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With Christmas just around the corner, the NBA is facing a tough challenge due to the rising cases of COVID-19 infection among players. Superstars such as Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks have entered the league's health and safety protocols.
Only eight teams currently have no players in the NBA's health and safety protocols. The remaining 22 players have at least one player affected by it. Teams such as the Nets, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers have had outbreaks leading to postponed games.
On that note, here's a look at this week's NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings and see if the current COVID-19 outbreak has had any effect.
#5 Tyler Herro
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #5
Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 1; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 26; Games won - 15; Games lost - 11
Last Week: PPG - 26.0, APG - 5.0, RPG - 1.0
Overall: PPG - 20.5, APG - 3.7, RPG - 5.1
Last Week: FG% - 47.1%, 3P% - 62.5%
Overall: FG% - 44.2%, 3P% - 39.3%
Tyler Herro remains at number five for this week's NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings. Herro sat down most of last week due to a quadriceps injury. He returned on Tuesday for the game against the Indiana Pacers.
He came off the bench and played just 21 minutes. However, he managed to score 26 points with one rebound and five assists in his team's 125-96 win. Herro has played much better off the bench this season. The Heat are likely to do that for the rest of the season, unless a bunch of injuries happen.
#4 Jordan Poole
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #4
Last Week: Games played - 0; Games won - 0; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 28; Games won - 23; Games lost - 5
Last Week: PPG - 0.0, APG - 0.0, RPG - 0.0
Overall: PPG - 17.9, APG - 3.4, RPG - 3.4
Last Week: FG% - 0.0%, 3P% - 0.0%, SPG - 0.0
Overall: FG% - 44.2%, 3P% - 33.8%, SPG - 1.0
Jordan Poole missed all of last week after entering the NBA's health and safety protocols. He was the first Golden State Warriors player to be placed in isolation this season. Poole is having a breakout campaign for the Warriors, and is one of the favorites to win the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
The third-year guard is averaging 17.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game before entering protocols. Poole will have to isolate for ten days, or could be cleared if he has two negative tests in a span of 24 hours.
#3 Ja Morant
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #3
Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 0; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 20; Games won - 9; Games lost - 11
Last Week: PPG - 16.0, APG - 8.0, RPG - 6.0
Overall: PPG - 23.7, APG - 6.9, RPG - 5.6
Last Week: FG% - 50.0%, 3P% - 100.0, FT% - 60.0%
Overall: FG% - 47.7%, 3P% - 36.4%, FT% - 76.9%
Ja Morant made his return to the NBA after a 12-game absence due to a sprained left knee last Monday against the OKC Thunder. Morant played just 28 minutes as the Memphis Grizzlies eased him back into their rotation. He ended the game with 16 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
The Grizzlies went 10-2 during Morant's absence, and lost 102-99 to the tanking Thunder on his return. It also didn't help that Morant was heckled by some Grizzlies fans during the game. Nevertheless, Morant did enough last week to remain third in this week's NBA Most Improved Player power rankings.
#2 Dejounte Murray
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #2
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 30; Games won - 12; Games lost - 18
Last Week: PPG - 21.7, APG - 11.0, RPG - 9.7
Overall: PPG - 18.1, APG - 8.6, RPG - 8.4
Last Week: FG% - 49.1%, 3P% - 41.7%, SPG - 2.7
Overall: FG% - 44.6%, 3P% - 34.7, SPG - 2.0.
Dejounte Murray continues to have a breakout season for the San Antonio Spurs. Murray averaged 21.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 11.0 assists per game last week, registering two triple doubles in three games. He already has six triple doubles this season, which is tied for the most this season with reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
Murray also helped the Spurs to a 2-1 record last week. In the 116-92 win over the LA Clippers last Tuesday, the 25-year-old guard put up 24 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists. He became the second Spurs player ever to registered more than ten career triple doubles. He's still in second spot for this week's NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings.
#1 Miles Bridges
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #1
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 0; Games lost - 3
Overall: Games played - 33; Games won - 16; Games lost - 17
Last Week: PPG - 20.3, APG - 5.0, RPG - 7.3
Overall: PPG - 19.8, APG - 3.8, RPG - 7.3
Last Week: FG% - 50.0%, 3P% - 23.5%, FT% - 100.0%
Overall: FG% - 47.3%, 3P% - 32.0%, FT% - 77.7%
Miles Bridges remains at number one in this week's NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings. Bridges has become the primary scorer for the Charlotte Hornets, hitting shots at 50.0% last week.
Bridges is averaging 19.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists this season. The athletic wingman has developed his game massively, and that's showing this season. If Bridges can keep it up and the Hornets make the playoffs, there's a real possibility that he could be named the Most Improved Player of the year this season.
