Paul George to be named Most Improved Player

[jonathanlambert33]

INDIANAPOLIS – The playoffs have been nothing but good for the Pacers’ biggest rising star-and the postseason isn’t even a week old.
 
After recording the Pacers’ first triple-double in the playoffs in 15 years, Paul George is expected to be named the NBA’s Most Improved Player on Tuesday. The Pacers have called a 10 A.M. news conference for Tuesday where the honor is likely to be bestowed.
 
This season-George’s third with the Pacers-the forward scored a career-high 17.4 points per game which is five points above his average from the season before. He was critical in helping the Pacers replace forward Danny Granger, the team’s leading scorer the past five seasons who missed the majority of the season with a lingering knee injury.
 
In the Pacers’ playoff opener against the Hawks Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse George scored a team-high 23 points with 12 assists and 11 rebounds. The triple-double was the first for the Pacers in the postseason since Mark Jackson did so in the 1998 playoffs.
George will become the third Pacers player to win the award since it was awarded by the NBA in the 1985-1986 season. Jermaine O’Neal was the first to win the award in 2002 while Granger got the award in 2009.

 
http://fox59.com/2013/04/22/paul-george-expected-to-be-named-nbas-most-improved-player/#axzz2RFqjvXho

 

[Pugz]

deserving.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Absolutely deserved it. This year was a tough choice though. A lot of guys who really stepped up and improved their game. 

 

[jonathanlambert33]

The voting for these awards were excellent this year.  Just didn't go to the "name" that really isn't as good as he's believed to be.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

At first I didn't agree with the JR Smith vote, but I'm starting to come around to it. The guy is such a head-case but he didn't let the lack of starts get to his head and that might actually be the biggest accomplishment for him all season. 
 
I always liked George, but he got lucky with Granger out all year. Really got the chance to step up and be a bigger factor on offense. 

 

[Pugz]

he played starter minutes but there is a difference between starting and coming off the bench. if jr comes out cold he know he can be pulled when a starter would stay out. its a lot more mental for a bench player.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Exactly, that's why I've come around to it. He's been fortunate that even when he goes cold Woodson still kept him out there -- and a lot of people have overlooked how much he's improved on the defensive end. 

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I don't know what to think of the 6th man award.  Hell I don't know what to think of a lot of these awards.
 
MIP player for example is never given to the guy who improved the most, just the guy who received more minutes.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

yea I suppose. I mean looking at the basic stats, while he did get more ppg (granger not being there) in about 8 more minutes per game, his FG% and 3P%s went down. 
 
I'm like you, I really don't know what to think about most of these awards -- luckily we can leave it up to other people to make the picks. 

 

[Mexi]

Ryan Anderson got a first place vote a year after he won the award

some people need to have their votes taken away

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Sure he didn't get a vote for 6th man?