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With the NBA regular at its halfway point, several sports analysts have announced their midseason awards. For the Most Improved Player of the Year Award, experts from CBS Sports had a three-way tie with Desmond Bane, Darius Garland and Miles Bridges.
Sports Illustrated favors Bridges, while NBC Sports cannot decide between Memphis Grizzlies teammates Bane and Ja Morant. Just like the NBA MVP this season, the Most Improved Player is an open race with a lot of great candidates. But if it's up to oddsmakers, Morant is currently the favorite to win the award at the end of the season.
Let's take a look at this week's NBA MIP power rankings and see if there are any changes from the previous list.
#5 Desmond Bane
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #4
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 45; Games won - 30; Games lost - 15
Last Week: PPG - 20.7, APG - 2.0, RPG - 4.0
Overall: PPG - 17.7, APG - 2.4, RPG - 4.4
Last Week: FG% - 50.0%, 3P% - 31.6%, SPG - 1.7
Overall: FG% - 47.0%, 3P% - 42.0%, SPG - 1.1
Desmond Bane slides down to fifth spot in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Bane was still solid in three games last week, averaging 20.7 points on 50.0% shooting. He helped the Grizzlies to a 2-1 record last week, but missed one game.
The sophomore guard entered the league's health and safety protocols on January 19th. Bane will have to isolate himself for five days if he's asymptomatic. If not, he needs to test negative twice over a span of 24-hours if he wants to get cleared. The Grizzlies are in the middle of a tough schedule and they need Bane more than ever.
#4 Darius Garland
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - NA
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 3; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 40; Games won - 25; Games lost - 15
Last Week: PPG - 25.3, APG - 12.5, RPG - 5.0
Overall: PPG - 19.8, APG - 8.0, RPG - 3.4
Last Week: FG% - 50.0%, 3P% - 30.8%, SPG - 1.0
Overall: FG% - 46.9%, 3P% - 36.6%, SPG - 1.3
Darius Garland of the Cleveland Cavaliers makes his way into the top five in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Garland enters at number four and it was hard ignoring his breakout season for the Cavaliers. With the team in playoff contention, Garland may get his first nod as an All-Star.
The third-year guard is averaging 19.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game this season. But his play over the past two weeks has been simply amazing, registering a double-double in five of his last six games.
#3 Dejounte Murray
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #2
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 2; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 40; Games won - 16; Games lost - 24
Last Week: PPG - 22.3, APG - 8.8, RPG - 9.8
Overall: PPG - 19.2, APG - 8.9, RPG - 8.4
Last Week: FG% - 52.6%, 3P% - 22.2%, SPG - 1.5
Overall: FG% - 45.1%, 3P% - 32.6, SPG - 2.0
Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs had another big week, but it was not enough to prevent him falling to number three in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Murray averaged 22.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists in four games last week, helping the Spurs win two of those games.
The 25-year-old guard posted his eighth triple-double of the season in the win against the OKC Thunder. Murray helped the Spurs demolished the Thunder with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. It was the 12th triple-double of his NBA career and just two more away from tying David Robinson's franchise record.
#2 Miles Bridges
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #3
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 43; Games won - 23; Games lost - 20
Last Week: PPG - 26.7, APG - 3.3, RPG - 7.3
Overall: PPG - 20.0, APG - 3.6, RPG - 7.3
Last Week: FG% - 55.6%, 3P% - 36.4%, FT% - 100.0%
Overall: FG% - 48.2%, 3P% - 32.2%, FT% - 77.3%
Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets is back to second place in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Bridges powered the Hornets to a 2-1 record last week, averaging 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
The Michigan State product exploded for a career-high 38 points against the New York Knicks on Monday. Bridges led the Hornets to a 97-87 win. There's no denying that Bridges is now the second best player in Charlotte and he's only getting better.
#1 Ja Morant
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #1
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 2; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 34; Games won - 20; Games lost - 14
Last Week: PPG - 23.3, APG - 8.5, RPG - 6.3
Overall: PPG - 24.7, APG - 6.9, RPG - 5.8
Last Week: FG% - 45.3%, 3P% - 25.0%, FT% - 86.4%
Overall: FG% - 48.5%, 3P% - 35.8%, FT% - 77.7%
Ja Morant remains at number one for this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings. Morant had another amazing week, averaging 24.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists in four games. Even though he had two games in which he scored below 20 points, he went toe-to-toe against two of the NBA's biggest stars.
Morant posted 25 points in the win over DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls. He followed it up with a 33-point performance against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. But with Darius Garland, Dejounte Murray and Miles Bridges having consistent huge performances, Morant has to keep up to remain at number one.
Guess the Lakers players!
