Avery Bradley - Most Improved Player?

[relja]

I, for one, think that he has an actual chance to win this. His numbers improved greatly from last season.

10-11 1.7 PPG 0.3 SPG 0.4 APG 0.5 RPG
11-12 7.1 PPG 0.6 SPG  1.3 APG 1.8 RPG

It may not be much when you first look at it, but for him it's a great thing. Last season he warmed the bench, played only in 31 games and started none, all with 5.2 MPG. This season? Well, he played in 61 games and started 25(!) of them, with an amazingly improved 20.5 MPG. Bravo.

He also became one of the NBA premier on-ball defenders. Just look what he did to Jameer Nelson the first 2 games against Orlando. The guy was basically begging him to take it easy. He's forcing turnovers, he can block faster and bigger guys like D-Wade. Awesome. We also saw a staggering improvement in his offensive skill set. I love those cuts from to the basket on a dish from Rajon and those nifty 3pointers from the right corner. He has a solid 0.444 3p percentage with 20 hit out of 45 attempted. This is great, even better when compared to the 0-5 behind the 3p line last season. He's also shooting 80% from the free throw line, 50% last season.

All that is a drastic improvement, especially D and scoring, but can he win?

There are maybe 3 other candidates:

Nikola Pekovic
Jeremy Lin
Steve Novak

Nikola was playing great when Milicic was injured and kept the starting job and posted up a solid 13.7 PPG and 7.1 RPG. Not bad, but I don't think he'll win it because of some inconsistency and the active injury.

Let's get real about Lin. They guy stepped as PG for the terrible Knicks team who had an injured Baron Davis, Bibby and Toney Douglas as point guard. He played very good in 10-15 games and then just sort of dissappeared and later, he got injured. I think he's the biggest threat to Avery, with all the hype created because of him. Avery deserves it more, because he's been consistent and reliable.

Novak became a major 3point threat, as we saw(Yikes). He improved that, but he is bound to have a bad shooting night every once in a while and then he is pretty much worthless.

Can AB win it? I think he can and deserves it.

[SHAQATTACK]

Another year to mature and practice ....oh my...we are going to have an outstanding guard , many teams would envy to have. 

I'm on board with the Rondo and AB backcourt...lots of action and fun to watch.

[relja]

Another year to mature and practice ....oh my...we are going to have an outstanding guard , many teams would envy to have. 

I'm on board with the Rondo and AB backcourt...lots of action and fun to watch.

Yes, I agree. We must be patient and resist the urge to trade him.

[jambr380]

While I agree that he definitely passes the eye test for most improved player, I am afraid the stats improvement just doesn't cut it - mostly because of his early year troubles [and lack of minutes]. His stats this year are usually what a most improved player improves from in his previous year.

[MBz]

I think he'll be a candidate for it next year.  This year, his numbers just don't make it work.  I think Bynum, Lin, Monroe, Ryan Anderson, James Harden are all much better choices for most improved player.  If he starts next year and plays 30-35 mpg he'll have a great chance at it.

[xmuscularghandix]

He's like the PG version of Bruce Bowen... but with more upside. Think about it. The shut down defense, the corner three? The big difference is that AB didn't have to prove himself for years before being accepted as a true NBA player, Bowen was 26 in his 2nd season, Avery is only 21.

[pearljammer10]

If the award was based on most improved beginning of the season to the end, then no doubt. But from last full season to this years full season I dont see him being the overall most improved for a full season.

[EDWARDO]

Would get more interest in this thread with a better title

Avery Bradley IS the winner of the Most Improved Player there is no doubt about it

[Boris Badenov]

It's Lin in a landslide, let's be realistic.

Pekovic or Monroe should probably get it, but that won't happen.

[ManUp]

Next year, will probably be his year. I expect at the very least, 14 points per game and a couple rebounds and assists. With his talent and what seems like an amazing work ethic I'm expecting him to blow us all away next season.