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Today, I'm going to start a tweet thread that re-picks the NBA's MVPs.
I have two criteria:
1) The year's best player, based on stats, especially advanced stats.
2) A player's TEAM's winning % is factored in, too.
The first actual MVP was awarded in 1956.
1/9
I have two criteria:
1) The year's best player, based on stats, especially advanced stats.
2) A player's TEAM's winning % is factored in, too.
The first actual MVP was awarded in 1956.
1/9
1947 (BAA): Joe Fulks
BAA's leading scorer by big margin, 23.2-16.8
Avg team: 67.8 P/G
Led Warriors to champ.
Fulks was the original high-volume scorer. Terrible FG%, but everyone had bad FG% then. It was like hockey: Get as many shots on goal as possible.
2nd: Bob Feerick
2/9
BAA's leading scorer by big margin, 23.2-16.8
Avg team: 67.8 P/G
Led Warriors to champ.
Fulks was the original high-volume scorer. Terrible FG%, but everyone had bad FG% then. It was like hockey: Get as many shots on goal as possible.
2nd: Bob Feerick
2/9
1948 (BAA): Joe Fulks (2)
Led BAA in scoring. Closer this year, 22.1-21.0 (Zaslovsky)
Avg. team: 72.7 P/G
Led Warriors to Finals (lost though)
2nd: Max Zaslovsky (2nd in P/G; 3rd in FG%)
3/9
Led BAA in scoring. Closer this year, 22.1-21.0 (Zaslovsky)
Avg. team: 72.7 P/G
Led Warriors to Finals (lost though)
2nd: Max Zaslovsky (2nd in P/G; 3rd in FG%)
3/9
1949 (BAA): George Mikan
Leading scorer. 8th in AST/G.
Led Lakers to title.
Mikan is as dominant to his era as Wilt/KAJ
Offensive stats are amazing: 28.3 P/G in an 80.0 P/G league.
Center of the league's best defense. Lakers defense much worse after he left.
2/3: Zaslofsky, Fulks
Leading scorer. 8th in AST/G.
Led Lakers to title.
Mikan is as dominant to his era as Wilt/KAJ
Offensive stats are amazing: 28.3 P/G in an 80.0 P/G league.
Center of the league's best defense. Lakers defense much worse after he left.
2/3: Zaslofsky, Fulks
1950 (NBA): Mikan (2)
Led in scoring: 27.4 in 80.0 league.
Led Lakers to 2nd champ.
2nd: Ralph Beard. 2nd in P/G (23.4); led in FG% by wide margin. One of the best volume/efficiency players ever. He would have been the 2nd best player of 1950s, but was banned for point shaving.
Led in scoring: 27.4 in 80.0 league.
Led Lakers to 2nd champ.
2nd: Ralph Beard. 2nd in P/G (23.4); led in FG% by wide margin. One of the best volume/efficiency players ever. He would have been the 2nd best player of 1950s, but was banned for point shaving.
1951: Mikan (3)
Led NBA in both OWS and DWS!
Led in scoring: 28.4 P/G in 84.1 per team league.
2nd in REB (14.1).
3rd in FG%.
Injured in playoffs and Lakers lost.
2/3: Groza, Ed Macauley
6/9
Led NBA in both OWS and DWS!
Led in scoring: 28.4 P/G in 84.1 per team league.
2nd in REB (14.1).
3rd in FG%.
Injured in playoffs and Lakers lost.
2/3: Groza, Ed Macauley
6/9
1952: Mikan (4)
1st in PER & DWS. 2nd in WS & WS/48.
2nd in P/G (23.8); 83.7/team context.
Led in R/G (13.5).
Led Lakers to 3rd champ.
Mikan was a little less dominant than in previous years.
2nd: Paul Arizin, who led in WS and P/G
7/9
1st in PER & DWS. 2nd in WS & WS/48.
2nd in P/G (23.8); 83.7/team context.
Led in R/G (13.5).
Led Lakers to 3rd champ.
Mikan was a little less dominant than in previous years.
2nd: Paul Arizin, who led in WS and P/G
7/9
1953: Mikan (5)
1st in PER, WS, WS/48, DWS, R/G (14.4).
2nd in P/G: 20.6 in 82.7/team context.
Led Lakers to 4th title.
2/3/4/5: Ed Macauley, Dolph Schayes, Neil Johnston, Vern Mikkelsen.
8/9
1st in PER, WS, WS/48, DWS, R/G (14.4).
2nd in P/G: 20.6 in 82.7/team context.
Led Lakers to 4th title.
2/3/4/5: Ed Macauley, Dolph Schayes, Neil Johnston, Vern Mikkelsen.
8/9
1954: Mikan (6)
1st in PER & DWS. 4th in WS. 3rd in WS/48.
2nd in R/G (14.3). 3rd in P/G (18.1) in 79.5/team context.
Led Lakers to 5th title.
2/3/4: Johnston, Schayes, Macauley.
This ends the Mikan era. 6 MVPs and 5 rings in 6 yrs!
I'll start a new post-Mikan MVP thread.
9/9
1st in PER & DWS. 4th in WS. 3rd in WS/48.
2nd in R/G (14.3). 3rd in P/G (18.1) in 79.5/team context.
Led Lakers to 5th title.
2/3/4: Johnston, Schayes, Macauley.
This ends the Mikan era. 6 MVPs and 5 rings in 6 yrs!
I'll start a new post-Mikan MVP thread.
9/9
