Jae Crowder: Most Improved Player?

[PhoSita]

Thoughts?

I've heard Stephen Curry mentioned as a candidate for this award simply because he's somehow improved to an outrageous degree on his MVP performance last year.  Seems kind of silly to me to give the MIP award to a superstar.  Great players have great seasons. 


Aside from Curry, who else is in the running for this award?  Crowder hasn't drastically improved his per-minute numbers, but his defense and shooting have been stellar.  He came into the year looking like a solid backup but a weak starting option. 

So far his play has been on the same level (or better) as Demarre Carroll last year -- a season that earned Demarre a $14 million per year contract (Jae is making half that for the next 4 seasons!)

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Agreed, PhoSita. He deserves consideration. I think his shooting will end up falling in between his start to the season and the last handful of games.

Carroll never tried to be a scorer until the playoffs last year, when he lit it up. But Crowder seems to have much more of a scorer's mentality than a typical 3 and D wing. And he shows some ability to score too.

He reminds me of the way Jimmy Butler developed. Crowder doesn't have the ball skills or post game to be that good (yet???), but he has the potential to be a really good two-way starter.

[PhoSita]

This is Jae's age 25 season, so I think he's probably as good as he'll ever be.  But he's pretty good right now.

[spikelovetheCelts]

This is Jae's age 25 season, so I think he's probably as good as he'll ever be.  But he's pretty good right now.

I think his peak is coming like Steph. Plus his leadership skills will get better and better. He is a keeper.

[esel1000]

Since these awards usually go to a players based on ppg increase it's probably going to be McCollum, though his production is due to a huge minute increase. Crowder is legitimately improving with I want to say roughly the same minutes as last season. He should definitely be in the conversation.

On a side note his rebounding has been ridiculous the last few games. I'd love to see him average 15-7 or something like that at his peak. Contract looks like a steal

[saltlover]

This is Jae's age 25 season, so I think he's probably as good as he'll ever be.  But he's pretty good right now.

I would bet on him having a season or two better than this one.  But yes, he's quite good right now.  Amazing salary-filler for the Rondo trade.

[PhoSita]

Since these awards usually go to a players based on ppg increase it's probably going to be McCollum, though his production is due to a huge minute increase. Crowder is legitimately improving with I want to say roughly the same minutes as last season. He should definitely be in the conversation.

On a side note his rebounding has been ridiculous the last few games. I'd love to see him average 15-7 or something like that at his peak. Contract looks like a steal

I had forgotten about McCollum.  You're probably right that he's the favorite for the award so long as he's putting up 20+ points per game.

Still, Crowder is creeping up on 14-15 points per game himself, and with his defensive impact may very well be the more valuable player right now.

[MJohnnyboy]

I think the MIP will be Andre Drummond. His rebounding numbers are phenomenal and he's finally looking like the non-diva second coming of Dwight that people pegged him to be after his rookie season. Imagine the Pistons without him too.

This year Jae Crowder has improved about as much as Avery Bradley has. They don't like they've had the most drastic improvement out of everyone in the league, but they look like they are a notch better than they were last year. On a team that doesn't have much top-level talent like the Celtics, their improvements have come very much in handy for this team.

[Hemingway]

I don't know enough about other teams to say, but Crowder has been great for us. I think he can be a long term solution at the starting 3, I kind of cringe when I see fan posts about how we can upgrade the 3. Also, I thin he was more than filler in the RR trade. Ainge said as much- I guess he would have said that about anyone but I take him at his word there.

For all the stat nuts out there what is our record in games Crowder scores over 15? I feel like that is a magic number for him. Or is there a number where when crowder gets it we win 80% of the time? It feels like when he is in a groove on O we win. Like AB before him, his challange right now is to become a consistant weapon on O. And he is almost there. I'm relly happy with his play and with Smart out for so long, he has become my favorite player.

[jpotter33]

Thoughts?

I've heard Stephen Curry mentioned as a candidate for this award simply because he's somehow improved to an outrageous degree on his MVP performance last year.  Seems kind of silly to me to give the MIP award to a superstar.  Great players have great seasons. 


Aside from Curry, who else is in the running for this award?  Crowder hasn't drastically improved his per-minute numbers, but his defense and shooting have been stellar.  He came into the year looking like a solid backup but a weak starting option. 

So far his play has been on the same level (or better) as Demarre Carroll last year -- a season that earned Demarre a $14 million per year contract (Jae is making half that for the next 4 seasons!)

I don't get the Curry argument for MIP. He's already won a superior award in MVP, and it wouldn't make much sense to me given the context.

Drummond has a good case for it. Jae has vastly improved, but I doubt he receives consideration since, like you said, his numbers aren't up all that much from last  year.

I really think KO would have a shot at it if he got more minutes. He's averaging the lowest amount of minutes in his career this year, but I think he will continue to produce when given more minutes.

[max215]

I don't see how Crowder could win it over McCollum since his scoring has gone up so much, but Crowder is greatly improved. His defense is excellent. His 3PT% is up from a poor 29.3% last year to a legitimately pretty good 37.2%. More importantly though, he's excellent from the line now, shooting 83.5% up from 77.3% last year. It's crazy to think that Crowder was sent here as a filler and has evolved into the heart and soul of this team, and Danny is a genius for locking him up with that crazy good contract.

[The Oracle]

I don't know enough about other teams to say, but Crowder has been great for us. I think he can be a long term solution at the starting 3, I kind of cringe when I see fan posts about how we can upgrade the 3. Also, I thin he was more than filler in the RR trade. Ainge said as much- I guess he would have said that about anyone but I take him at his word there.

For all the stat nuts out there what is our record in games Crowder scores over 15? I feel like that is a magic number for him. Or is there a number where when crowder gets it we win 80% of the time? It feels like when he is in a groove on O we win. Like AB before him, his challange right now is to become a consistant weapon on O. And he is almost there. I'm relly happy with his play and with Smart out for so long, he has become my favorite player.

When Crowder scores under 10 pts. the C's are 1-6.  When he scores 10-15 pts. the C's are 7-6.  When he scores 16+ pts. the C's are 7-1.

[LilRip]

Drummond has about the same chance of winning MIP as Steph. Both are already beasts, and they're just more beastly this year.  In my opinion (I don't know if you guys agree with me on this), MIP should go to players who were relatively unknown and became extremely productive players/"starters", or role players who became franchise players.

That said, I think CJ McCollum is this years front runner for MIP, since he fits the first. Crowder has been good this year too but I think he still needs to do more (particularly on offense) to win it. After all, he's already established himself as a tough defender last year so it's not like his defense has drastically improved to MIP status.

[Celtics4ever]

I think he is hurt that he is not as well regarded outside of Boston.  Rarely will you hear national level commentators say more than he is tough.   That perception will kill his chances.

[footey]

TP.  As the season progresses, he improves, especially offensively, especially his 3 point shooting. He has become a weapon for us out there.  I love his game, his intensity.

If Sacramento insisted we include him with 2017/2018 Nets pick for Cousins, would you pull the trigger? Not sure I would.