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Turkoglu wins Most Improved Player.

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The best man won. :thumbsu:


NEW YORK, April 28, 2008 – Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic is the winner of the 2007-08 NBA Most Improved Player Award presented by Kia Motors, the NBA announced today. The annual award is presented to a player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons.

Turkoglu received a total of 380 points, including 61 first-place votes, from a panel of 125 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The Memphis Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay finished second with 167 points (23 first-place votes) followed by LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers with 128 points (nine first-place votes). Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third place vote received.

As part of its support of the Most Improved Player Award, Kia Motors will donate a brand-new 2009 Kia Borrego seven-passenger SUV on behalf of Turkoglu to a grassroots program of the Parramore Kidz Zone, an initiative which provides positive, preventative programs for local youth in Orlando. The Orlando Magic made a previous $250,000 pledge to this program. Kia Motors will present a Borrego to the charity of choice of each of the four year-end award winners in 2008 as part of the “The NBA Performance Awards Presented by Kia Motors.”

The eight-year NBA veteran started every game for the Magic and averaged career highs in scoring (19.5 ppg). – nearly eight points above his career average (11.7 ppg) -- rebounding (5.7 rpg) and assists (5.0 apg). Turkoglu shot .400 from three-point range and .829 from the free throw line. The 6-10 forward earned two Eastern Conference Player of the Week nods (Jan. 27 and Feb. 3), and was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in April. Last season, Turkoglu averaged 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
 

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Someone gave Lebron James a vote for 1st. :confused: :rolleyes:


moe-szyslak.thumbnail.gif


that person should be named :D
 
Well and truely deserves it. It would have been an absolute mockery if anyone else won.

True

My only concern is that Turk was a significant player when with Sacremento Kings and lost the plot. Only started getting his act together last two years. I wonder though if he will regress next year (as most improved players often do) rather then go on with it.

Personally I would have voted for LaMarcus Aldridge. I think that he will go on to become a multiple All-Star.
 
True

My only concern is that Turk was a significant player when with Sacremento Kings and lost the plot. Only started getting his act together last two years. I wonder though if he will regress next year (as most improved players often do) rather then go on with it.

Personally I would have voted for LaMarcus Aldridge. I think that he will go on to become a multiple All-Star.

His highest average per game was 10 in Sac-town.

His huge upturn this year in points (5 per game more than his prev. best) and assists (2 per games more than his prev. best) is what makes him Most Improved.

Aldridge really just went on his natural improvement curve and benefited from being on a fairly poor team.
 

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His highest average per game was 10 in Sac-town.

His huge upturn this year in points (5 per game more than his prev. best) and assists (2 per games more than his prev. best) is what makes him Most Improved.

Aldridge really just went on his natural improvement curve and benefited from being on a fairly poor team.


I would argue that Aldridge has helped his team improve far more then Turk did his especially given the amount of players that have left (or were not able to play for Blazers) since last year. (Having said this is losing Zach Randolph as a team mate such a bad thing???)

Do not get me wrong I think that Turk has probably played better then Aldridge, and may deserve the MIP title, however I am a cynic and believe that this is more due to him approaching the end of his contract, having better players around him (i.e. he now only really gets third best defensive player) and additional application on his behalf .

On the other hand I believe that Alderidge is one of those players that will consistantly work his ass off (something that Turk has not displayed through out his career and I tend to think that he will regress going forward whilst Aldridge will conitnue to progress).

I guess aside from few worthy winners of the MIP (J O'Neal being one of them) this award always continues to disappoint me. I cannot believe that Purvis Ellison won this award... :(
 
Turk has improved so much because he finally has a coach that gives him the ball. He is almost playing as a point forward at times and his contract doesn't end this year. Rashard has impressed me with him sacrificing his game for the betterment of the team but the Turk has undoubtably been our most important improvement in our squad.
 
Turk has improved so much because he finally has a coach that gives him the ball. He is almost playing as a point forward at times and his contract doesn't end this year. Rashard has impressed me with him sacrificing his game for the betterment of the team but the Turk has undoubtably been our most important improvement in our squad.

I did not say that this is his final year. I said he is approaching the end of his contract. He has a player option for 2009/10 or to put this another way he can opt out of his contract at the end of next year and get a bigger pay packet.


The bottom line is I am sceptical as to the reasons Turk has improved as much as I am sceptical at the award itself. We will see if he maintins the momentum over the next few seasons...
 
The thing the whole contract improving year only happens in the last year. He has improved this year because of a change of belief from his coach and newfound resposibility.

If you watch some Magic games from last year and this year you will see it very quickly.
 

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turk is in a system that utilises his skills. i mean put him in a seattle or something that has hacks and may play a different brand of bball he probably wont get it. its natural.

however, in orlando he has the perfect opportunity to showcase his vast array of skills. reasons?

1. their PG situation is poo. (arroyos injured right?)
2. turkoglu is a foreigner. that means he has a broad skill set that includes a sound understanding of the game, an appreciation and respect for the game, sound grasp of the fundamentals and a willingness to play team basketball instead of gong for long 3s and dunks in order to get a few minutes on sportscenter.
3. turkoglu is ugly and no one wants to guard him.

fully deserved.
 
turk is in a system that utilises his skills. i mean put him in a seattle or something that has hacks and may play a different brand of bball he probably wont get it. its natural.

however, in orlando he has the perfect opportunity to showcase his vast array of skills. reasons?

1. their PG situation is poo. (arroyos injured right?)
2. turkoglu is a foreigner. that means he has a broad skill set that includes a sound understanding of the game, an appreciation and respect for the game, sound grasp of the fundamentals and a willingness to play team basketball instead of gong for long 3s and dunks in order to get a few minutes on sportscenter.
3. turkoglu is ugly and no one wants to guard him.

fully deserved.

No arroyo is just plain crap most of the time and Dooling and Jameer are ahead of him in the queue. PGs, apart from game 3, have been very handy. Jameer's stepped it up.
 

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