Most Improved Player
Lopez – Jodie Meeks. I wrote a piece about how I believe he should be in the running for Most Improved in the entire NBA. His improvement in almost every aspect of his game was astounding. His ability to drive to the hoop and finish was something that was completely missing from his game last season.
Apr 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jodie Meeks (20) reacts after a 3-point basket against the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Hicks – Meeks gets the nod. His numbers were up across the board and he was consistently productive. I think he has improved enough to be considered an NBA starting quality two guard in the mold of Hersey Hawkins in Seattle days. A nice complimentary starter with an elite skill and some competitiveness. I also liked the progression of Xavier Henry, who seemed to study some tapes of James Harden this past offseason. At 23, Henry has alot of positive attributes. He’s feisty, athletic, and skilled. He’s a solid piece going forward for the Lakers.
Morales – Jodie Meeks. He added a lot to his game this year. The mid-range shot, the cutting to the rim off screens, the floater. He doesn’t have an explosive first step to the rim but is able to get his shots off by playing smart. He is driving to the rim and finishing at a higher rate than last year.
Burden – Meeks is the runaway candidate here for me. As opposed to other suitors such as Kendall Marshall or Jordan Hill, Meeks essentially turned his game around from being one of the inconsistent flames from the bench to becoming a dependable starter. His multitude of career highs across the board only illustrates this fact further. Hot from deep, mid-range and at the rim. Kudos Jodie!
Rude – I’ll make this a clean sweep and give Meeks the vote. Yes, I did just vote Meeks MVP and MIP. Was there someone more deserving? Ryan Kelly certainly improved throughout the season, and Kendall Marshall has an argument considering he was in the D-League at one point this year, but Meeks made the biggest jump in his all-around game of any Laker this year.