Most Improved Player In The NBA

[hammerhead johnson]

Nazr Mohammed

Second in the NBA in offensive rebounding, 53.5% shooting percentage

 

Rafer Alston

13.5 points, 7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game

 

Brevin Knight

9.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game

 

Troy Murphy

17 points and 11 rebounds per game

 

Larry Hughes

21 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals per game

 

Quentin Richardson

16 points and an insane 6.5 rebounds per game from an SG

 

Luke Ridnour

6.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game, 95% free throw shooter

 

Udonis Haslem

9 rebounds per game, 52.5% shooting percentage

 

Jeff Foster

12.5 rebounds per game, 56% shooting percentage

 

Bobby Simmons

16 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 steals per game, 49% shooting percentage

[southsider2k5]

In all seriousness, so far I would add Eddy to that list. He has played tons harder than last year, and it shows.

[hammerhead johnson]

In all seriousness, so far I would add Eddy to that list.  He has played tons harder than last year, and it shows.

 

The thing that bugs me about Eddy is his average of 6.5 rebounds per game. He has only had 5 games all season with 10 or more rebounds. These shooting guards also have a 6.5 average: Kobe Bryant, Quentin Richardson, Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, and Jason Richardson.

[southsider2k5]

The thing that bugs me about Eddy is his average of 6.5 rebounds per game.  He has only had 5 games all season with 10 or more rebounds.  These shooting guards also have a 6.5 average: Kobe Bryant, Quentin Richardson, Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, and Jason Richardson.

 

Rebounding has always been the thing that pisses me off about Eddy. He is lazy on the defensive end. Rebounding is all about positioning and hustle. He seems to do neither...

[Palehosefan]

I would have to say Bobby Simmons right now. He's averaging 8 more points, 1.3 more rebounds, and 1.1 more assists a game this year. Granted he is getting 13 more minutes a game, but I still picked him.

[qwerty]

Should knight even be on this list? He has always been a good passer and not much else. I would have to go with simmons also and a close second would be murphy for me. Huges has also improved a good amount. He now has one of the better all around games in the nba. But last year he had a pretty good year too for what talent he had around him.

[WilliamTell]

There aren't really any names that jump out to me. A few I've never heard of. Just goes to show how much I've lost track in the NBA.

[Chisoxfn]

I'd have to go with Nazr or Bobby Simmons. A lot of those guys have been quality players for a while. Larry Hughes is far better, but was always solid. Same can be said for Qrichardson.

[qwerty]

The thing that bugs me about Eddy is his average of 6.5 rebounds per game.  He has only had 5 games all season with 10 or more rebounds.  These shooting guards also have a 6.5 average: Kobe Bryant, Quentin Richardson, Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, and Jason Richardson.

 

He has the some of the worse hands for a big man in the nba if not the worse. He loses three to four rebounds a game that he should have had. On the other hand, chandler has the smallest hands i have ever seen for a big man and is an elite rebounder.

[ChWRoCk2]

definitely bobby simmons this guy has just been phenominal, you know whos not on that list is primoz brezec, hes been a stud for charlotte in the early months

[qwerty]

definitely bobby simmons this guy has just been phenominal, you know whos not on that list is primoz brezec, hes been a stud for charlotte in the early months

 

Brezec=stud?

 

Nice back up center maybe. He could actually be a starting center on a good team. But the bobcats ( that name always makes me laugh) are not a very good team.

[MurcieOne]

2 Blue Demons on that list...... I like it.

 

Bobby Simmons was my choice

[hammerhead johnson]

Should knight even be on this list? He has always been a good passer and not much else. I would have to go with simmons also and a close second would be murphy for me. Huges has also improved a good amount. He now has one of the better all around games in the nba. But last year he had a pretty good year too for what talent he had around him.

 

Brevin Knight....I hadn't really thought about him since the late 90s. He was completely off my basketball radar.

 

This year, only Steve Nash averages more assists per game.

 

Knight's Game Log

 

He had 34 assists in back-to-back games against Detroit in late November.

 

I guess that you can make more of a case for Comeback Player as opposed to Most Improved Player, since he did average over 7 assists per game from 1997-1999.

 

Career Stats

[hammerhead johnson]

A lot of those guys have been quality players for a while.  Larry Hughes is far better, but was always solid.  Same can be said for Qrichardson.

 

I hear that. Both Hughes and Richardson would have gone as middle-round picks in most fantasy leagues, so it's not like they are really surprising anyone, but they have both improved so much (whether it's surrounding talent, natural progression, or whatever) that I couldn't leave them off the list.

[hammerhead johnson]

definitely bobby simmons this guy has just been phenominal, you know whos not on that list is primoz brezec, hes been a stud for charlotte in the early months

 

Well, 5.7 rebounds per game and 0.6 blocks is really nothing to get excited about from the guy who was considered to be the ultimate fantasy sleeper before the season started. He's a center, but he's only had two games with 10 or more rebounds. I know that Okafor is there hoggin' all the boards and what not, but still.

 

Also, he never even got a chance to play before this year:

 

Career Stats

 

I look at him as though he were a rookie.

[hammerhead johnson]

I also thought about adding Mehmet Okur and Darius Miles to that list. If the poll allowed for 15 options, I'd add those two, Chris Mihm, Jason Hart, and Damon Jones. Okur got that huge contract though, and he did make some noise in limited minutes as a Piston, so I can't say that I'm surprised by what he has been doing since mid-December:

 

Okur's Game Log

[qwerty]

Brevin Knight....I hadn't really thought about him since the late 90s.  He was completely off my basketball radar.

 

This year, only Steve Nash averages more assists per game.

 

Knight's Game Log 

 

He had 34 assists in back-to-back games against Detroit in late November.

 

I guess that you can make more of a case for Comeback Player as opposed to Most Improved Player, since he did average over 7 assists per game from 1997-1999. 

 

Career Stats

 

I agree with come back player. He is better suited for a stacked team offensively or coming off the bench. But he is doing a fine job with the talent he has around him.

[qwerty]

I also thought about adding Mehmet Okur and Darius Miles to that list.  If the poll allowed for 15 options, I'd add those two, Chris Mihm, Jason Hart, and Damon Jones.  Okur got that huge contract though, and he did make some noise in limited minutes as a Piston, so I can't say that I'm surprised by what he has been doing since mid-December:

 

Okur's Game Log

 

Miles has hardly improved. I don't think he would belong on that list.

[hammerhead johnson]

I agree with come back player. He is better suited for a stacked team offensively or coming off the bench. But he is doing a fine job with the talent he has around him.

 

Yep, and then some. He's passing to offensive options like Gerald Wallace, Keith Bogans, and Primo Brezec, and he's second in the league in assists per game. That ain't too shabby.

 

But unfortunately, he's one of the worst shooters in the entire league.

[hammerhead johnson]

Miles has hardly improved. I don't think he would belong on that list.

 

He's come on as of late, though:

 

Miles' Game Log

 

His rebounding and his defense has improved immensely. Check out all of the turnovers that he has forced over the past 15 or so games.

[qwerty]

He's come on as of late, though:

 

Miles' Game Log

 

His rebounding and his defense has improved immensely.  Check out all of the turnovers that he has forced over the past 15 or so games.

 

He is another one that needed to go to college in my opinon. He is already a good role player but he could have been a very good start if he want to college for at least a couple years. But of course not. I do not like him because he cannot hit a free throw to save his life.

[hammerhead johnson]

He is another one that needed to go to college in my opinon. He is already a good role player but he could have been a very good start if he want to college for at least a couple years. But of course not.

 

Yep, I couldn't agree more. But you know how it is for most teenagers...it's all about immediate gratification. And besides, when you put yourself in his place, it's very hard to turn down millions when you [A] had jack s*** growing up and take potential college injuries into account.

 

If it were up to me, I'd make everyone play a minimum of 2 years in college.

[hammerhead johnson]

I do not like him because he cannot hit a free throw to save his life.

 

That is a very good point. 56.4% on the season from a SG/SF. :headshake

[DBAHO]

LeBron James anyone? Others that would come to mind for me that haven't been mentioned are Antawn Jamison, Drew Gooden, Raef LaFrentz, Josh Howard and Marko Jaric.

[qwerty]

LeBron James anyone?

 

Dwayne wade.