to mant but it all makes sense. He's improved his free throw shooting from 25% a year ago to 57.5% this year, his blocks per game average have been the highest since 03-04 season, his assist total is the highest since 05-06, along with his points per game average, his steal average the highest since 04-05, and he's having a career high in FG %.
The Most Improved Player of the Year award is all about working on your game and how its improved from the previous years , thus reconstructing it. Well considering Kenyon only played in the first 2 games of the year, I say job well done. Martin has had a couple of knee surgeries and we understand he won't be flashing back to his New Jersey days.
He's played 65 games this year, becoming more durable and hasn't played in this many games since his first year in Denver. His 4 20+ point games in February don't look bad either. Martin is averaging 12.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 1.2 BPG.
5. Mike Dunleavy
Playing in a dusty corn populated town like Indiana is tough especially with the Pacers not getting any good viewings since Reggie Miller once donned the yellow and navy blue. Mike Dunleavy Jr. has however been the team's bright spot in a year where Indiana's two best players in Jamal Tinsley and Jermaine O'Neal missed over 30 games apiece (Jermaine over 40), and has managed to carry them into playoff contention.
He's started his career over again, after his rocky days in the Bay Area. Mike was apart of the trade that sent Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington to Oakland.
His field goal percetage, three point percentage, free throw percentage, assists, steals per game, and points per game are all on the rise. Mike also averaged 21.6 PPG for the month of March and shot over 55% from downtown. A month that included 6 20+ point games and 3 30+ explosions.
Dunleavy has come a long way from being in the shadow of his dad Mike Dunleavy Sr. and the current coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. Mike Dunleavy Jr. is averagin 18.6 PPG, 3.4 APG, 5.1 RPG, and shoots 41.5% from behind the arc.
My pick this year is Mike Dunleavy Jr. . I am impressed with the way he's handled himself and the Indiana Pacers team.
Honorable Mention
Peja Stojakovic
Tyson Chandler
Andrew Bynum
David West
Yao Ming
Josh Smith
Kevin Martin
John Salmons
Andre Miller
Lamar Odom
Lamarcus Aldridge
Ron Artest
Jason Maxiell
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7 months ago
Rudy Gay is the MIP.
from 7 months ago
I thought about that. But I decided it wouldn't work. Rudy Gay plays for the Memphis Grizzlies who have almost the worst record in the league and if you look at the last 5 winners of that award
Monta Ellis
Boris Diaw
Bobby Simmons
Zach Randolph
Gilbert Arenas
They all had better records than Memphis none had over 45 losses for the season. The Grizzlies have 56 losses with 6 games to go.
7 months ago
This is a great post! I say that I'd have to go with:
1) Al Jefferson
2) Hakim Warrick
3) Hedo Turkoglu
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.
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5,374) Andrea Bargnani (why the hell did I draft him 5th on my fantasy team... oh wait, because he was good last year)
7 months ago
I think Hedo already owns this award. But Lamarcus Aldridge also deserves to be a top contender here.
from 7 months ago
Lamarcus Aldridge is worthy of the award too, but he will probably not win it because of Portland's collapse. After winning all those games in a row, they're still going to miss the playoffs.
7 months ago
The choice is Hedo, he's put up huge numbers and is really the go-to guy at the end for the Magic.
Another guy on that list that I like is Mike Dunleavy. I think people wrote him off as another Duke-bust, but he's really put it together in Indiana.
Great job.
7 months ago
Has to be Hedo. Great numbers and is very good in the fourth quarter. Mike Dunleavy is a close second for the MIP award.
7 months ago
Mike Dunleavy has really come a long way this season! I have been a fan for years, it is nice to finally see people agreeing with me! He has been really great for Indiana and the things they are trying to accomplish there.
7 months ago
I have to go with Big Al. I think he really stepped up in Kevin's place despite the record. His numbers were right where Garnett's were last season, so I think he impressed a lot of fans too.
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