The Second Annual OPP Mid-Season Awards

Best Individual Performance in a Game: JJ Redick, 11/01/09 @ TOR. 27 points on 14 shots, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block (!), 1 turnover.

Biggest Surprise: Jason Williams.

Defensive Player of the Year: Barnes

Most Disappointing Player: VC

Most Improved Player: Ryan Anderson. No, he didn’t play for us last year, but looking at his stats…his minutes are down by 15%. His foul rate’s dropped by almost half, his rebound rate’s down, but that’s to be expected with Hoover and Kirby at center, and his percentages and scoring are up.

MVP: Dwight. Dagnabbit, though, we need Olajuwon working with him on post moves.

Vince needs to look at this video again and again… and aim to get back to that level. He won’t be able to get THERE, but he can get a little closer if he works at it. Someone said he (that person) doesn’t want to see VC dunking the ball and all that, just fit in. I disagree. I want him to play like he means it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSmzkJF7Ons&NR=1

Anyway:

- Best Individual Performance in a Game – I liked Dwight vs Lakers
- Biggest Surprise – Matt Barnes
- Defensive Player of the Year (Except Dwight*) – Matt Barnes
- Most Disappointing Player – I’d have to go with Vince, unfortunately
- Most Improved Player – Jason Williams (if he can count)
- MVP – Dwight… he’s so important for the Magic to have a chance.

Best Game: Dwight at Sacramento.

Biggest Surprise: Dwight not making an extra leap.

Defensive MVP: Barnes

Most Disappointing: VC

Most Improved: JJ

MVP: Dwight, of course.

- Best Individual Performance in a Game JJ Redick, 11/01/09 @ TOR. 27 points on 14 shots, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block , 1 turnover.

- Biggest Surprise JJ

- Defensive Player of the Year (Except Dwight*) Barnes

- Most Disappointing Player VC tied with Nelson

- Most Improved Player JJ

- MVP If it’s not Howard, we don’t have one

- Best Individual Performance in a Game — Dwight in SAC
- Biggest Surprise — Ryan Anderson’s rebounding ability
- Defensive Player of the Year (Except Dwight*) — Matt Barnes
- Most Disappointing Player — VC
- Most Improved Player — JJ Redick
- MVP — DH12

- Best Individual Performance in a Game – JJ at TOR

- Biggest Surprise – White Chocolate

- Defensive Player of the Year (Except Dwight*) – Matt Barnes

- Most Disappointing Player – Vince

- Most Improved Player – JJ

- MVP – Dwight

- Best Individual Performance in a Game
Choices were:
VC @ GSW: 27 pts on 7-13 FG, 1-2 3pt, 12-12 FT, 5 boards, 7 Ast, 1 TO, 2 Stl, 1 blk.
Barnes @ Denver: 28 pts on 11-18 FG, 3-5 3pt, 9 boards (2 offensive), 1 Ast, 1 TO, 3 Stl, 1 blk.
Anderson vs Suns: 20 pts on 8-14 FG, 3-3 3pt, 10 boards (7 offensive), 1 Ast, 0 TO, 1 Stl.
J.J. @ TOR: 27 pts on 8-14 FG, 5-8 3pt, 6-7 FT, 6 boards, 5 Ast, 1 TO, 1 Stl.

Realistically, Dwight probably has at least 3-4 games this season that were better than those listed above (Including last nights performance against the Lakers) so for that reason I left him off of the list.

It was a difficult choice because Barnes did it in Denver on a back-to-back while missing VC. Anderson & J.J. did it while missing BOTH VC & Rashard. VC’s performance was phenomenal but taking into account that he’s capable of putting those numbers up on a regular basis hurts him a bit here. All of that said, I went with J.J’s performance against Toronto.

- Biggest Surprise: J Williams
- Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Barnes
- Most Disappointing: Vince Carter
- Most Improved Player: JJ Redick
- MVP: Dwight

Maybe a bigger surprise is Matt Barnes Month of January. Matt Barnes in January: 14.4 PPG on 57% FG, 52% 3pt & 6.9 RPG. Sadly, Orlando has posted a 7-3 record this month even with those beastly numbers from Barnes.