NBA Rookie Power Rankings: What changes after Chet Holmgren dominates Spurs?

3. Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Last week's rank: 3

Despite being injured all of this week and for the foreseeable future, Jaime Jaquez Jr. will stay in the third spot in this week's NBA Rookie Power Rankings.

Jaquez Jr. hasn't suited up for a game in over a week. His last time on the court was January 14 against the Charlotte Hornets. Since the rookie's absence, the Heat has only won one game, a one-point victory over the struggling Brooklyn Nets.

To say that Jaquez Jr. is an important piece for this Miami squad would be an understatement. Since his absence, the Heat have not only lost a tertiary creator but also a stout rebounder. Additionally, the physicality that Jaquez Jr. plays with has been sorely missed by Erik Spoelstra.

The Heat are on a dark slope towards losing their spot in the Eastern Conference. Miami's current five-game losing streak could all just be a coincidence since Jaquez Jr. got hurt, or he could be that vital to their success.

Miami has failed to score over 100 points in four out of the six games that Jaquez Jr. has missed. This only proves how important he is to their offense. Jaquez Jr.'s ability to cut toward the basket creates many opportunities for easy buckets at the rim.

The Heat's next game will be against the New York Knicks in a matinee matchup. So far, the Heat are hopeful that Jaquez Jr. can return and be dominant once again.