[B/R NBA Award Staff Picks Article](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10117155-br-staff-roundtable-final-picks-for-2024-nba-awards)
It’s perplexing that Cam Thomas hasn’t been discussed by Bleacher Report for the Most Improved Player Award, especially considering his phenomenal growth this season. The oversight becomes even more glaring when you consider the coaching situation with Jacque Vaughn, which likely hindered Thomas’s full potential.
**Statistical Surge:**
* **Scoring Explosion:** Thomas’s scoring average soared from 10.6 to 22.2 points per game. This dramatic increase is a clear indicator of his evolving role and escalating impact on the Nets’ offense.
* **Efficiency and Volume:** Maintaining a free throw percentage of 85.2% while increasing shot attempts is impressive. His field goal and three-point percentages are also reflective of his improved shot selection and offensive integration.
* **Versatile Contributions:** With his assists more than doubling to 2.9 per game and rebounds increasing to 3.3 per game, Thomas has expanded his game beyond just scoring.
* **Role Enhancement:** Last season, Thomas started only 4 games, compared to 48 starts this season. This not only shows trust from the coaching staff but also a significant enhancement in his role.
**Coaching Dynamics:**
The coaching strategy under Jacque Vaughn might have also played a role in limiting Thomas’s full breakout earlier in the season. Vaughn’s hesitation to utilize Thomas extensively, especially down the stretch in games, potentially suppressed his statistics and impact. The thought that Thomas’s numbers could have been even more impressive had Vaughn been replaced sooner is a fascinating “what if?” scenario.
**Conclusion:**
The exclusion of Cam Thomas from the Most Improved Player discussions seems like a significant oversight given his statistical improvements and increased role on the team. Furthermore, the coaching context adds another layer to his narrative, suggesting that his ceiling this season might have been even higher under different circumstances. Thomas’s transformation embodies the spirit of the Most Improved Player Award, making the lack of recognition not just surprising but also a compelling case for more critical discussion and analysis. His journey this season is not merely a tale of improved stats but of untapped potential that was gradually unleashed.
by Jarrett_50Cal
2 Comments
Did chatgpt write this for you? Lol
I think you’re misunderstanding what “Improved” means in this context. His PPG doubled because his minutes doubled. His FG% actually dropped slightly versus last season. I don’t think Cam’s game has improved much, he’s just been given more opportunity to show what he’s always been capable of. He has a lot of areas he could visibly improve to be eligible for MIP, but there’s no case for that this year whatsoever versus other more qualified candidates like Coby White.
It’s also important to remember that narrative plays a lot into the discussions of who wins awards like MIP and MVP. The Nets didn’t make the play-in this year, versus making the playoffs last year. Sure, there are tons of reasons why, but overall we are a team that has regressed in a narrative context. That hampers any discussion around someone on our roster being the most improved player in the league. It’s similar to how many MVP caliber players aren’t considered because their teams don’t perform well.