Power Rankings can be really stupid. So stupid that The No-Look Pass just had to have “Stupid Power Rankings.”
This feature is usually on every Monday. Disagree with the rankings? Well, we already prefaced that these are stupid. Just have fun with these as I rank these however I feel where they stupidly belong.
(NOTE: Sorry for not having these rankings for three weeks.)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Frank Gunn/Canadian Press/AP.)
1) Team Canada
The Raptors are on a roll.
Toronto won all four of their games last week, finishing a sweep of their home stand that lasted seven games. They’ve won their last 11 games. Not only that but a week after Kyle Lowry was named a starter, DeMar DeRozan was also named an all-star reserve.
All in all, an excellent week for the dinosaurs.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
2) Dirk Makes Game-Winner And Gets Props From Kobe
The game was tied between the Mavs and the Lakers before Dirk Nowitzki made a baseline J over Julius Randle that was eventually the game-winner. Kobe Bryant appreciated it much that he gave Dirk props about that.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images.)
3) NHL Gets It Right
So I followed this saga for a while. John Scott of the Arizona Coyotes (when did they change the name?) was voted into the 2016 NHL All-Star Game (which has since become a three-on-three four-team division tournament) as captain of the Pacific Division. John Scott is a journeyman that had only scored 11 points in his NHL career. He’s only scored ONE POINT this season. The fan vote was probably initially done as a joke but it caught momentum and it turned into a compelling story.
The Coyotes traded him to the Montreal Canadiens. Then the Canadiens sent him down to the American Hockey League (developmental for NHL). Supposedly, this was done to keep Scott out of the all-star game. Scott wrote an article on The Players’ Tribune to talk about how much it meant for him to be in the NHL, let alone the All-Star Game. The NHL then said he was eligible to be in the all-star game.
The story had a happy ending. Scott scored two goals in the semi-finals of the three-on-three tournament and was named MVP of the tournament (with the help of the fans and NHL team Twitter accounts). He got a million dollar check to help him and his family.
Hockey apparently gets a lot of things wrong. But this? They got this one right.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Nick Wass/AP.)
4) Isaiah Thomas Makes All-Star Game
Another inspiration is 5’8″ Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics. He was the last pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. The Sacramento Kings didn’t exactly want him even though he put up gaudy stats. He was stuck in a guard logjam in the Phoenix Suns that he got traded to Boston. But yet he kept playing his game and flourished even more under Brad Stevens. Now he’s an all-star. Way to go, Isaiah.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
5) Cavs Are Having Fun Again, I Guess
So Tyronn Lue lost his first game as head coach. The Cavs have won three straight and looked happy for the first time in a long time. I guess there’s evidence right there on how David Blatt, despite leading them to the Finals last year, didn’t fit into things. Well, the Cavs may be happy now but the pressure mounts as it’s pretty much championship or bust with this team.
Probably bust. I don’t think they’re better than Golden State or San Antonio.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Kent Smith/Getty Images.)
6) MKG Security Is Back
He returned Friday against Portland. But Michael Kidd-Gilchrist‘s return was a surprise; he was supposed to be out for pretty much the whole season. I’m convinced that he has adamantium powers.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP.)
7) What Was Supposed To Be Game Of The Year
The Warriors/Spurs game was disappointing. Tim Duncan sat out the contest. Without Duncan, the interior defense was compromised for San Antonio. The Warriors got off to a fast start and never looked back, winning by 30.
But the good news was that the Spurs didn’t show their entire hand just yet. Things could be a little different if Duncan were in there. Even if they lost by 30.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Jennifer Stewart/NFL.)
8) The Pro Bowl Happened
I mean, sure.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today.)
9) Dead Suns Fire Jeff Hornacek
Hornacek was in a no-win situation. They fired his assistant coaches a few weeks ago. He lost Eric Bledsoe to injury for the season. Brandon Knight has been in and out of the line-up. Markieff Morris has been emo the whole season. What was Hornacek supposed to do? I guess that it’s really a relief for Hornacek to get out of there.
But who’s going to pull them out of this funk, anyway? The Suns have lost 19 of 21 and there’s really no end to this misery until the season is over.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images.)
10) Lakers Looked Lazy Against Charlotte
Meanwhile, four coaches have lost their job this season and Byron Scott still has his gig. The Laker players have gotten increasingly lethargic. Julius Randle and ESPECIALLY D’Angelo Russell are not exactly feeling this situation. Scott throws his young players under the bus ALL THE TIME, thinking it will light a fire under these guys. And the team’s performance on both ends of the floor has looked pathetic.
Jordan Clarkson said a change must be made. Talking about lighting fires, right?
Follow Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass for all tweets about the NBA and terrible pop music. Also, check out his podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.
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