Omer Asik PPG RBS APG FT% FG% BPG Minutes 3.1 5.3 0.5 45% 50% 1.0 14.7 10.3 11.6 0.9 54% 54% 1.1 29.9 James Harden PPG RBS APG FT% FG% 3Point% Minutes 16.8 4.1 3.7 84% 49% 39% 31.4 26.0 4.7 5.8 85% 44% 37% 38.3 *I'll say Asik only because barely anybody actually knew him before and now he is respected around the NBA plus he improved in every category possible
Both players are no doubt improved, but not to the degree their stats would suggest. The increased production largely has to do with extended minutes and our style of play. There are other players (e.g. Paul George) for whom that award makes a lot more sense.
I would have to say Omer Asik. While Harden's statistical improvement was impressive, it's hard to argue him for most improved when he gets a max contract coming off the 6th man of the year. While not everyone thought he'd score 26 ppg, how much improvement can you expect for a max contract player?
Gotta be Asik... Harden's obviously the better player and one of the best players in the league now, but he was already thought of as a top 25 player after the 2011-2012 season. Asik was hardly on the radar and is now a top 15 center and one of the better defenders in the league.
Agreed, though for Harden you can make a strong case regardless because he is carrying a young team on a lot of nights to victory. To go from bench to star / foundation player in one season on a new team is a hell of a job, especially considering the time he was traded here.
Depends on how people perceive Harden's improvement. Not trying to discredit Asik at all since he's made big strides, but he won't get it. It'll probably be Harden, Jrue, or Paul George. It's easy to argue that Harden didn't really improve but just got a bigger role, but at the same time so did Jrue and Paul. That argument is less apparent with those two players though so I wouldn't be surprised if they got it over Harden.
No love from Parsons? He's got my MIP Rocket vote. Look at the huge improvement on his shooting stat across the board with higher usage. That's impressive particular his FT%. Season GS MP FG% 3P% FT% TS% TRB AST STL BLK PTS 2011-12 57 28.6 .452 .337 .551 .513 4.8 2.1 1.2 0.5 9.5 2012-13 72 36.2 .477 .381 .720 .575 5.4 3.5 1.0 0.4 15.0
Just an opinion, one that is obviously not common judging by past awards -- I think sophomores should be excluded from MIP in most cases. Of course they're going to improve, I don't know, just doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the award, at least not historically. I guess it has evolved into the spirit of the award over time (lazy voters).
I know our team is young, but aren't both guys over the age of 21? I can't see either one of these guys getting a minor in possession... All joking aside, it should be Asik. Harden didn't improve, he just finally got a chance to strut his stuff.
Asik has made the biggest jump. 26m for 2PPGS?!?!? Everyone knew Harden had talent, you can make a case for both but its gotta be Asik. Hope it doesnt hold the AB curse
Hardens minutes didn't increase that much. Omer's minutes did. It is harder to step up from being a solid player to a star, than it is to step up from the bench to being a solid player.
I think both players are good players but to think that Asik is More Improved than Harden is , as Mike Tyson would say, LUDICROUS!!!! Damn, I guess players are only as good as their last game but Harden IS the piece, Asik is A piece! I think the way you resolve it is, ask yourself, which player can you build a team around? Harden or Asik? I'm just glad we have both.:grin:
YOU MUST HAVE DIRECTV? You must haven't seen any of the games the past 2 or 3 yrs! Harden is a Star, Asik has played well too but not at an All Star level. However, I must admit, the last two games he has been a beast BUT not on the level of James Harden! Nikola Vucevic has comparable stats to Asik and he is not an All-Star! I'm a not downing Asik at all, he is a vital piece BUT he is not an All Star!
whoa there, everyone knew harden was an all star in waiting when he was in OKC. The only ones that didn't were the debbie downers of the interwebs. Asik on the other hand, a lot of nba and local radio experts ridiculed the move. But isn't the MIP award a jinx anyways? they can give it to paul george.
Omer will get a Roy Hibbert type contract when he hits free agency... this is from a guy everyone said Morey overpaid this offseason. I don't think there was too much questioning about Harden getting a max contract. So Asik has more than doubled his perceived value around the league. I think he is MIP
