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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=Predictions0910-MIP

So ESPN's writers didn't really speak too highly of our chances as a team, but in their pre-season predictions for individual awards they gave our young guys a little love.

In the Most Improved Player category, Maurice Brooks pegged Brandon Rush as his nominee for MIP. Chris Sheridan gave his vote to Roy Hibbert.

How crazy would it be if one of our players won MIP again? Has it ever happened that a team had a player win MIP 2 consecutive years, especially a different player each of those years?

Dunthreevy wrote:How crazy would it be if one of our players won MIP again? Has it ever happened that a team had a player win MIP 2 consecutive years, especially a different player each of those years?

It doesn't look like there has been a team with back to back winners, but there has been:
1. Washington players winning it 3 out of 5 years
2. Orlando and Indiana players winning it 2 out of 3 years sandwiched around each other AND the have alternated again the last two years!!!

Past MIP winners:
2008-09 Danny Granger Indiana
2007-08 Hedo Turkoglu Orlando
2006-07 Monta Ellis Golden State
2005-06 Boris Diaw Phoenix
2004-05 Bobby Simmons Los Angeles Clippers
2003-04 Zach Randolph Portland
2002-03 Gilbert Arenas Golden State
2001-02 Jermaine O'Neal Indiana
2000-01 Tracy McGrady Orlando
1999-00 Jalen Rose Indiana
1998-99 Darrell Armstrong Orlando
1997-98 Alan Henderson Atlanta
1996-97 Isaac Austin Miami
1995-96 Gheorghe Muresan Washington
1994-95 Dana Barros Philadelphia
1993-94 Don MacLean Washington
1992-93 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf Denver
1991-92 Pervis Ellison Washington
1990-91 Scott Skiles Orlando
1989-90 Rony Seikaly Miami
1988-89 Kevin Johnson Phoenix
1987-88 Kevin Duckworth Portland
1986-87 Dale Ellis Seattle
1985-86 Alvin Robertson San Antonio

Also note all the players with Indiana ties:
Granger, ONeal, Rose, Armstrong and Skiles all played for us.
Randolph is from Indiana
Henderson went to high school and college in Indiana

Well hot damn! Now that was some crack statistical work my friend. I say Hibbie or Afrotop should go ahead and make history this year then. We need some.

If one of our young guys plays well enough to receive the M.I.P. award, then I don't see any reason why we don't make the playoffs!!!

HookShotHibbert wrote:If one of our young guys plays well enough to receive the M.I.P. award, then I don't see any reason why we don't make the playoffs!!!

AGREED! My vote is for Roy.

Getting MIP doesn't really have any relevance to whether we make the playoffs or not, but I can definitely get behind us doing well if our young guys step up. Hopefully we'll have more than one candidate.

Miller4ever wrote:Getting MIP doesn't really have any relevance to whether we make the playoffs or not, but I can definitely get behind us doing well if our young guys step up. Hopefully we'll have more than one candidate.

Really? Because most people here and the "experts" say that our playoff hopes are hinged on the development of Brandon and Roy. If one of them develops enough to earn MIP, then I would say that directly correlates to us having a very significant chance at the playoffs.

I meant that the award itself doesn't guarantee us a playoffs spot. It's a helping factor, but as we've seen in the past, many MIP winners' teams did not really improve.

Miller4ever wrote:I meant that the award itself doesn't guarantee us a playoffs spot. It's a helping factor, but as we've seen in the past, many MIP winners' teams did not really improve.

Agree, for Rush or Hibbert to achieve the numbers to justify the award there would have to be minutes and shots that probably aren't there if Granger is healthy and Dunleavy makes it back completely from his injury. Those minutes could be further impacted if Hansbrough comes back and his play demands playing time. All of those would be great outcomes for the team and playoff aspirations. Maybe not great inputs to Hibbert or Rush getting MIP.

I'd much rather have the MIP award followed by the MVP award!

chatard5 wrote:I'd much rather have the MIP award followed by the MVP award!

I can dig it!