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It has been a crazy week in the NBA. Big names such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden and Zach LaVine have entered the NBA's health and safety protocols. Outbreaks on the Chicago Bulls roster caused the first two postponed games of the season.
History was also made this week as Stephen Curry became the official king of three-point shots after beating Ray Allen's record last Tuesday at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. Jordan Poole was present for it and he had another big week for the Golden State Warriors.
Let's take a look to see if it had an effect on this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings.
#5 Tyler Herro
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #4
Last Week: Games played - 2; Games won - 1; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 25; Games won - 14; Games lost - 11
Last Week: PPG - 14.5, APG - 2.4, RPG - 4.0
Overall: PPG - 20.3, APG - 3.7, RPG - 5.2
Last Week: FG% - 39.4%, 3P% - 25.0%
Overall: FG% - 44.0%, 3P% - 38.2%
Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat falls into fifth spot in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Herro missed one of their three games last week, but he still managed to average 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists. The 21-year-old guard has a quad contusion and has missed four games this season.
With Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo out of the lineup because of injuries, Herro has become the Heat's primary scorer. He's only started seven games so far, and seems more effective as a sixth man. But if more Heat players continue to miss games, Herro's usage goes up and he'll be on the rise in the NBA MIP power rankings again.
#4 Jordan Poole
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #5
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 28; Games won - 23; Games lost - 5
Last Week: PPG - 16.7, APG - 3.0, RPG - 5.3
Overall: PPG - 17.9, APG - 3.4, RPG - 3.4
Last Week: FG% - 38.2%, 3P% - 26.3%, SPG - 0.3
Overall: FG% - 44.2%, 3P% - 33.8%, SPG - 1.0
Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors goes up to number four in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Poole helped the Warriors to a 2-1 record, while averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists last week. The third-year guard struggled with his show, but still found ways to score.
The Warriors are anticipating the return of Klay Thompson before the end of the year. That could mean Poole might get relegated to the role of sixth man or Thompson comes off the bench with a minutes restriction. Nevertheless, the Warriors are just going to get better.
#3 Ja Morant
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #2
Last Week: Games played - 0; Games won - 0; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 19; Games won - 9; Games lost - 10
Last Week: PPG - 0.0, APG - 0.0, RPG - 0.0
Overall: PPG - 24.1, APG - 6.8, RPG - 5.6
Last Week: FG% - 0.0%, 3P% - 0.0, FT% - 0.0%
Overall: FG% - 47.6%, 3P% - 35.6%, FT% - 77.7%
Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies continues to miss games due to a left knee injury, while also being placed in the league's health and safety protocols. Morant has missed ten games since the injury and it has caused him to slip to third place in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings.
With the Grizzlies playing at a high level without Morant, they are surely going to take their time in bringing back their superstar point guard. Memphis is 9-1 since Ja's injury and one of the best teams in the NBA during that stretch. The Grizzlies have given no timetable for Morant's return and they are not going to rush him.
#2 Dejounte Murray
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #3
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 2; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 27; Games won - 10; Games lost - 17
Last Week: PPG - 11.5, APG - 8.0, RPG - 7.8
Overall: PPG - 17.7, APG - 8.4, RPG - 8.3
Last Week: FG% - 38.8%, 3P% - 31.3%, SPG - 1.8
Overall: FG% - 44.1%, 3P% - 33.9, SPG - 1.9
Dejounte Murray had an up-and-down week for the San Antonio Spurs last week. He was brilliant in the win over the Denver Nuggets on December 9th with 20 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. But Murray followed it up with a dud against the same Nuggets team two days later.
Murray later posted a triple-double in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans. The 25-year-old poing guard is averaging 17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game this season. That was enough to get him to second spot in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings.
#1 Miles Bridges
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #1
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 30; Games won - 16; Games lost - 14
Last Week: PPG - 16.3, APG - 6.3, RPG - 8.3
Overall: PPG - 19.8, APG - 3.6, RPG - 7.3
Last Week: FG% - 50.0%, 3P% - 25.0%, FT% - 64.3%
Overall: FG% - 47.0%, 3P% - 32.8%, FT% - 76.0%
Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets remains at number one for this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Bridges has become the Hornets' primary player with LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier in the NBA's health and safety protocols.
The 23-year-old forward averaged 6.3 assists last week, taking on the role of playmaker. His scoring dipped, but it was his efficiency, rebounding and passing that impressed last week. Bridges has certainly taken the leap from a role player to an important star for the Hornets this season.
Guess the Lakers players!
