Most Improved Player?

[1Parker1]

I know there has been a lot of talk with maybe Tayshawn Prince receiving this award this year, but I think Manu could be a serious contender for this. Not only are his stat's up from last year across the boards, his overall game and consistency has improved tremendously. He went from being the 6th man off the bench to an All Star. He deserves serious consideration for this award. :elephant

[Solid D]

I love the idea of Manu getting it. I'd have to say Joe Przybilla has improved the most, but his stats don't show it over the course of the season. He is so much better now, though.

[whottt]

Yeah my vote would go for Pryzbillia also.

Manu has always been good and everyone knows it, he's just getting more minutes now, so I don't think he will get much consideration.

[timvp]

Manu has improved greatly since last season. His scoring and shooting percentages are way up, even though he's still playing under 30 minutes per game. The only thing that might hurt him are his assists, rebounds and steals are a little down.

[whottt]

I think they usually give it to someone who used to suck.

[Solid D]

Whottt. If you look at the stats, no way Przybilla gets it but it's just the difference you see on the court ...he's like a different player.

[Kori Ellis]

Why would you vote for Przybilla?

Last year he averaged 4 and 7, this year he averages 6 and 8. WOO HOO! From super sucky to not as sucky.

:lol

I'd probably vote for Manu. Maybe Arenas.

[wildbill2u]

I know there has been a lot of talk with maybe Tayshawn Prince receiving this award this year, but I think Manu could be a serious contender for this. Not only are his stat's up from last year across the boards, his overall game and consistency has improved tremendously. He went from being the 6th man off the bench to an All Star. He deserves serious consideration for this award. :elephant

What about Wade of Miami. Although Shaq's presence has a lot to do with it, I see him as blossoming this year into a tremendous performer.

[timvp]

Manu won't win. Przybilla had a stretch where he was playing awesome but his stats aren't there.

If Larry Hughes wouldn't have gotten hurt, he'd be a prime candidate.

[IceColdBrewski]

I think they usually give it to someone who used to suck.

What he said.

Where do you guys get names like Manu, Prince and Arenas from? They were good before this season.

[whottt]

Solid...my vote goes to Pryzbillia because he has had some beast games this year...he killed us in one of the games we played him and he slaughtered the Knicks the other night...my opinion is from seeing him play and looking at some of the big games he has had, just like yours I imagine..I chose him without looking at stats probably like you did when you first mentioned him. H's a legit C now and I don't think he was before...And quite a few people have noticed how effective he has been for the Blazers this season.

I just don't think Manu will get it, because I think he was good last year and the year before,(Barkley was already yelling Ginobili last season :), but I am not an expert on MIP anyway.

[Solid D]

Good point about Larry Hughes. Also Bobby Simmons.

[Nikos]

I'd still vote for Larry Hughes, despite him being a solid player last year.

[Kori Ellis]

What he said.

Where do you guys get names like Manu, Prince and Arenas from? They were good before this season.

I was just naming players that I think have improved a lot. As for who the voters will really vote for, I think that will be Bobby Simmons.

[ALVAREZ6]

I'd probably vote for Manu. Maybe Arenas.
Manu has a chance!

I think Arenas improved a lot the year before, not this year.

[Kori Ellis]

I think Arenas improved a lot the year before, not this year.

He already won MIP a couple years ago. But I think he's improved a lot this season again. He's averaging almost 26ppg.

[whottt]

Arenas won't win it because he's already won it once. I don't think they give it out twice.

[ALVAREZ6]

Yeah I doubt they would give that award to the same player twice.

[Kori Ellis]

Like I said, I didn't say he'd win it. I said Bobby Simmons would. I was just saying I'd vote for Arenas ... or Manu.

[whottt]

Honestly I think Tony Parker is a better candidate for MIP than Manu...

[whottt]

Past winners of the MIP:

Year Player Team
2003-04 Zack Randolph. . . . . .Portland
2002-03 Gilbert Arenas. . . . . Golden State
2001-02 Jermaine O'Neal. . . . .Indiana
2000-01 Tracy McGrady. . . . . .Orlando
1999-00 Jalen Rose. . . . . . . Indiana
1998-99 Darrell Armstrong. . . .Orlando
1997-98 Alan Henderson. . . . . Atlanta
1996-97 Isaac Austin. . . . . . Miami
1995-96 Gheorghe Muresan. . . . Washington
1994-95 Dana Barros. . . . . . .Philadelphia
1993-94 Don MacLean. . . . . . .Washington
1992-93 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. . . Denver
1991-92 Pervis Ellison. . . . . Washington
1990-91 Scott Skiles. . . . . . Orlando
1989-90 Rony Seikaly. . . . . . Miami
1988-89 Kevin Johnson. . . . . .Phoenix
1987-88 Kevin Duckworth. . . . .Portland
1986-87 Dale Ellis. . . . . . . Seattle
1985-86 Alvin Robertson. . . . .San Antonio

I'll have to look at the stats to see how bad some of those guys were before they won it...some of them were just young players that reached their potential it looks like..almost like a secondary ROY award or something.

But I know some of them flat out sucked before they won it...Pervis Ellison is the main one that comes to mind.

[whottt]

What about Amare Stoudamire?

[ALVAREZ6]

Amare improved in a different season, he didn't suck last season enough to get the award...but this award is always up for grabs between so many players.

[Frenchise player]

It will be funnier if an award was given to the player who sucked the most. The first players I would nominee would be Boozer and Kobe, but someone like Cassel or Spreewell should be given some consideration too.

[1Parker1]

Amare was injured for a lot of the season last year wasn't he? That could be why his stat's are so great compared to last year. Also he has Steve Nash to thank for his offensive production this year, IMO.

Arenas has also improved a lot this year, and if he did win it this year again by some miracle, would that mean that an improved player got even more improved? :)

I actually forgot about Bobby Simmons, Kori. I can see it going to him--also Prince as I mentioned.

The thing with Manu is that even though he was already good last year, he has taken his overall game to the next level this year. I don't remember him taking over so many games in the 4th as I see him doing so this year. It's amazing what an Olympic gold medal can do to a guy's condidence level.

[1Parker1]

What about Wade of Miami. Although Shaq's presence has a lot to do with it, I see him as blossoming this year into a tremendous performer.


LOL. I don't particularly like Wade, so I'm a little biased.:)
He's only in his sophmore year though, I don't see it going to him.

[ALVAREZ6]

It's amazing what an Olympic gold medal can do to a guy's condidence level.

Manu had this confidence way before he won Gold.

[1Parker1]

:rolleyes

[ChumpDumper]

Simmons seems to have brought it all season, but if you look closer you'll see that Pryzbilla is averaging 9pts 10reb and 2.4blk since he took over the starting job. Brezec has to get consideration, especially in light of his Brandy Chastain escapade after beating Shaq's team.

It should end up a pretty tight race between Simmons, Brezec and Dickau.

[ShoogarBear]

Grant Hill sucked last year. I can't recall a single thing he did.

This year, very solid contributor.

[1Parker1]

LOL. Astute observation as always Shoogar :)

[ducks]

did hill only miss one game this year?

[whottt]

There's also an award called the Comback Player of the Year given usually to a player who overcomes a serious or lengthy injury...

Obviously that is Grant Hill's award this season.

[ShoogarBear]

Nah, they got rid of the Comeback award a few years ago. It's really a stupid concept when you think about it.

I agree that the only choices for the award are Simmons and Hughes.

[ducks]

most surprise team has to be the suns
I do not think anyone thought they would mesh with nash this quick!

[ChumpDumper]

Jim did.

[Kori Ellis]

I thought he picked them last year when they sucked.

[ChumpDumper]

lol

Probably. To him it counts though.

[whottt]

Nah, they got rid of the Comeback award a few years ago. It's really a stupid concept when you think about it.

I agree that the only choices for the award are Simmons and Hughes.

They did? I disagree...I think it's stupid to start an award and then discontinue it...you basically render the awards meaningless for the people that won them...I think that's kind of crappy. I don't like the way the NBA discontinues awards...I think they have discontinued the IBM award too...further dissing the Admirals career.

Grant Hill had to battle back from serious injuries and it took him years to make it back to the NBA...if anyone ever deserved a comeback POY award it's Grant Hill...I don't think that's stupid. They sh restart it again just for him.

[whottt]

Geez...I just looked it up and they discontinued it after Michael Ray won it for coming back from drug addiction in 1985...a few years ago indeed...I guess it's a little too late for me to get outraged over the fact it no longer exists :). I always wondered why Drob didn't win that award.

I think the MIP is the replacement award for the CPOY.

[Manu20]

IMO it should be Hughes.

[Kori Ellis]

IMO it should be Hughes.

I don't think they'll give it a guy who will end playing only about 60 games this season. He deserves it by the numbers, but I think the voters will think he missed too much time.

[Slo spurs fan]

Primoz Brezec

[fonzy16]

Primoz Brezec

i agree.

[FromWayDowntown]

Of late, the award seems to go to guys who elevate from being rotation players who are roughly in the top 150 overall to being all-star caliber guys who move into something more like the top 50 overall. Guys who go from being around 10 ppg scorers to being more like 20 ppg scorers in one year. It's all very subjective.

I'd say, generally, you can look to vets who are first-time all-stars (or guys who warranted a serious look at the break) to see who might be in serious contention.

[SlovenianGuy]

If you take a look at the past winners of MIP award, it looks like it is (almost) necessary to score at least 10 ppg in the previous season.

[Medvedenko]

What about Dwade or Lebron, or maybe Chris Bosh.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm basically in agreement with Slava on this one -- I think the media is gaga over Lebron and Wade and they'll give the award to one of those two. I'm not sure it's deserved, but since they can't really give either the MVP or DPOY, they'll battle it out for MIP.

By the way, now that the drug problems have basically been eradicated and there is no longer any prospect of a guy winning for beating an addiction, I think the league should bring back the Comeback Player of the Year award. Grant Hill deserves some kind of historical recognition for what he's done this season.

[Spurs košarka kultura]

Luke Ridnour or Primoz Brezec, not sure if Ridnour has been playing long enough to be eligible though. By the way what's this I hear about Hedo being considered (before he broke his wrist) for the Sixth Man of the Year award? :lol

[pistonsfanwe#1]

tayshaun prince?