NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Love and the Top 10 Most Improved Players of the Year
The NBA's Most Improved Player Award recognizes players who take a significant step forward in going from an average player to a very good or even great player.
Several of the last ten winners of the MIP award have established themselves as consistent performers every year.
Recent winners include Danny Granger, Aaron Brooks, Monta Ellis, Gilbert Arenas and Tracy McGrady, all of whom remained at a high level after winning the award.
The 2011 NBA season has seen many players elevate their game to new levels, both young players and veterans.
Some of the top contenders for the MIP award are also legitimate NBA MVP candidates, such as Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, making this award tough to hand out.
So let's look at the top 10 candidates for the NBA's Most Improved Player award, starting with No. 10, Jrue Holliday.
10) Jrue Holliday
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Philadelphia 76ers guard Jrue Holliday is only 20 years old, but he's taken significant steps forward as a professional this season under veteran coach Doug Collins.
He has the potential to be one of the NBA's best two-way guards, because he is an excellent scorer but sees the floor tremendously as well.
Holliday is at his best when he looks for his own offense first, and improved his scoring, assists and rebounding averages in 2011.
9) Roy Hibbert
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Roy Hibbert improved his body last offseason just as much as his game. He lost 23 pounds to help himself stay in shape and become more aggressive.
Hibbert improved his scoring, blocks and rebounding numbers this season, grabbing almost two more rebounds per game than his career average.
He has given the Indiana Pacers a real offensive and defensive presence in the paint, something Indiana have lacked in recent seasons.
In addition to his better scoring, Hibbert has improve his offensive game by getting to the free throw line more, and shooting a better percentage from the line.
8) Eric Gordon
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Eric Gordon is one of the primary reasons the Los Angeles Clippers are ready to contend for the playoffs for the next several seasons.
Gordon has become an excellent scorer in the NBA, averaging 22.2 points per game this season, about four points higher than his career average.
Gordon has also improved his range, becoming a better outside shooter.
He has also improved his assists average, as well as his rebounding totals.
Gordon was excellent last summer for Team USA in the FIBA World Championships in Turkey, and has continued his magnificent play for the Clippers in 2010-2011.
7) Tyson Chandler
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Tyson Chandler's defense and rebounding has been a huge reason the Dallas Mavericks are a contender for the Western Conference Championship.
His scoring and rebounding averages have improved over his career numbers, as well as his one on one defense in the low post.
Chandler has taken some of the defensive burden off of star forward Dirk Nowitzki too.
Chandler has also improved his field goal percentage significantly, shooting an impressive 65 percent from the field this season, compared to his career average of 56 percent.
6) Glen "Big Baby" Davis
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Glen "Big Baby" Davis has played a major role in the Boston Celtics rotation this season, and has been one of their most consistent performers.
Davis has been finishing games for the Celtics in the final minutes of the fourth quarter in 2011, because of his excellent offensive capabilities and his solid defense.
Big Baby has improved his scoring by four points more than his career average, and improved his rebounding numbers as well.
Davis' mid range shooting has improved greatly since his rookie season, and he has a very soft touch around the rim.
For a big guy, Davis has a finesse style around the rim that often looks out of control but is actually quite under control.
Davis has been an excellent playoff performer every season in his career for the Celtics, and coach Doc Rivers has to have the same type of postseason from Davis for the Celtics to return to the NBA Finals.
5) Raymond Felton
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Raymond Felton helped the New York Knicks get off to a hot start this season, and his great play made him a valuable trade asset too.
Felton was part of the blockbuster trade that sent superstar Carmelo Anthony to New York, in exchange for Felton and a number of other players on both sides.
Felton has become a very good scorer and passer, and has continued his strong play with the Nuggets, helping them achieve the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
Denver has played very well since the Anthony trade, and Felton is a major reason why. He has allowed Ty Lawson to flourish, and is providing veteran leadership to a team with many young players.
Denver is a Western Conference best 18-6 since the major trade
4) Michael Beasley
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Michael Beasley was traded from the Miami Heat to the Minnesota Timberwolves last offseason, and without the pressure of South Beach, Beasley has floursihed in 2010-2011.
As the Timberwolves' primary offensive threat, Beasley has raised his scoring over three points above his career average.
Beasley has also been a much more consistent performer for the Timberwolves than he was in Miami. Beasley night in and night out has given Minnesota solid scoring and quality rebounding.
Perhaps a change of scenery was all Beasley needed to improve to the level draft scouts thought he would reach by now.
3) Derrick Rose
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Derrick Rose went from being one of the best point guards in the NBA a year ago, to being the NBA MVP (well, it's widely believed he will be) in 2010-2011.
Rose has carried the Bulls offensively this season through a number of injuries to his best teammates.
Rose has also become a much better defensive player, improving his one on one defending.
He has risen his scoring numbers from just over 20 ppg for his career, to over 25 ppg this season. His assist numbers have also risen over an assist per game.
Rose has been able to take his offensive game to a new level while still being able to get his teammates the shots they need. This balance of responsibilities has made him one of the most valuable players in the NBA.
2) Russell Westbrook
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Russell Westbrook is ahead of Derrick Rose on this list because Rose was already a star last season, but Westbrook's leap in performance has been greater this season.
Westbrook has become a huge scoring threat for the Oklahoma City Thunder, while also averaging solid assists and rebounding numbers as well.
His heightened offensive play has caused teammate Kevin Durant's scoring to dip a bit, but it has made the Thunder a much better team.
Westbrook has raised his scoring and assist averages in 2010-2011, and has remained one of the best rebounding point guards in the NBA.
Westbrook's improvement this season has been greater than anticipated, and it is a big reason why the Thunder may win the Western Conference Title this season
1) Kevin Love
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Kevin Love was a highly touted prospect in the 2008 NBA Draft, and was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies fifth overall that season.
On draft nigh,t he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for O.J. Mayo and others, a deal that looked to be favor of Memphis at the time.
After a few mediocre seasons, Love has become a dominant force in 2011.
His streak of 53 straight games with a double-double broke Moses Malone's record since the ABA/NBA merger.
Love improved his career scoring average by about five points this season, and his rebounding average by four per game.
His current avergaes for 2011 are 20.2 ppg and 15.2 rpg, the latter being tops in the league.
Love has become an excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor, but has also become a very consistent scorer, both from the low post and three point territory.
Even though Love plays for a bad team, his improvement cannot be ignored, and he is not a stat stuffer on a lousy team.
He is a legitimate star just reaching his potential.
