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As 2021 comes to a close, many NBA teams are facing an uphill battle with players entering health and safety protocols. The Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks are almost back at full strength after almost two weeks of playing with depleted lineups.
However, the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards have full-blown outbreaks. The NBA has changed its rules on asymptomatic players, lowering the number of days a player needs to isolate.
The uncertainty of the situation on a week-to-week basis has led to some players getting opportunities.
Let's take a look at this week's NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings and see if a new face enters the top five or if there is a new number one.
No. 5: Desmond Bane
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - NA
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 3; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 36; Games won - 22; Games lost - 14
Last Week: PPG - 23.0, APG - 2.0, RPG - 4.0
Overall: PPG - 17.3, APG - 2.2, RPG - 4.3
Last Week: FG% - 47.1%, 3P% - 47.1%, SPG - 1.3
Overall: FG% - 46.7%, 3P% - 42.0%, SPG - 1.0
Desmond Bane stepped up after Ja Morant went down with a knee injury. Now that Morant's back, Bane has shown he can play great with him in the lineup. He averaged 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in four games last week.
That's enough for Bane to crack into the top five of the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings this week. The second-year guard is having a breakout season for a surprising Memphis Grizzlies team that is fourth in the Western Conference.
No. 4: Tyler Herro
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #5
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 3; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 29; Games won - 18; Games lost - 11
Last Week: PPG - 21.0, APG - 5.0, RPG - 4.0
Overall: PPG - 20.6, APG - 3.9, RPG - 5.0
Last Week: FG% - 46.7%, 3P% - 61.5%
Overall: FG% - 44.4%, 3P% - 40.8%
Tyler Herro was back on the Miami Heat's bench last week with Jimmy Butler back in the lineup. However, Herro proved he does not need to start to be effective. He averaged 21.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in three wins last week.
With Jordan Poole missing games for the second straight week, Herro moves into fourth spot in this week's power rankings. But with Desmond Bane's consistency and Poole getting cleared to return, Herro's time on the list could be in jeopardy.
No. 3: Dejounte Murray
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #2
Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 1; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 31; Games won - 13; Games lost - 18
Last Week: PPG - 9.0, APG - 13.0, RPG - 6.0
Overall: PPG - 17.8, APG - 8.8, RPG - 8.4
Last Week: FG% - 18.8%, 3P% - 20.0%, SPG - 2.0
Overall: FG% - 43.8%, 3P% - 34.1, SPG - 2.0
Dejounte Murray falls to third in this week's power rankings. Murray played in just one game this week after entering the NBA's health and safety protocols a day after Christmas. He's expected to be cleared next week.
Murray struggled in his lone game last week, finishing with just nine points and shooting 18.8% from the field. He had 13 assists as the San Antonio Spurs got the win over the LA Lakers. The fifth-year guard has to be more consistent once he returns if he wants to climb up the list.
No. 2: Miles Bridges
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #1
Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 1; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 34; Games won - 17; Games lost - 17
Last Week: PPG - 16.0, APG - 3.0, RPG - 5.0
Overall: PPG - 19.7, APG - 3.7, RPG - 7.2
Last Week: FG% - 42.9%, 3P% - 14.3%, FT% - 75.0%
Overall: FG% - 47.2%, 3P% - 31.4%, FT% - 77.6%
Just like Dejounte Murray, Miles Bridges played only one game this week due to entering the NBA's health and safety protocols. Bridges led the Charlotte Hornets to a win before isolating. He put up 16 points, five rebounds and three assists in a win over the Denver Nuggets.
Bridges is expected to be cleared sometime next week to wreak havoc once again. The only reason he fell to second in this week's Most Improved Player power rankings is because the new number one was unstoppable last week. Bridges could be back atop the list as long as he continues to have a breakout season.
No. 1: Ja Morant
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #3
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 3; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 24; Games won - 12; Games lost - 12
Last Week: PPG - 28.3, APG - 5.3, RPG - 6.0
Overall: PPG - 24.5, APG - 6.6, RPG - 5.7
Last Week: FG% - 48.2%, 3P% - 47.4, FT% - 78.6%
Overall: FG% - 47.8%, 3P% - 38.3%, FT% - 77.2%
Ja Morant is back to full health after having a monster week for the Memphis Grizzlies last week. Morant led the Grizzlies to a 3-1 week, averaging 28.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. They were overmatched by the Golden State Warriors but ended up going on a three-game winning streak.
The Grizzlies blew out the Sacramento Kings before Morant beat the Phoenix Suns with a game-winning layup. He then took over against the LA Lakers by finishing with 41 points, 10 rebounds and two assists. Morant is back to playing at an All-Star level and he's number one in this week's Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings.
