Paul George wins Most Improved

[CelticConcourse]

Huge leaps

[Who]

I don't think he improved much if at all from last year to this year. He just had the ball in his hands more often due to Danny Granger being out injured.

Pretty much the exact same player as before.

[StartOrien]

I don't think he improved much if at all from last year to this year. He just had the ball in his hands more often due to Danny Granger being out injured.

Pretty much the exact same player as before.

I'd agree with this. It was pretty clear the type of player he was last year, Granger being out just turned him into a star.

I thought Larry Sanders (!) was the clear cut winner. The rare case of a guy who actually seemed to improve his game, and not just get more minutes. George's teammate, Lance Stephenson, probably deserves some credit too.

[Who]

I don't think he improved much if at all from last year to this year. He just had the ball in his hands more often due to Danny Granger being out injured.

Pretty much the exact same player as before.

I'd agree with this. It was pretty clear the type of player he was last year, Granger being out just turned him into a star.

I thought Larry Sanders (!) was the clear cut winner. The rare case of a guy who actually seemed to improve his game, and not just get more minutes. George's teammate, Lance Stephenson, probably deserves some credit too.

Yeah, I though Larry Sanders was an excellent candidate too. True improvement.

[BballTim]

I don't think he improved much if at all from last year to this year. He just had the ball in his hands more often due to Danny Granger being out injured.

Pretty much the exact same player as before.

  You wouldn't expect the voters to make that type of distinction though.

[celticslove]

agree that george hasn't improved that much. my vote goes to sanders and the houston trio of harden, asik and parsons.

[CelticsFan9]

How about Durant and Noah?

Durant became more than a scorer this year, and Noah became a legit offensive threat.

[jambr380]

agree that george hasn't improved that much. my vote goes to sanders and the houston trio of harden, asik and parsons.

Yeah, Houston was a nice surprise this year. Asik was thought to have signed the worst contract of the off-season and he basically lived up to expectations. His 10ppg isn't all that impressive, but 12rpg definitely is.

The George choice shouldn't be all that surprising. Last year he was poised to have a huge leap. He was a player that many were watching and he stepped up and 'lead' the Pacers to the 3rd best record in the east.

Both of these players, when given more minutes, didn't falter and that should be commended...I totally get the Sanders choice, too, though.

[action781]

I thought Harden was most deserving.

Yes, he had the ball in his hands more, but it is still not easy to go from 17ppg to 26ppg in one season.  From being a 6th man to being the 5th highest scorer in the NBA is no easy task, no matter how much more the ball is in his hands.  And he wasn't just chucking up shots, he also dished out 2.1 more assists per game and maintained a reasonable level of fg% at 43.8% (which is right around his career 44.1%).

All that along with what that team was able to accomplish...  Harden led a much inferior team to the same record as that which Kobe led the Lakers to.  Houston has nowhere near the talent around Harden that the other West playoff teams have.

I don't love Harden, but I'm very impressed by Harden's season.

[Who]

I thought Harden was most deserving.

Yes, he had the ball in his hands more, but it is still not easy to go from 17ppg to 26ppg in one season.  From being a 6th man to being the 5th highest scorer in the NBA is no easy task, no matter how much more the ball is in his hands.  And he wasn't just chucking up shots, he also dished out 2.1 more assists per game and maintained a reasonable level of fg% at 43.8% (which is right around his career 44.1%).

All that along with what that team was able to accomplish...  Harden led a much inferior team to the same record as that which Kobe led the Lakers to.  Houston has nowhere near the talent around Harden that the other West playoff teams have.

I don't love Harden, but I'm very impressed by Harden's season.

I thought Harden was an excellent candidate too.

I expected him to be a Brandon Roy level player this season but he reached a whole other level beyond Brandon Roy. Hugely impressive.

I thought that was genuine improvement beyond what he had shown in Oklahoma.

[Fafnir]

I thought Harden was most deserving.

Yes, he had the ball in his hands more, but it is still not easy to go from 17ppg to 26ppg in one season.  From being a 6th man to being the 5th highest scorer in the NBA is no easy task, no matter how much more the ball is in his hands.  And he wasn't just chucking up shots, he also dished out 2.1 more assists per game and maintained a reasonable level of fg% at 43.8% (which is right around his career 44.1%).

All that along with what that team was able to accomplish...  Harden led a much inferior team to the same record as that which Kobe led the Lakers to.  Houston has nowhere near the talent around Harden that the other West playoff teams have.

I don't love Harden, but I'm very impressed by Harden's season.

I thought Harden was an excellent candidate too.

I expected him to be a Brandon Roy level player this season but he reached a whole other level beyond Brandon Roy. Hugely impressive.

I thought that was genuine improvement beyond what he had shown in Oklahoma.

Is he hurt? His movement didn't look good except when he put his head down to try and get to the rim.

Could be just being lazy when he doesn't have the ball, but its so noticable I was thinking his back/foot must be acting up something fierce.

[Kane3387]

Can't go wrong with Paul George here. I see Harden but he was sixth man last year and this award seems like a downgrade from that one.

Back to George. I love his game. Great two way player. Will be a perennial All-Star and have the chance to be the 2nd best Pacer ever behind Reggie Miller.

[jambr380]

I thought Harden was most deserving.

Yes, he had the ball in his hands more, but it is still not easy to go from 17ppg to 26ppg in one season.  From being a 6th man to being the 5th highest scorer in the NBA is no easy task, no matter how much more the ball is in his hands.  And he wasn't just chucking up shots, he also dished out 2.1 more assists per game and maintained a reasonable level of fg% at 43.8% (which is right around his career 44.1%).

All that along with what that team was able to accomplish...  Harden led a much inferior team to the same record as that which Kobe led the Lakers to.  Houston has nowhere near the talent around Harden that the other West playoff teams have.

I don't love Harden, but I'm very impressed by Harden's season.

I thought Harden was an excellent candidate too.

I expected him to be a Brandon Roy level player this season but he reached a whole other level beyond Brandon Roy. Hugely impressive.

I thought that was genuine improvement beyond what he had shown in Oklahoma.

That just goes to show just good OKC is at drafting players...what a run they have had...Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka, Green, etc...Obviously they have had some high picks, but all of them were pretty much homeruns...yes, even Green. Didn't they also [technically] draft Eric Bledsoe, too?

[Fred Roberts]

I think the award must take the Pacers record into account and the media publicity bump he received along with the increase in production. The media always decides these things, right?

[Who]

I think the award must take the Pacers record into account and the media publicity bump he received along with the increase in production. The media always decides these things, right?

I would like to see the voting go back to the players.

I don't like the media choosing these things.