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Another exciting week in the NBA has passed. LeBron James of the LA Lakers made his return from injury in Boston and was involved in a crazy scuffle in Detroit. The Golden State Warriors are still the best team in the league, while the Houston Rockets finally ended their 15-game losing streak against the Chicago Bulls.
The race for the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year has also started to heat up. A familiar face returns to the top five, while a newcomer will makes his debut on the list. OG Anunoby is out due to suffering an injury and Dejounte Murray did not do enough to warrant a spot in the top five.
Let's take a look at this week's NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings.
#5 Tyrese Maxey
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - NA
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 2; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 19; Games won - 10; Games lost - 9
Last Week: PPG - 23.3, APG - 5.5, RPG - 3.0
Overall: PPG - 18.7, APG - 4.6, RPG - 3.5
Last Week: FG% - 44.9%, 3P% - 25.0%, SPG - 1.3
Overall: FG% - 50.0%, 3P% - 38.7%, SPG - 0.8
Tyrese Maxey has been consistently good for the Philadelphia 76ers this season. Maxey is now the regular starting point guard for the Sixers, with Ben Simmons still not cleared to return. He was quiet in the first few weeks of the season, but has to carry Philly due to many injuries to the squad.
Maxey is averaging 18.7 points per game this season, almost a ten-point improvement from his rookie year. If he continues to produce for the Sixers, it will be hard to ignore Maxey as one of the favorites to win the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
#4 Jordan Poole
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - NA
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 4; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 18; Games won - 16; Games lost - 2
Last Week: PPG - 22.5, APG - 3.5, RPG - 4.5
Overall: PPG - 18.3, APG - 3.3, RPG - 3.1
Last Week: FG% - 53.4%, 3P% - 48.4%, SPG - 0.3
Overall: FG% - 45.5%, 3P% - 33.1%, SPG - 1.1
Jordan Poole is back in the NBA Most Improved Player power rankings this week at number four. Poole had a huge week for the Golden State Warriors as he averaged 22.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in four games. He also shot the ball extremely well at 53.4% from the field and 48.4% from beyond the arc.
Poole has been the starting shooting guard for the Warriors, with Klay Thompson still out due to injury. He's one of the breakout stars of the season and one of the favorites to win the NBA Most Improved Player Award. Poole scored back-to-back 30+ points last week against the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors.
#3 Miles Bridges
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #2
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 3; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 20; Games won - 12; Games lost - 8
Last Week: PPG - 16.5, APG - 3.0, RPG - 7.5
Overall: PPG - 20.3, APG - 3.5, RPG - 7.5
Last Week: FG% - 40.3%, 3P% - 20.8%, SPG - 0.8
Overall: FG% - 44.3%, 3P% - 31.4%, SPG - 1.4
Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets slides down to third in this week's NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings. Bridges had a rough outing in three of his four games last week, including games against the Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic.
The 23-year-old forward's only good game of the week came in the loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Bridges had 35 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in the 10-point defeat. He will have to perform much better this week if he wants to stay in the top five of the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings.
#2 Tyler Herro
Previous week's NBA MIP Power Ranking - #3
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 1; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 18; Games won - 11; Games lost - 7
Last Week: PPG - 22.3, APG - 2.7, RPG - 6.7
Overall: PPG - 21.8, APG - 3.7, RPG - 5.7
Last Week: FG% - 45.5%, 3P% - 44.0%
Overall: FG% - 45.4%, 3P% - 39.8%
Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat moves up to number two in this week's NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings. Herro was balling in the three games he played this week. He missed one game due to a wrist injury, but he played the next game.
Herro's best performance of the week came against the Detroit Pistons. He finished the game with 31 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while shooting 57.1% from the field and 50.0% from downtown. If Herro continues to produce, he has a real shot at winning this year's NBA Most Improved Player Award.
#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 - 18; Games won - 9; Games lost - 9
Last Week: PPG - 23.5, APG - 6.5, RPG - 3.8
Overall: PPG - 25.3, APG - 7.1, RPG - 5.8
Last Week: FG% - 42.3%, 3P% - 26.3%, SPG - 1.8
Overall: FG% - 47.8%, 3P% - 35.6%, SPG - 1.7
Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies stays atop the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year power rankings for this week. Morant averaged 23.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game last week to lead the Grizzlies to 2-2 record. He had a stinker game in one of his four games, but it did not matter.
The former Rookie of the Year scored 20 or more points in three games last week. His best game came in the 119-118 win over the Utah Jazz. Morant finished the game with 32 points, four rebounds and seven assists. He made the final pass to Jaren Jackson Jr., who hit the game-winning three-point shot.
Guess the Lakers players!
