SI Roundtable: Who wins MIP?

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Reep

Reep

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Rob Mahoney: C.J. McCollum
All of the pieces are in place for McCollum to have a notable, attention-grabbing season: The momentum from last year’s playoffs, the minutes up for grabs in Portland after a mass exodus and the creative responsibility to be had on a team lacking in playmakers beyond Damian Lillard. McCollum had shown flashes before but nothing lasting. Next season will be a prime opportunity for him to leverage his development in a bigger opportunity with obvious results. The timing is perfect; McCollum wouldn’t have been ready for this kind of change a year ago, but in the season since his off-the-dribble game has matured to the point of NBA viability.
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http://www.si.com/nba/2015/08/19/bu...l-roy-hibbert-nba-season-most-improved-player
 
I sure hope so but sans Lamarcus, Meyers might make a huge leap in production this season
 
UncleCliffy'sDaddy said:
No

Not to be a smart ass or a downer, but we currently have a roster load of players who could vie for MIP. I look at that as a positive.
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Agreed. Possible MIP could easily be:

Aminu: if he adds a shot to his game;
Harkless: if he could put it all together, remember he shot >40% from three just over a year ago;
Leonard: with major minutes he could get lots of points and boards;
Davis: ditto
Vonleh: probably not this year, but if he could bring all his talent up to NBA speed, possibly;
 
Reep said:
Agreed. Possible MIP could easily be:

Aminu: if he adds a shot to his game;
Harkless: if he could put it all together, remember he shot >40% from three just over a year ago;
Leonard: with major minutes he could get lots of points and boards;
Davis: ditto
Vonleh: probably not this year, but if he could bring all his talent up to NBA speed, possibly;
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I was just going to post something similar! Though my picks for those in contention would be:

CJ
Leonard
Plumlee
Harkless
Vonleh

And roughly in that order. My thinking is that Harkless/Vonleh won't get much of a chance to contend for MIP. But if they get the chance it's going to be BECAUSE they're in the conversation for MIP. CJ is the leader because he'll be playing with the ball in his hands, and awards generally go to those sorts of players. Leonard is behind CJ, but if he plays both ends of the floor well he could certainly make a strong case. And Plumlee is behind Leonard because he's already shown what he can do (apparently - I've never seen him play. But he's on Team USA). He's also more limited offensively than Meyers. However, there's always the chance that we have some freaky chemistry between him and another player which leads to him leading the league in alley-oops, or something. I don't think that's likely, because our rotation players aren't great passers. But maybe magic is made between Meyers and Plumlee (which would then add to the case for Meyers!)?
 
blue9 said:
I was just going to post something similar! Though my picks for those in contention would be:

CJ
Leonard
Plumlee
Harkless
Vonleh

And roughly in that order. My thinking is that Harkless/Vonleh won't get much of a chance to contend for MIP. But if they get the chance it's going to be BECAUSE they're in the conversation for MIP. CJ is the leader because he'll be playing with the ball in his hands, and awards generally go to those sorts of players. Leonard is behind CJ, but if he plays both ends of the floor well he could certainly make a strong case. And Plumlee is behind Leonard because he's already shown what he can do (apparently - I've never seen him play. But he's on Team USA). He's also more limited offensively than Meyers. However, there's always the chance that we have some freaky chemistry between him and another player which leads to him leading the league in alley-oops, or something. I don't think that's likely, because our rotation players aren't great passers. But maybe magic is made between Meyers and Plumlee (which would then add to the case for Meyers!)?
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Seriously. All this team needs is a good start. 3-0 to 7-2 type of start and I really believe they will make it through the season a .500 team. This type of start might be possible based on our schedule coupled with us being an unknown and our guys will be sprinting out of the gates to assert themselves and maintain their starting roles. I think by the last 10-15 games, their wont be a team wanting to face us because of our momentum.
 
Orion Bailey said:
Seriously. All this team needs is a good start. 3-0 to 7-2 type of start and I really believe they will make it through the season a .500 team. This type of start might be possible based on our schedule coupled with us being an unknown and our guys will be sprinting out of the gates to assert themselves and maintain their starting roles. I think by the last 10-15 games, their wont be a team wanting to face us because of our momentum.
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I'm thinking that the trade of Batum, brought us league MIP = Gerald Henderson! If Henderson could accomplish this level of play to garner MIP, then our backcourt of Lillard, Henderson and McCullum as our 6th man....would be something special.
 
I think Henderson will thrive next to Lillard with Aminu at the 3 ..Aminu is poised to have a career year as well..he had huge momentum in the playoffs
 
My Homerism ( I do believe) seems to be rubbing off. hahaha. Ill turn you all to the Dark side of winning soon enough!
 
Can't wait for the season to get rolling. Not enough to talk about right now.......but I think we'll have enough bright spots to keep this a fun place to gather come October and into the season!
 
I'm just excited to go on this journey in the next few years with the team. I think we truly peaked with "the shot". Now, we get a new set of talent and some of it is very promising... I know some like to just know when the cake is baked... but, I never minded watching the cake rise, either.
 
blue9 said:
I was just going to post something similar! Though my picks for those in contention would be:

CJ
Leonard
Plumlee
Harkless
Vonleh

And roughly in that order. My thinking is that Harkless/Vonleh won't get much of a chance to contend for MIP. But if they get the chance it's going to be BECAUSE they're in the conversation for MIP. CJ is the leader because he'll be playing with the ball in his hands, and awards generally go to those sorts of players. Leonard is behind CJ, but if he plays both ends of the floor well he could certainly make a strong case. And Plumlee is behind Leonard because he's already shown what he can do (apparently - I've never seen him play. But he's on Team USA). He's also more limited offensively than Meyers. However, there's always the chance that we have some freaky chemistry between him and another player which leads to him leading the league in alley-oops, or something. I don't think that's likely, because our rotation players aren't great passers. But maybe magic is made between Meyers and Plumlee (which would then add to the case for Meyers!)?
Click to expand...
I agree with your entire list except I switch Harkless with Plumlee. Plumdog right now (maybe as the inevitable great white hope) is a "known" who is expected to show improvement. The same might be said for Leonard and CJ. Harkless started his career fairly promising and has tapered off since. He's in a contract year and needs to find his future. I'm not sure I don't put him #1 overall....
 
riverman said:
For me the real positive in this transition is the depth of the new guys. I think we'll have the best bench we've had in a long time. Lot of storylines to follow without the same cliche subject matter we've had for the last 3 years of the Stotts era. It's going to be fun to watch
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I agree with bench depth, though starter depth is obviously...or at least probably....nowhere near as good. But I agree, I too am tired of the same old cliches. We have a boatload of assorted talent. I want to see the local, so called journalists disect it and provide greater insight into what we might be able to expect, personally and professionally.
 
UncleCliffy'sDaddy said:
I agree with your entire list except I switch Harkless with Plumlee. Plumdog right now (maybe as the inevitable great white hope) is a "known" who is expected to show improvement. The same might be said for Leonard and CJ. Harkless started his career fairly promising and has tapered off since. He's in a contract year and needs to find his future. I'm not sure I don't put him #1 overall....
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Yeah, as I wrote it out I kinda talked myself out of including Plumlee in the conversation. But I didn't feel like revising what I had written. I think IF Harkless gets consistent minutes he could be at the top of the list, but I have doubts that Stotts will play him enough. I suppose the fact that he CAN hit 3-pointers should work in his favor though, since that seems to be 90% of Stotts' offensive "plan".
I disagree that CJ/Leonard are "known" and at the same level as Plumlee. Plumlee is much more proven than either CJ or Leonard - he played all 82 games and shattered the 1,000 minutes played mark, whereas CJ/Leonard played 62/55 games, respectively, and neither broke 1,000 minutes played.
So I guess my revised list would be:

CJ
Leonard
Harkless
(Vonleh - only keeping him because the talent is there, which combined with a disappointing rookie season has potential to become MIP. Still don't think he gets the minutes.)
 
So Rob Mahoney is now the most respected source for the NBA?

I just want to be sure I am keeping up
 
magnifier661 said:
The absence of LMA will provide the most improved season. We will thank him when the season is over
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A little bitterness still?

I'm not sure I will thank him this season, but in a few years if the current cast (plus some yet to be acquired) gels into a strong defensive unit with a killer fast break, and starts competing for the top spot in the West, then I will thank LMA--because I don't think he was ever going to get us there and might have done us a favor.
 
Reep said:
A little bitterness still?

I'm not sure I will thank him this season, but in a few years if the current cast (plus some yet to be acquired) gels into a strong defensive unit with a killer fast break, and starts competing for the top spot in the West, then I will thank LMA--because I don't think he was ever going to get us there and might have done us a favor.
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My salt has reached an all-time level of salinity
 
cj-he will continue his surge from the playoff into this year.
leonard-will continue his "Legend" nickname and will continue his improving post game
harkless- he can be a better player in this offense but not enough to garner national attention.
vonleh-he will be a candidate in a few years when he shows his Kevin Garnett comparisons game.
 
UncleCliffy'sDaddy said:
I agree with bench depth, though starter depth is obviously...or at least probably....nowhere near as good. But I agree, I too am tired of the same old cliches. We have a boatload of assorted talent. I want to see the local, so called journalists disect it and provide greater insight into what we might be able to expect, personally and professionally.
Click to expand...

If we can trade Kamen and scraps and find a player of starter quality....this would be Olshey's tree-topper on an unbelievable rebuild effort. When I sit back and think about what he's done in such short order...I'm really impressed. Not so impressed by letting LMA go without as much as a draft pick in return however!
 
BoomChakaLaka said:
If we can trade Kamen and scraps and find a player of starter quality....this would be Olshey's tree-topper on an unbelievable rebuild effort. When I sit back and think about what he's done in such short order...I'm really impressed. Not so impressed by letting LMA go without as much as a draft pick in return however!
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Is this a new chicken flavor Ramen?
 
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