2010-2011 Most Improved Player Candidates

I know it's too early lol. Here are the candidates for the Most Improved Player Award.

TOP 20

PAUL MILLSAP (UTAH JAZZ)
Last Season: 11.6 ppg 6.8 rpg
2010-2011: 19.2 ppg 9.0 rpg
Increase: +7.4 ppg +2.2 rpg
The departure of Carlos Boozer has created more minutes and more shots for Paul Milsap, and he’s taking full advantage of his situation, even shooting a higher percentage this season.


LUIS SCOLA (HOUSTON ROCKETS)
Last Season: 16.2 ppg 8.6 rpg
2010-2011: 22.6 ppg 10 rpg
Increase: +9.1 ppg +0.5 rpg
With Yao Ming’s minutes limited due his recovering from injury, Scola has become one of the Houston Rockets best scoring options. Shoring up the middle, Scola’s minutes, points, and rebounds are all up. He is now the 13th highest scorer in the NBA.


RUSSELL WESTBROOK (OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER)
Last Season: 16.1 ppg 8.0 apg 1.3 spg 41.8% FG
2010-2011: 23.8 ppg 8.3 apg 2.0 spg 43.9% FG
Increase:+7.7 ppg +0.3 apg +0.7 spg +2.1% FG
Russell Westbrook has been as explosive and uptempo as ever, but his efficiency on both ends of the floor and increased leadership role with the team have made him into a bonafide superstar in this league in just the few short weeks of play this NBA season.


KEVIN LOVE (MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES)
Last Season: 14.0 ppg 11.0 rpg
2010-2011: 19.0 ppg 14.9 rpg
Increase: +5 ppg +3.9 rpg
As you’ve probably heard, Kevin Love is tearing through the NBA right now, grabbing enough rebounds to lead the league in rebounds per game. His 31 and 31 game is all anyone can talk about, but he’s on this list not just for one game but for night in and night out scoring and rebounding improvements. Consistency is king.


MICHAEL BEASLEY (MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES)
Career: 14.9 ppg
2010-2011: 21.6 ppg
Increase: +6.7 ppg
With the trade from Miami to Minnesota, Beasley has predictably flourished in his new surroundings, especially relishing in his role as team leader and the leading scorer. No longer second fiddle to Dwayne Wade, rightfully so, Beasley is finally coming into his own as a player. Not only is his scoring up, but also Beasley is shooting a career high 43.8% from 3-point territory. If you have not watched the Wolves yet this year, tune in to watch Beasley—he’s playing like an all-star.


DORELL WRIGHT (GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS)
Last Season: 7.1 ppg 38.9% 3P
2010-2011: 15.5 ppg 43.6% 3P
Increase: +8.4 ppg +4.7% 3P
A new team, new coach and more minutes appear to be all Dorell Wright needed to up his production. He’s been buried on Miami’s bench since being drafted. Wright scored a career-high 30 points and set a franchise record with nine 3-pointers to lead Golden State to a 104-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.


JOAKIM NOAH (CHICAGO BULLS)
Last Season: 10.7 ppg 10.0 rpg
2010-2011: 15.6 ppg 13.2 rpg
Increase: +4.9 ppg +3.2 rpg
Joakim Noah has improved both his rebounds and points per game, also with career highs in fg% and blocks which deserves some attention for most improved player.


RAYMOND FELTON (NEW YORK KNICKS)
Last Season: 12.1 ppg 5.6 apg 76.3% ftp
2010-2011: 18.1 ppg 7.9 apg 90.4% ftp
Increase: +6.0 ppg +2.3 apg + 14.1% ftp
D'Antoni is the type of guy who uses a shorter but faster lineup and that's where Felton comes in. The fast pace should suit his style and he should be able to find a non-nude Amare in the lane pretty often. On top of all that, he plays defense!


J.J. HICKSON (CLEVELAND CAVALIERS)
Last Season: 7.1 ppg 4.9 rpg
2010-2011: 13.8 ppg 5.4 rpg
Increase: +6.7 ppg +0.5 rpg
JJ Hickson has been steadily improving each season, but he may be the only happy guy in Cleveland when he heard that LeBron was leaving for Miami. Now that more shots and minutes have opened up, Hickson has become the rising star that many thought he would/should be in Cleveland.


DARREN COLLISON (INDIANA PACERS)
Last Season: 12.4 ppg 40% 3P
2010-2011: 13.9 ppg 47.1% 3P
Increase:+1.5 ppg +7.1% 3P
Collison was quite a sensation last season. The 21st pick in the draft out of UCLA, he ended up on the Hornets as an afterthought for backing up Chris Paul. When Paul went down, Collison stepped up. Despite averaging 4.1 turnovers per game as a starter, this was offset by the gaudy numbers elsewhere. 18.8 points, 9.1 assists, 3.5 boards, 1 three, 1.4 steals and seriously impressive shooting percentages – 48.5% and 85.2%.This season he's the starting PG for the Indiana Pacers.


SHANNON BROWN (LOS ANGELES LAKERS)
Last Season: 8.1 ppg 81.8% ftp 32.8% 3P
2010-2011: 10.9 ppg 91.3% ftp 47.5% 3P
Increase:+2.8 ppg +9.5% ftp +14.7% 3P
This season Shannon Brown is proving to the world that he also has an outside game. Brown has been "scorching" hot from behind the arc.If Shannon Brown maintains this style of play, do not be surprised to see him win the "Most Improved Player of the Year" award.


ANDRAY BLATCHE (WASHINGTON WIZARDS)
Last Season: 14.1 ppg 6.3 rpg 74.4% ftp
2010-2011: 15.9 ppg 8.1 rpg 86.0% ftp
Increase:+1.8 ppg +1.8 rpg +11.6% ftp
He gets over 30 minutes a game, averages double digit points, a nice amount of boards and at least a block or two a game and most importantly helps the Wizards win.


TYSON CHANDLER (DALLAS MAVERICKS)
Last Season: 6.5 ppg 6.3 rpg
2010-2011: 9.4 ppg 9.0 rpg
Increase:+2.9 ppg +2.7 rpg
Chandler really deserves to be the starting C for the Mavs. He's pretty impressive in both offensive and defensive end this season.


ARRON AFFLALO (DENVER NUGGETS)
Last Season: 11.7 ppg 73.5% ftp
2010-2011: 12.8 ppg 85.0% ftp
Increase:+1.1 ppg +11.5% ftp
Arron Afflalo is noticeably faster and he's been attacking the hoop ferociously. Also known as a good perimeter defender. If Afflalo can play somewhere in the mid-20s minutes-wise, he could come close to averaging 20 points per game.


NICOLAS BATUM (PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS)
Last Season: 10.1 ppg
2010-2011: 12.6 ppg
Increase:+2.5 ppg
Nicolas Batum has started off the season with a bang. He's playing excellent defense and scoring consistently as well. Most people are acknowledging Batum as a potential Most Improved Player award winner, which is great for him.


WESLEY MATTHEWS (PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS)
Last Season: 9.4 ppg
2010-2011: 11.6 ppg
Increase:+2.2 ppg
He has been terrific in shooting 3's this season. Matthews replaced injured guard Brandon Roy in the starting lineup, scored a career-high 30 points to help the visiting Portland Trail Blazers beat the Memphis Grizzlies last month.


ROY HIBBERT (INDIANA PACERS)
Last Season: 11.7 ppg 5.7 rpg 1.6 bpg
2010-2011: 15.6 ppg 9.4 rpg 2.3 bpg
Increase:+3.9 ppg +3.7 rpg +0.7 bpg
Hibbert should have a breakout year this season, benefiting greatly both from his training with Walton and from the Pacers’ acquisition of point guard Darren Collison, who should pair well with the massive Hibbert.


HAKIM WARRICK (PHOENIX SUNS)
Last Season: 8.7 ppg 3.6 rpg 48.3% FG
2010-2011: 12.8 ppg 4.8 rpg 53.9% FG
Increase:+4.1 ppg +1.2 rpg 5.6% FG
Warrick is an average defender and can block shots very well thanks to his leaping ability. It will also allow him grab a few extra rebounds that the Suns desperately need. If he is able to add any muscle at all, it should improve his low post offense and defense tremendously. He even has a chance to make a run for Most Improved Player of the year.


SONNY WEEMS (TORONTO RAPTORS)
Last Season: 7.5 ppg 68.8% ftp 13.3% 3P
2010-2011: 12.8 ppg 82.5% ftp 30.4% 3P
Increase:+5.3 ppg +13.7% ftp 17.1% 3P
Weems has come on strong in the scoring department, but it hasn’t helped his team all that much in the wins department, as they are bottom dwelling in the Eastern Conference.


DARKO MILICIC(MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES)
Last Season: 8.3 ppg 5.5 rpg 1.4 bpg
2010-2011: 9.1 ppg 6.2 rpg 2.9 bpg
Increase:+0.8 ppg +0.7 rpg 1.5 bpg
He had a good game in three consecutive games averaging over 20 points and over 3 blocks a game.


Any thoughts?

Last edited by Alpha_ on Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Some of those players aren't posting stats that are all that much better than last year and a couple of them, like Dorell Wright, are benefiting from a huge increase in minutes. Westbrook, Love and Beasley are three names that stand out as they're putting up better numbers with a relatively small increase in playing time.

Right now I'd be inclined to vote for Westbrook, though Love was my pick in the preseason predictions and it wouldn't surprise me if the media takes a liking to Beasley if he continues to put up those numbers through the season. Given that he'd pretty much been written off and tossed aside to make way for Miami's big offseason moves, on top of putting up better numbers in slightly increased minutes, I could see him getting the attention of the voters despite Minnesota's record and the suggestion that he's just putting up good numbers on a bad team.

I'll be bandwagoning for Beasley; it's nice to see him play well and disprove theories of him being a bust. I wouldn't be displeased if Love, Westbrook or Scola got the nod though.

Dorell Wright.

Dorell Wright.

I don't think just an increase in scoring proves a player is worthy of Most Improved. It's like the old theory that "someone has to average 20", just because a guy puts up nice point totals doesn't mean he's improved. Beez-nutz is playing MORE than last year and he's rebounding and playing defense at inferior levels to his "bust" days in Miami.

I think the most overall improved player through 20ish games is, ironically another ex-Heat player, Dorell Wright. My only thing with him is that he's playing under the GSW stat inflater, so that may or may not be hiding his deficiencies by magnifying his strengths.

Roy Hibbert? Westbrook definitely, and i also like Dorrell as well.

No love for Noah ?

last season : 10.1PPG 11.0RPG 0.504FG%
this season : 15.6PPG 13.2RPG 0.528FG%

Scola's definitely a good contender (not being a homer). He's averaging 34 MPG right now, that's a little over a minute from last year, and he's putting up those kinds of numbers (+6 in scoring, plus a little over 1 in rebounds). Westbrook is a great option too, he's averaging exactly three more minutes than last year, and his points per game average has gone up by seven, he's shooting over 90% from the line, and currently leads the league in free throws made.

Wouldn't mind if Beasley or Love get the award either. Seems as if this season there's a lot of contenders for the award.

Millsap or Beasley

Beez-nutz is playing MORE than last year and he's rebounding and playing defense at inferior levels to his "bust" days in Miami.

I think the most overall improved player through 20ish games is, ironically another ex-Heat player, Dorell Wright. My only thing with him is that he's playing under the GSW stat inflater, so that may or may not be hiding his deficiencies by magnifying his strengths.

Beasley's playing three more minutes per game this season while Wright is playing a little under 18 more minutes per game. Per 36, Wright's rebounding is slightly lower than last year and he's not shooting the ball particularly well overall. If we're to disqualify Beasley as a candidate then I think we have to do the same for Wright.

So far, it's been Tyson Chandler. and it's not even close. Of course, he won't win it since his raw stats aren't any better than they were in New Orleans.

Oh add Afflalo to the list

Roy Hibbert? Westbrook definitely, and i also like Dorrell as well.

yeah I considered Roy Hibbert.. He's playing tremendously this season and he much improved his rebounding.

No love for Noah ?

last season : 10.1PPG 11.0RPG 0.504FG%
this season : 15.6PPG 13.2RPG 0.528FG%

I've already added Noah to my list.

Oh add Afflalo to the list

yeah.. I've also added him.

Westbrook or Love

Darko Milicic. I really think he can be a descent center one day. He had always been underrated defensively and his offensive game is slowly coming along this year.

Darko Milicic. I really think he can be a descent center one day. He had always been underrated defensively and his offensive game is slowly coming along this year.

We've been saying that for the past 5 years.

[homer] Shannon Brown. [/homer]

Darko Milicic. I really think he can be a descent center one day. He had always been underrated defensively and his offensive game is slowly coming along this year.

We've been saying that for the past 5 years.

Lol true, but he is leading the NBA in block shots this year so I think he is getting more comfortable with the game. He still has much to work on offensively but how many centers out there can play both great defensive AND offensive. Hes not gonna play like a #2 draft pick in the future (I don't blame him), but he can become a descent role player.

I think I'm going to keep a very close eye on Westbrook from now on after what he did to the Nets today.

Holy shit, he's having a killer season. Sorry Chandler, your fluke start is impressive, but Westbrook is carrying the Thunder. Least improved is Durant, who hasn't been good this year.

Westbrook , the guy is really playing great

Holy shit, he's having a killer season. Sorry Chandler, your fluke start is impressive, but Westbrook is carrying the Thunder. Least improved is Durant, who hasn't been good this year.

Funny how it seems that Durant isn't playing well but he's still leading the scoring with 27.3ppg. Victim of his own high standards I guess.

The surprise is that Westbrook is 5th with 24.6ppg. Loving his offensive play this season.

Points per game is an awful barometer of performance. Monta Ellis was turrible last season, but averaged 24 PPG. Durant's efficiency stats are way down across the board.

I say Love, Felton, Matthews, and Redick