The second half\u00a0of the 2017-18 NBA season is well underway, which means it is a good idea to take a look at the five shooting guards who have improved their game the most from last season to this season.<\/p>\n
Over the next three or four weeks, I will take a look at each position from point guard to center. This will help round out the candidates for the NBA\u2019s Most Improved Player Award. Last season,\u00a0Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0of the Milwaukee Bucks took home the hardware. The \u201cGreek Freak\u201d played almost the same amount of minutes from 2015-16 (35.3 to 35.6). But he scored almost six more points per game (22.9 to 28.5).<\/p>\n Fast forward to this season and Antetokounmpo is an MVP candidate on a Bucks team that ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference; two games behind the fifth-place Washington Wizards.<\/p>\n I have already looked at the five most improved point guards, which you can read by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n This article will look at the point, assist, steal and block production +\/- averages for players listed as point guards, according to\u00a0hoopsstats.com<\/a>. In addition, we will look at their eff rating, which Hoops Stats uses to measure a player\u2019s overall efficiency at both ends. Other stats including effective field goal percentage (eFG%), which weighs three and two-point baskets differently and true shooting percentage (TS%), which combines a players\u2019 field goal percentage, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage to more effectively measure shooting prowess, will be utilized.<\/p>\n But, eff rating measures players overall contributions. Therefore, that stat will determine their ranking.<\/p>\n Joe Harris<\/strong><\/a> of the Brooklyn Nets topped last season\u2019s improvement list<\/a>. Find out who is at the top of the list so far this season!<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=I0G-FRNQMjY<\/p>\n Bazemore’s stats from last season to this season across the board do not scream major improvement.<\/p>\n The 28-year-old who is in his sixth season in the NBA, has only seen his minutes (+1.7) points, (1.8) rebounds (1.1) and assists (1.2) rise by marginal numbers, but he has gotten the job done at both ends of the floor, has become a better defender and rebounder and as a result, is a more efficient player.<\/p>\n His true shooting percentage\u00a0of 54.1 is solid and his Player Efficiency\u00a0Rating of 15 is by far his career high through 44 games this season.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WJ7QHHXxpHc<\/p>\n Kris Dunn<\/strong><\/a> and Lauri Markkanen<\/strong><\/a> may get all the headlines, but there are other reasons to be optimistic about the Bulls future.<\/p>\n One of the other reasons has been the play of shooting guard Justin Holiday<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> After playing in all 82 games last season, a career high in games played, with the New York Knicks, the 28-year-old Holiday is on pace to set career highs in points (13.7), assists (2.3) and rebounds (4.6).<\/p>\n When Holiday is not contributing on the offensive end, he gets the job done on the defensive end.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L5gCoSa8eCw<\/p>\n Devin Booker<\/strong><\/a> does not get enough attention because he plays on a bad Phoenix Suns team, but he is has developed into a star.<\/p>\n Booker is averaging a career-high 25.3 points per game, 4.6 assists per game and 4.5 rebounds per game, to go along with career highs in effective field goal percentage (51.5), PER (19.6) and TS% (58).<\/p>\n Booker probably will not be named a Western Conference All-Star reserve, but he certainly deserves it. Booker’s averages can only be matched by five other players: DeMarcus Cousins<\/strong><\/a>, Steph Curry<\/a>,<\/strong> Kevin Durant<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> James Harden<\/strong><\/a> and LeBron James<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n WOW.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AAIRt2J2NxQ<\/p>\n Victor Oladipo<\/strong><\/a> has played like an MVP and has turned himself into someone in the league this season.<\/p>\n He has finally broken out like many expected to and become the face of a franchise. He has almost doubled his point production from last season (15.9 to 24.3) and he is averaging four assists and 5.3 rebounds per game as well.<\/p>\n Oladipo’s 23.9 PER is one of the best in the league at his position, and he could have easily been an All-Star starter in the East.<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NNLo8zndJas<\/p>\n The most improved shooting guard in the NBA this season is not Oladipo or Booker.<\/p>\n It has been Tyreke Evans<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Evans is averaging 19.6 points per game, the most he has averaged since his rookie season with the Sacramento Kings in 2009-10. Evans 22.2 PER ranks as one of the best in the league at his position and is his career high. His 56.7 TS% is also a career high.<\/p>\n There are bound to be plenty of teams interested in Evans with the Trade Deadline approaching.<\/p>\n Main PhotoStock Watch: 5 Most Improved Shooting Guards<\/h2>\n
No. 5: Kent Bazemore<\/a> – Atlanta Hawks (+3.9 eff rating)<\/h3>\n
No. 4: Justin Holiday<\/a> – Chicago Bulls (+5.1 eff rating)<\/h3>\n
No. 3: Devin Booker<\/a> – Phoenix Suns (+5.3 eff rating)<\/h3>\n
No. 2: Victor Oladipo<\/a> – Indiana Pacers (+8.9 eff rating)<\/h3>\n
No. 1: Tyreke Evans<\/a> – Memphis Grizzlies (+9.3 eff rating)<\/h3>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>