People are obsessed with power rankings. So naturally, we have one of our own but it’s not about how good sports teams are. Every Monday, we look at 10 things in the NBA (or not) and rank them in order of how much we liked each thing. Don’t agree with them? Make your own rankings!
(PHOTO CREDIT: Bruce Ely/AP.)
1) Clippers Are First in the West
Can we TALK about this? This is a walk on water short of a miracle.
Yeah, so the Western Conference is all bunched up at the moment. But that can’t take away from the fact that the Clippers are 13-6, which puts them at first in the West. Obviously, the Warriors are not healthy but no one’s going to feel sorry for them. The Rockets are still trying to put it together after a slow start. Even the Blazers got off to a pretty good start.
But the Clippers aren’t supposed to even be in the Top 8. We all thought they would be a team that would give others problems in terms of getting physically tested but not because they would literally BEAT (defeat) teams. This is no disrespect to Tobias Harris, Lou Williams, and Danilo Gallinari but the Clippers are winning without star power. They are, however, a team that will execute and will make teams work hard for their points. They’re not worldbeaters defensively (13th in defensive rating) but every bucket is a tribulation for their opponent (Clippers are first in field goal percentage allowed at .435).
The Clips aren’t perfect; they had a chance to knock the Washington Wizards out earlier this week but they blew a 24-point lead. For the most part, though, it’s tough to pull it out against the Clippers in a close game. They’re 7-1 in their last 8 and all their wins in that span were in single digits (three of them were overtime wins).
Things could all be different by next week. But for now, the Clippers are sitting on the throne.
(VIDEO CREDIT: House of Highlights.)
2) Jimmy Butler Does It Again
Clutch shot against the Jazz last week followed by a game-winner against the Hornets.
He repeats the same shot against Brooklyn (even though he didn’t need a three). Butler is fast becoming the go-to closer for Philly. He’s only been there two weeks!
3) 38-Year-Old Jamal Crawford Wins It for Phoenix
He has done this plenty of times in this career. Now Crawford helps a bad Suns team upset the Bucks.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
4) Vince Carter Scores His 25,000th Point
It was so hilarious that he went after it as the game was winding down. But then he was able to get a DUNK in the waning seconds. It was a blowout victory by his FIRST team, the Raptors.
Congrats to 25K, though, Vince.
5) Vintage Flash
Dwyane Wade found a time machine and scored 35 points against the Raptors on Sunday. The Heat may have lost the game but Wade showed he can still bang it up like this once in a while. And this gesture with Kyle Lowry after the game was a nice touch.
(PHOTO CREDIT: David J. Phillip/AP.)
6) Some College Football Game Went Seven Overtimes
We love our close sports games. I’m not sure we love them as much if it takes too much time, though.
I didn’t see the whole game; in fact, I only saw the seventh overtime. But it has to be extremely exhausting for everyone playing (and watching). Like who wants to see a game for that long?
However, I am all game for an NBA contest to go six overtimes and for both teams to score 380 points combined.
7) James Harden Got Called for Two Straight Lane Violations
This is something I really don’t notice at all. But James Harden got called for a violation at the line twice. He walked past the line before his free throw got to the rim. You’re technically not allowed to do that.
And he did it TWICE. The Rockets would go on to lose to the woeful Cavaliers. This is a reminder that you have to be a tad patient when shooting your free throws. And also back up instead of walking towards the rim.
8) Kings Went for the Win, Got a Wedgie Instead
The Kings have been very good this season at 10-10. And they had a chance to get an upset win over the Warriors. But it just sucks to lose a game that way. (As we know, a jumpball follows a wedgie and they just didn’t have enough time to get anything.)
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
9) Lakland Clevers
No.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
10) The Bizarre Markelle Fultz Saga
I just don’t get it. Obviously, we won’t get to know all the details about this for a long time but as of now, Markelle Fultz, depending on who you talk to, is ready to move on. But is he healthy? Is he mentally healthy? He went from can’t-miss #1 pick to someone who doesn’t look like he can’t shoot properly. Here’s hoping his issues get all fixed sooner than later.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
His podcast is at Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.