NBA Awards Watch: Stephen Curry Holds the Crown

Most Improved Player

1. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls – Another week, and another incredibly solid performance from Jimmy Butler. Over the past seven days, Butler has gone for 35, 31 and 27 points while helping to lead the Bulls to three straight wins, and his season-long numbers (22.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 48.6% FG) are incredible, especially when compared to his previously established baseline. It would be aggressive to say that he has permanently joined the “star” class of the league, but with another 20-25 games at this level, the whispers of his ascension will turn into full-blown screams.
2. Dennis Schröder, Atlanta Hawks – One year ago, Dennis Schröder was a 20-year-old rookie that looked overmatched. The German point guard posted an ugly 44.2% true shooting percentage with a 16.9% turnover rate in year one, and he averaged just 13.1 minutes per contest in only 49 games. This year, however, Schröder has solidified his performance as a potential foundational piece in Atlanta, and his 22-point, 6-assist effort on Monday night against Rajon Rondo and the Mavericks was quite impressive. Jeff Teague will soon return from injury, re-relegating Schröder to a bench role, but he has played it beautifully thus far.
3. Marreese Speights, Golden State Warriors – If I didn’t know better, I would assume that someone made a statistical error in the profile of Marreese Speights. Golden State’s backup big man is averaging 25.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per 36 minutes this season, and he is basically posting career-bests across the board, including true shooting percentage (58%), PER (23.59) and even assists. It is tough to fight the urge to think Speights is bound to regress, but he hasn’t yet.

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