How Much Should We Care About the Most Improved Player Award?
Probably not a lot, but being emotional sells more tickets
Dear reader, I’m feeling a bit sad.
So far, I’ve only managed to watch about 10 minutes of NBA playoff basketball, and that was just an ugly 10 minute stretch of the first half of Bulls/Bucks game one. You see, I’d just come home from bar hopping with a friend visiting from the US, and well, honestly it was a really uninspiring game at that point. I don’t remember exactly what we did instead, but I think it was the right choice.
So in order to distract myself from being sad about the lack of watching the playoffs, I’m going to try and pre-emptively figure out if it’s worth being sad if Dejounte Murray doesn’t win the Most Improved Player award.
He certainly has the credentials to win, statistically. Murray averaged 21.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game, with a 50% eFG. For his career, Murray’s per game averages are 12.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. So, yeah, I’d say it was the utmost of improvement.
The problem is that Murray is battling with Ja Morant. Morant - a former top three draft pick who was supposed to be as good as he’s been this year - led the Memphis Grizzlies to the #2 seed in the West with 27.2 points per game, go along with 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
I’m biased, but I think what Murray did this season is more inline with what the voters usually evaluate when choosing the MIP. But… voting for Morant because of his team’s success feels inevitable.
So how upset should I be about it, if it happens?
Well, honestly, I don’t lose any sleep over Tim Duncan never winning Defensive Player of the Year, and that whole ride turned out to be a pretty good time for me (and most of you, I’m guessing).
On the flipside, I don’t beam with pride every time I remember that Tony Parker won the skills competition at the 2012 NBA All-Star weekend.
What I’m trying to say is, nah man I don’t really give a shit. And I don’t think Dejounte does either. But it would be a nice bowtie on a season that, despite being below the standard Spurs fans have for the squad, saw coach Gregg Popovich break and set a new all-time wins record, saw the team squeak into a postseason game, and saw GM Brian Wright set a new record for in-season trades, giving the team more draft flexibility than they’ve had literally my entire 34 years of life.
It’s also just hard to be mad about such a minor thing as MIP. Leave it for the talking heads, for the people who are already terminally mad online.
You? Me?
Man, the sun’s starting to come out. Spring is in the air. Forget about the rest of it. Watch some baseball. Or watch the NBA Playoffs. Just don’t… just don’t rub it in too much, I’m too old to be watching basketball at 3am, man.
Thanks for reading. Please be kind to each other out there.