With just nine days left in the regular season, it's time to start figuring out who's going to be taking home the end of the year awards. Your FanHouse crew has started to do exactly that, and in today's first installment, we take a look at who might be crowned the league's Most Improved Player.
Five of us named our top three choices, and the consensus results came out like this:
1. Hedo Turkoglu
2. Andrew Bynum
3. Rudy Gay, Chris Kaman (tie)
Hedo received three first place votes, while Andrew Bynum and Rudy Gay received one apiece. The other players that we had in the conversation were Rajon Rondo, Mike Dunleavy, Jose Calderon, Manu Ginobili, and even Monta Ellis as a possible repeat offender.
Like many awards, there is always a debate on what defines "Most Improved." Some would say that it has to be a player that comes out of nowhere to be recognized as a top performer, while others would contest that a star that rises to superstar status (like Ginobili or Chris Paul) should be eligible. I think Hedo Turkoglu this year is a nice combination of those two schools of thought.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. PAU GASOL !
Posted at 5:55PM on Apr 7th 2008 by frank
2. It can't be Bynum, he only played half a season.
Posted at 6:23PM on Apr 7th 2008 by Mindstop
3. There really are a lot of names in this discussion. But the consensus MIP everywhere I've looked is Hedo. An unlikely candidate at the season's outset, Turkogulu embodies the MIP award.
Posted at 7:25PM on Apr 7th 2008 by Ryne Nelson
4. Who will stop Duncan ?? Gasol
Who will stop Dirk ?? Gasol
Who will stop Shaq ? Gasol
Who will stop the Hornets ( complete team ) ??? Gasol
Who will sto KG ??? Gasol
and so on, and so on.
Posted at 7:46PM on Apr 7th 2008 by frank
5. LaMarcus Aldridge. After Hedo and Gay, it's Aldridge.
How can you even consider a guy who only played 35 games as most improved? Same goes for Kaman, who only played in 56 games. You L.A. honks have no shame.
Posted at 7:47PM on Apr 7th 2008 by Casey
6. To all the lakers fans, keep praying that Gasol is 100% healthy cause if he is he will take LA to the finals, against Boston,guarantee ;
The promise or assurance of the durability;
The quality and stamina in question ?? that is the only inconstant to be resolve by Gasol himself.
Posted at 8:10PM on Apr 7th 2008 by frank
7. Correction ; stamina and consistency go hand-in-hand that is what Gasol has to prove, firm, to all his critics, Done.
Posted at 8:20PM on Apr 7th 2008 by frank
8. It would have to be Monta Ellis again. I know he won it last year also, but look at his production this year. He has added some range to his jumper so he isn't always getting the highest percentage shots. He's currently shooting over 50% from the field while hittin for almost 20 a night. A couple of months ago, he shot either 60% or a little under it...which is unheard of for a guard.
Posted at 12:21AM on Apr 8th 2008 by James
9. I guess David West doesn't ring a bell.
Posted at 12:21AM on Apr 8th 2008 by PHZ-Sicks
10. It has to be LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE!! Look at his stats from last year and then this year, including minutes played, scoring and rebounding. and unlike turkoglu, Aldridge is in the wild wild west where the competition is absolutely on another level for a power forward!
Posted at 12:50AM on Apr 13th 2008 by Bris
11. Jose Calderon has improved way more than any of the three players named. He also has had the largest effect on his team's performance compared to last year. The numbers speak for themselves 2006-2007: 3PT-.333, PPG- 8.7, FG%-.521, APG- 5. 2007-2008: 3PT- .433, PPG- 11.5, FG%- .525, APG- 8.3. Calderon has improved in every category possible. Calderon is the Most Improved Player.
Posted at 8:35AM on Apr 17th 2008 by Jass