On the behalf of the Indiana Pacers, I — lowly no-name contributor to 8 Points 9 Seconds — am starting a low-level beef with the Orlando Magic, and it’s got everything to do with the Most Improved Player award.
Sure, the MIP award is, by a wide margin, the league’s most arbitrarily awarded trophy. Since its inception in 1986, esteemed players like Gilbert Arenas and Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady have won the award, but primarily it goes to the role players of the league. Monta Ellis won it in 2007. Darrell Armstrong and the Magic in 1989.