Kevin Love named Most Improved Player

I figured we should probably have separate threads for each of the 2011 awards so that we can discuss the winners and discuss who we think should have won if our personal picks differ from the actual winner. Predictions can be tracked in the previous thread.

AP Source: Love is Most Improved Player

In one short season, Kevin Love(notes) went from gritting his teeth on the bench as a sixth man for the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves to playing as an All-Star and becoming the NBA’s leading rebounder.

That was more than enough to earn him the league’s Most Improved Player award. Two people with knowledge of the announcement told The Associated Press that Love will be given the award at a news conference on Thursday afternoon.

The people requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the award before the announcement.

Love averaged 20.2 points and led the NBA with 15.2 rebounds per game this season. He earned his first All-Star appearance despite playing for a team that finished with the worst record in the NBA.

I think Love is a suitable choice. My interpretation of the award is that it's intended to recognise a player that has not only shown statistical improvement but also become a more prominent player on his team and in the league; I guess in some ways, it's sort of a "Breakout Player of the Year" kind of award. In that respect, I'd say that Love is deserving of the award, as are most of the previous winners. He did establish himself as a starter and became The Man on the Timberwolves. He played eight more minutes per game but still had higher scoring and rebounding numbers per 36, his usage was only up half a percent on last year when he was a sixth man and his fouls and turnovers are down. Given the spirit of the award (as I see it, anyway) and his statistical improvement, I don't think his selection is inappropriate.

It should have been Aldridge, but Love is also deserving. Looking back, I seem to have left out Aldridge by mistake when listing my backups for MIP.

I actually would have picked Derrick Rose to win this award Congrats to Love - I'm a fan of his. The improvement is largely due to an increased role, but he's nonetheless deserving, likely moreso than my homer pick Aldridge, who was only good for half the season.

I'd say Love was the only reason for Wolves fans to cheer about. Well deserved.

It should have been Aldridge

aldridge has always been this talented but for some reason hasn't shown up until B Roy went down this year

Kevin Luv won off purty much the same reason Aaron Brooks won this award a couple years ago?

Brooks won it last year. Similar circumstances I guess - more minutes, bigger role, better numbers - but then that's usually the case for MIP winners.

Kevin Love is the most deserving player in the nba for this award, this is good for Love and for his team.

And how many players got votes?

Many of the sports talk radio joke on this award. Does that mean K-Love sucked last year? I see their point. But putting egos aside, there is some truth to that. The award really is what it is. K-Love worked hard (I'm sure), perhaps got a better understanding of the game, his abilities, to make the most of it, and that's what the award is all about.

IMO a great award. I'm wondering, is it possible (or have anyone gotten it) to get it back to back?

Sure, it's possible. If Kevin Love averages 30/18 or something next year, he'd win it again.

And how many players got votes?

I don't know how many but the other player that Kevin Love passed, they said on nba tv was, LaMarcus Aldridge, but they both got at over 100 votes.

[quote="z02"]Sure, it's possible. If Kevin Love averages 30/18 or something next year, he'd win it again. [/quote]


Exactly, K-Love would have to get 40pts on most nights to offset the bad nights when he can only give you 20pts.

IMO a great award. I'm wondering, is it possible (or have anyone gotten it) to get it back to back?

There's no rule against it as far as I know, but it's never happened to date and the chances of it ever happening are probably slim to none.

Yeah Kevin Love deserved the award.

And how many players got votes?

31 Elton Brand got a third place vote

What about Dorell?