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The 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, with the 75th Anniversary Team getting the recognition it deserves. It was an amazing weekend of basketball entertainment, especially if you don't count the Slam Dunk contest.
It's now time for the home stretch of the regular season as teams will battle it out for playoff positions. The contenders will look to thoroughly separate themselves from the pretenders.
With less than two months to go before the playoffs, it will be interesting to see which players in the race for the NBA's Most Improved Player can take their game to the next level.
Let's take a look at this week's MIP power rankings and see if there are any changes in the top five.
#5 Desmond Bane
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #5
Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 0; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 57; Games won - 39; Games lost - 18
Last Week: PPG - 14.0, APG - 0.0, RPG - 3.0
Overall: PPG - 17.8, APG - 2.5, RPG - 4.5
Last Week: FG% - 33.3%, 3P% - 25.0%, SPG - 1.0
Overall: FG% - 45.8%, 3P% - 41.5%, SPG - 1.2.
Desmond Bane remains in the top five of the NBA's Most Improved Player power rankings this week. Bane played in just one official game last week, scoring 14 points and adding three rebounds in the 119-114 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
But it was an amazing week for Bane, who participated in the 3-Point Contest and the Rising Stars Challenge. Along with Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, he won the inaugural Clorox Clutch Challenge. Grizzlies fans will surely be hoping that it won't be the last trophy Bane lifts this season.
#4 Miles Bridges
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #4
Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 1; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 59; Games won - 28; Games lost - 31
Last Week: PPG - 11.0, APG - 7.0, RPG - 10.0
Overall: PPG - 19.9, APG - 3.6, RPG - 7.3
Last Week: FG% - 45.5%, 3P% - 0.0%, FT% - 100.0%
Overall: FG% - 48.1%, 3P% - 30.5%, FT% - 79.8%.
Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets enter this week's NBA Most Improved power rankings at number four once again. Bridges did not participate in any event at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, but he could have given the Slam Dunk contest some excitement.
In the Hornets' first game back after the break, Bridges almost had a triple-double in the win over the Toronto Raptors. He finished the game with 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
The Hornets have also struggled over the past month, just like Bridges, but did well to get one over the Raptors.
#3 Anfernee Simons
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #3
Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 0, Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 54; Games won - 25; Games lost - 29
Last Week: PPG - 24.0, APG - 3.0, RPG - 3.0
Overall: PPG - 17.1, APG - 3.9, RPG - 2.7
Last Week: FG% - 50.0%, 3P% - 57.1%, FT% - 100.0%
Overall: FG% - 44.8%, 3P% - 40.3%, FT% - 89.2%.
Anfernee Simons has elevated his game this season for the Portland Trail Blazers. He remains third in this week's NBA Most Improved power rankings following a good performance against the Golden State Warriors. Simons finished with 24 points, three rebounds and three assists.
The absence of Damian Lillard and the trade of CJ McCollum have opened up the opportunity for Simons to blossom into a star. At the age of 22, he is already in his fourth NBA season and will enter restricted free agency this offseason.
#2 Dejounte Murray
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #2
Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 1; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 53; Games won - 23; Games lost - 30
Last Week: PPG - 31.0, APG - 14.0, RPG - 13.0
Overall: PPG - 20.1, APG - 9.4, RPG - 8.4
Last Week: FG% - 60.0%, 3P% - 33.3%, SPG - 0.0
Overall: FG% - 46.2%, 3P% - 31.9, SPG - 2.0
Dejounte Murray played in his first ever All-Star Game last weekend as part of Team Kevin Durant. Murray's hard work has finally paid off and he remains one of the favorites for the NBA's Most Improved Player of the Year Award this season.
In the San Antonio Spurs' first game after the All-Star break, he registered his 12th triple-double of the season. Murray's efforts helped the Spurs secure a 157-153 double-overtime win against the Washington Wizards. He finished with 31 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists, while shooting 60.0% from the field.
#1 Ja Morant
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #1
Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 0; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 47; Games won - 29; Games lost - 18
Last Week: PPG - 20.0, APG - 8.0, RPG - 4.0
Overall: PPG - 26.7, APG - 6.8, RPG - 5.9
Last Week: FG% - 28.0%, 3P% - 0.0%, FT% - 66.7%
Overall: FG% - 48.9%, 3P% - 32.4%, FT% - 75.3%.
Ja Morant stole the show in the 2022 All-Star Game with his acrobatic dunks. Morant was a starter for Team Kevin Durant, making his All-Star debut. His dunks have convinced fans that the Memphis Grizzlies star needs to participate in next year's Slam Dunk Contest.
Morant played in just one official game last week, putting up 20 points, four rebounds and eight assists in the loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the season in the final stretch, it's time for Morant to separate himself from the rest of the pack in the NBA's Most Improved Player race.
Guess the Lakers players!
