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Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second

Monta Ellis of the Warriors wins Most Improved. Kevin Martin finished a really close second.

Whatever. I've already vented enough -- we knew this would happen.

I will point this out, though: ESPN's Chris Sheridan didn't put KevMar on the ballot. Twenty-eight other voters did the same thing. And these are the people America's basketball fans at large depend on for sentient NBA analysis.

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Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Twenty eight voters left him off? Christ on a pony, what are they smoking?

It looks like the voting was extremely close, so a few of those votes could have swung this thing to Kevin.

by otis29 on Apr 26, 2007 12:18 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Voters deliberately leave some strong choices off ballots so that candidate doesn't rack up 2nd, 3rd place points. This gives their horse a better chance of getting the award. Highly unethical. Another reason why we can't take individual awards too seriously. They're a joke.

by henryclemente on Apr 26, 2007 12:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
This award season is the most frustrating I've been through as an NBA fan.  The state of NBA analysis in 2007 is absolute shyte.  I've never been more frustrated, more angry.  We DESPERATLY need sites like this to try and marginalize these writers.  Write emails to editors.  Send emails to writers.  Refuse to click on links.  GET RID OF THESE GUYS.  

You're dealing with people who think Vince Carter more deserving of an All-NBA nod than Kevin Garnett.  Seriously.  Read the post.  People like this cannot be trusted and saying this without one smack of sarcasm.

by KD on Apr 26, 2007 12:35 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Not to mention your excellent counter argument which  'mr. bloom' had no good answer for. There are quality minds out there on the blogosphere. Kings fans are lucky you are 1 of them TZ.
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 26, 2007 5:19 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Btw i was curious TZ. Is there any number for how many voters left monta or deron williams specifically off their ballots? I'm only curious because i think it's hard to argue that kevin got screwed by 29 ppl leaving him off their ballots if  monta & deron got left off in a significant number as well.

I was curious because i feel ellis and williams deserved 2nd & 3rd place status in the voting. I feel that ellis made a huge leap that simply got dwarfed by kevin's quantum undeniable leap. In williams' case he realized his all star potential much quicker than anybody could have guessed. While i dont think it's fair to give williams the award based on that point alone, i do think it's fair to give him 3rd based on his quick rise to that ascent alone. You can argue Williams deserved MVP votes (surely a more important vote than any number for MIP)

The real point as many have stated already (that i was late to comment on because i was working/snoozing) is that the whole process is flawed. A clear,fluid process needs to happen to justify how voters can vote for this. That's the whole problem. And every sportswriter would hate that because then their opinion would be dictated. Good, their opinions suck with no dictation. At least a dictated opinion would be an upgrade over a stupid thoughtless no dictated one.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 26, 2007 8:46 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Monta got left off 30 ballots, Deron left off 96.

Seriously, though: 29 voters didn't believe Kevin Martin was one of three most improved players this year. What league are they watching?

by Ziller on Apr 27, 2007 6:51 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Not the same 1 you are....and 96 ballots left off deron williams? That's a crying shame too.....
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 27, 2007 10:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
The way I look at it, individual awards are merely an extension of NBA marketing. Voting is subjective and dictated by politics, and it's gotten worse in recent years. Therefore it can't, and shouldn't, be taken that seriously. Who makes a big deal out of it? The league, the press, anyone involved in that vortex of hype and marketing.

Personally, I care as much about who gets what award as I do about who makes it to the all-star game. Utilmately, it's meaningless in the big scheme of things (wins/losses). Kevin Martin didn't the award, doesn't mean he kicked any less ass this year.

by henryclemente on Apr 26, 2007 12:47 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Certainly not.  But to fans without the dish, or away from the California, they depend on these writers to tell them who is doing what.  These people now assume Monta kicked more ass than Martin this year, or kicked more ass relative to the amounts of asses kicked last season; and we both know that this ain't true.

A third of my reader email comes from outside the US.  In the 90s, when I was writing and it wasn't as easy for overseas NBA fans to get NBA video, probably half of my email came from overseas.  It's up to us to inform ourselves and inform our readers -- and by and large, most NBA scribes are too lazy to question their initial instinct, much less pull up a stat sheet or watch a game with a 10:30 start.

by KD on Apr 26, 2007 12:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
That's true, I don't mean to understate the negative effects this has on Martin, who was unjustly deprived of the national exposure he desrves.
Nor do I think that writers and bloggers shouldn't do their jobs by writing about individual awards and pointing out any failures or injustices.

But what you said just reinforces the fact that awards are very much an extension NBA marketing. And I think at the same time, fans need to come to this realization, and take these awards with a grain of salt.

by henryclemente on Apr 26, 2007 1:30 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Totally.  And Stern drives that point home every spring when he sends out MVP ballots that don't include an actual breakdown of what sort of player the writers/TV guys should be voting for.  The awards are created for pub and message board talk.  

by KD on Apr 26, 2007 2:10 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
I think the Kings not even sniffing the playoffs hurt Kevin's winning chance.  If the Kings and Warriors switched positions then I'm sure Kevin wins.

Anyway, this will be good motivation for him this summer.

by thekangarooster on Apr 26, 2007 1:28 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
I'm sure that will be the motivation behind some voters' rejection of Kevin -- because he didn't play on a good team. Honestly, I didn't realize you couldn't improve as a player unless your team was in playoffs, must've missed the memo.

I can't believe we found an ESPN basketball writer more inept than Marc Stein. I'm truly shocked.

by Ziller on Apr 26, 2007 1:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
I'm not too broken up about this.  Probably half of awards are decided by politics and emotions.  Let's focus on something more constructive like coaches, the draft, free agency, and interesting playoff plotlines.

by thekangarooster on Apr 26, 2007 3:29 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Ya, I like the potential motivation factor for K-mart.

by CAB on Apr 26, 2007 1:31 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
I think I just threw up in my mouth.

by bballblog on Apr 26, 2007 3:05 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
I declare a Sacramento metropolitan area day of mourning tomorrow, April 27th, in respect for our fallen hero.
Kings-obsessed. A's obsessed. More ramblings: louisgray.com

by louismg on Apr 26, 2007 3:58 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
This is stupid. Ellis improved a great deal this season also. But @ the rate of k-mart? Pshawwww. It's obvious that every award is about favoritism politics and marketing. There is no such thing as awards or true value with them. The de-value of awards is in a downward spiral with no end in sight.
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 26, 2007 5:17 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
I think this is another thing to blame on Muss. If Martin is the future and you want to see if Price, Garcia and Williams might also be in the picture why wouldn't you let these guys play together to see if they mesh. Martin's numbers went in the tank do to a lack of playing time. If Martin was 29 or 30 (a la Mike Bibby)and you wanted to see what some young kid could do I get it but this was the one bright spot that Kings fans had to look forward to and we got robbed.
We are slipping into the NBA abyss.

by jjham15 on Apr 26, 2007 6:07 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Guess we all agree about Muss then. He screwed not only the kings but the brightest spot of the season, Kevin Martin.
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 26, 2007 6:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
W/e. Hopefully Martin uses this as motivation and kicks some BIG ASS next year. Let's focus energy on the ping pong balls in May 22nd and a perhaps a turning point for the future of the franchise.
I wish for the Greg Oden Era.

by kingme18 on Apr 26, 2007 7:07 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Not a bad idea. Not a bad idea @ all. But unfortunately i feel the ping pong balls refuse to like geoff. The kings have never gotten a lottery pick since he's been here. NOT ONCE. Jobbed i tell ya jobbed.
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 26, 2007 7:17 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
8 straight playoff years.......no chance to plan ahead
How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? The man can't even trust his own pants.

by CrownUs93 on Apr 26, 2007 9:57 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Your point is well taken. I was referring to the non player pre adelman years. It really doesnt matter if geoff and the kings get a high lottery pick. They pick quality players and have a history of raising the talent level on the court. It would be a smart bet that it can be done again regardless of draft position.
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 26, 2007 10:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
these are the same people who think that no candidate for the baseball hall of fame is worthy of a 100% vote in for the first ballot.  yeah, like nolan ryan and his 7 no-hitters, 300+wins and 5700+ strikeouts is really not deserving.  

if you leave it up to the writers, then this happens.  these are also the same a-holes that don't think there should be a playoff system in NCAA football.

damned sports writers!!!!!!!

by Cynema the Band on Apr 27, 2007 10:43 AM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Who cares if K-Mart win the MIP. All these awards are opionated pieces of crap anyways. Winning these awards are individual accomplishment and if you don't win, whatever. Sheesh, team success matters most in the NBA. I love what Popovich did when he won coach of the year in '03. He just immediately put the award under the chair. Who cares if they win these awards.
I wish for the Greg Oden Era.

by kingme18 on Apr 27, 2007 12:56 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: Monta Ellis Wins Most Improved, Martin Second
Teams do for marketing purposes. This is the same reason they still have divisions. So teams have some kind of marketing ploy (like toronto if the 1st rd series goes badly) to sell to fans who might not know any better. By extensions writers know that when they need scoops teams are more likely to remember that they voted for their player in these types of awards. It's a very syngertic type of deal. I'm not saying writers get scoops or anything because of this. I'm saying they're more likely to get thought of when a scoop hits by a team insider. That's the point.
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 27, 2007 1:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

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