NBA Rookie Rankings 12/22/13: Up and Down Week for Trey Burke Costs Him Dearly

5. Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks

Dec 14, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (5) shoots over Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Louis Williams (3) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 111-106. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Hardaway Jr. certainly likes to mix things up a bit, doesn’t he?

Two weeks ago Hardaway was fifth in the Rookie Rankings because of great production that week. He fell out of the rankings all together because of a poor performance last week. This week Hardaway had another great showing for multiple games. I’m sensing a J.R. Smith-esque year and career from Hardaway Jr.

In four games this week, Hardaway totaled 51 points and scored in double-digits three out of the four contests, topping out at 16 in Saturday’s loss to Memphis. He’s quietly having a great shooting year, converting on 47 percent of his total field goals, 42 percent of his 3-point attempts and 82 percent of his free throws, each of which currently exceeds his best season at Michigan.

In only 17 minutes of playing time per game, Hardaway Jr. is making the most of his time on the court. If things keep going south for the Knicks as they have been, Hardaway could find himself with a more expanded role with the utter disappointments of J.R. Smith.