http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/chris_ekstrand/12/04/most.improved.notes/index.html
About 20 percent of the season has been played, probably just enough for us to justify picking some early candidates for the Most Improved Player Award. A few players have made dramatic improvements statistically; others just look demonstrably better when we've seen them play.
Some years, this award can be a backhanded compliment to a player who finally maximized talents others saw in them for years (Pervis Ellison and Ike Austin are past winners). Other times, a player wins the award simply because he finally got playing time that wasn't available previously (as when Bobby Simmons won the award as a member of the Clippers two years ago). Here are some early candidates:
• Monta Ellis, Golden State: A year ago as a 20-year-old rookie, he collected 22 DNPs and 10 more times he was inactive, almost all of those coming in the first half of the season. When he did play, Ellis showed some definite signs of talent. In the last seven games of the season, he averaged 14.1 points. This season, playing in Don Nelson's fun-and-gun offense, Ellis is averaging 18.3 points (through Sunday) and has become a serious offensive threat on the league's third-highest-scoring team. Ellis is one of the quickest players in the league.
• Hakim Warrick, Memphis: His team has been outmanned without Pau Gasol, but Warrick came back for his second season a different player. After being barely relevant as a rookie (4.1 ppg), Warrick has provided the team its only interior scoring presence (15.8 ppg) and has improved his medium-range jump shot as well, which should help him stay effective when Gasol returns.
• J.R. Smith, Denver: Smith was persona non grata with the Hornets after rubbing Byron Scott the wrong way, then was traded twice in the offseason, landing in Denver. Hats off to basketball operations VP Mark Warkentien and George Karl for acquiring a player who so precisely fit their greatest need: perimeter shooting and athleticism. Through 15 games, Smith had not only become the team's second-leading scorer behind Carmelo Anthony with 16.9 points a game, but he also had made more three-pointers (43) than the rest of the Nuggets team combined (42).
• Kevin Martin, Sacramento: The second half of last season, Martin looked like he could be a fine complementary scorer to Mike Bibby and Ron Artest, someone from whom the Kings could confidently look for 15 or so points per game. But Martin's play the first 15 games this season has been extraordinary, and he is among the league leaders in scoring at 22.9 points a game. Despite his Reggie Miller-like dimensions (6-7, 185 pounds), Martin has mixed it up like Miller, alternately raining three-pointers over opponents and driving by them and fearlessly attacking the hoop. He's averaging almost seven free throw attempts per game.
• Deron Williams, Utah: It takes some rookies two or three seasons to fully understand the type of conditioning it takes to excel in the NBA. It took Williams only one. Watching him now, he doesn't even resemble the player who slogged through last season. The former Illinois star has neatly doubled his assist average from 4.5 to 9.0 and increased his scoring by six points (from 10.8 to 16.8). More than the numbers has changed, though. Williams has a palpable confidence this season that inspires and lifts his teammates. He's looked like a leader.
• Veterans who have clearly made a leap ahead include Yao Ming (Houston) and Tayshaun Prince (Detroit), while youngsters David Lee (New York), Andrew Bynum (Lakers), Andris Biedrins (Golden State), Jarrett Jack (Portland) and Dorell Wright (Miami) have also obviously improved.
by Chris Ekstrand
About 20 percent of the season has been played, probably just enough for us to justify picking some early candidates for the Most Improved Player Award. A few players have made dramatic improvements statistically; others just look demonstrably better when we've seen them play.
Some years, this award can be a backhanded compliment to a player who finally maximized talents others saw in them for years (Pervis Ellison and Ike Austin are past winners). Other times, a player wins the award simply because he finally got playing time that wasn't available previously (as when Bobby Simmons won the award as a member of the Clippers two years ago). Here are some early candidates:
• Monta Ellis, Golden State: A year ago as a 20-year-old rookie, he collected 22 DNPs and 10 more times he was inactive, almost all of those coming in the first half of the season. When he did play, Ellis showed some definite signs of talent. In the last seven games of the season, he averaged 14.1 points. This season, playing in Don Nelson's fun-and-gun offense, Ellis is averaging 18.3 points (through Sunday) and has become a serious offensive threat on the league's third-highest-scoring team. Ellis is one of the quickest players in the league.
• Hakim Warrick, Memphis: His team has been outmanned without Pau Gasol, but Warrick came back for his second season a different player. After being barely relevant as a rookie (4.1 ppg), Warrick has provided the team its only interior scoring presence (15.8 ppg) and has improved his medium-range jump shot as well, which should help him stay effective when Gasol returns.
• J.R. Smith, Denver: Smith was persona non grata with the Hornets after rubbing Byron Scott the wrong way, then was traded twice in the offseason, landing in Denver. Hats off to basketball operations VP Mark Warkentien and George Karl for acquiring a player who so precisely fit their greatest need: perimeter shooting and athleticism. Through 15 games, Smith had not only become the team's second-leading scorer behind Carmelo Anthony with 16.9 points a game, but he also had made more three-pointers (43) than the rest of the Nuggets team combined (42).
• Kevin Martin, Sacramento: The second half of last season, Martin looked like he could be a fine complementary scorer to Mike Bibby and Ron Artest, someone from whom the Kings could confidently look for 15 or so points per game. But Martin's play the first 15 games this season has been extraordinary, and he is among the league leaders in scoring at 22.9 points a game. Despite his Reggie Miller-like dimensions (6-7, 185 pounds), Martin has mixed it up like Miller, alternately raining three-pointers over opponents and driving by them and fearlessly attacking the hoop. He's averaging almost seven free throw attempts per game.
• Deron Williams, Utah: It takes some rookies two or three seasons to fully understand the type of conditioning it takes to excel in the NBA. It took Williams only one. Watching him now, he doesn't even resemble the player who slogged through last season. The former Illinois star has neatly doubled his assist average from 4.5 to 9.0 and increased his scoring by six points (from 10.8 to 16.8). More than the numbers has changed, though. Williams has a palpable confidence this season that inspires and lifts his teammates. He's looked like a leader.
• Veterans who have clearly made a leap ahead include Yao Ming (Houston) and Tayshaun Prince (Detroit), while youngsters David Lee (New York), Andrew Bynum (Lakers), Andris Biedrins (Golden State), Jarrett Jack (Portland) and Dorell Wright (Miami) have also obviously improved.
by Chris Ekstrand
