People LOVE Power Rankings in sports. It’s pretty stupid. So, of course, I have MY Stupid Power Rankings. I take 10 things from the NBA and WNBA (or not) in the past week (well, today’s an exception) and rank them accordingly. You don’t like them? Make your own rankings!
So we didn’t have rankings last week. Simply put, it was forgotten. I thought I had it in the bag but it was actually not published.
Not really gonna make up for it; I don’t think there’s a point to do that. And most of the good stuff happened in the last week, anyway. Let’s get to it.
CLUTCH. TIME. @SheyP11
The @PhoenixMercury advance to the 2nd round! #ATTPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/wC9zlZkVbP
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 16, 2020
1) Phoenix Mercury Got a Peddycure
So let’s tell you about Shey Peddy. She was picked up by the Washington Mystics before the wubble. The Phoenix Mercury picked her up a few days later. Fast forward to the first round elimination game and the Mercury were down by two points with seconds remaining. Skylar Diggins-Smith throws a crosscourt pass to Shey Peddy at the right corner. Peddy calmly lets Leilani Mitchell fly by and lets go of the shot before the buzzer sounds. Cash money. The Mercury go to the second round and Peddy eliminates her old team. Amazing.
It’s too bad the Mercury didn’t advance any further. And Peddy actually got hurt so she never got to finish their second round game. But she’ll always have that game-winning shot.
AD WINS IT AT THE BUZZER 🚨 pic.twitter.com/pcAe63xESj
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 21, 2020
2) Anthony Davis Puts Himself in Laker Lore
Somehow, the Lakers let the Denver Nuggets in the game. It was a back-and-forth battle between Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic. Jokic put in a hook shot that gave the Nuggets a 103-102 lead with 20 seconds left. After a couple of missed shots, the Lakers kept the ball with 2.1 seconds left.
A defensive error by Mason Plumlee got Davis open at the left wing. Jokic, who was guarding the inbounds pass, tried to get there in time. It was a bit late. The ball swished through the net. Davis yelled, “Kobe!” as he was mobbed by his teammates.
The series probably should be tied. But Davis made sure that the Nuggets still had a goose egg after Game 2. Could very well be a pivotal shot in the series.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images.)
3) Denver Nuggets Made History
But Denver shouldn’t feel too bad. After all, they’re the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit TWICE in the same postseason. That’s an amazing accomplishment.
But they also shouldn’t play with fire like that. Imagine playing for your postseason lives for SIX GAMES.
Bam Adebayo. That’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/GTikEXkMSc
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) September 16, 2020
4) Bam Adebayo Packs Jayson Tatum
What a game-saving block by Bam. It’s either become a YouTube joke at your expense or become THE YouTube highlight and save/win the game. Tatum had balls for going for it all. Bam had even bigger balls for blocking the dunk cleanly. Incredible play.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Chris O’Meara/AP)
5) The Connecticut Sun Can’t Be Messed With
So this team started out 0-5 in the season. They were already going to miss star Jonquel Jones for the entire Wubble campaign.
But they fought back. They eventually became a 7th seed in the postseason. Then they went on to eliminate the Chicago Sky and the strong Los Angeles Sparks. And THEN they went on to blow out the #1 seed Las Vegas Aces in Game 1. They are on quite a ride.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images.)
6) Jasmine Thomas Catches Fire
That momentum was continued in Connecticut because of this lady. She caught fire against Vegas in the first half and kept it going in the third. She scored 31 points in three quarters. It’s a playoff career-best for Jasmine as they try to make their second consecutive WNBA Finals.
(PHOTO CREDIT: USA Today.)
7) Gordon Hayward Returns
The Boston Celtics were down against Miami, 2-0. But they got Hayward back in time for Game 3. He didn’t have gaudy stats (6 points, 5 boards, 4 dimes, 3 steals) but Brad Stevens was able to have more line-up options and an extra playmaker. They have a real chance to tie the series on Wednesday.
It’s easy to question him about not leaving the bubble and witnessing the birth of his fourth child. But I’m sure he and Robyn came to an agreement. At least, I hope so.
🗣️ Hear from the first-time MVP @_ajawilson22! pic.twitter.com/V624nqfTGD
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 17, 2020
8) The Las Vegas Aces Didn’t Show Up
A’ja Wilson won the WNBA MVP this season. Dearica Hamby won Sixth Woman of the Year.
And then Game 1 against the Sun happened and they got waxed. A’ja Wilson did decent (19 points, 9 rebounds) but she seemed to have difficulty getting shots up. Hamby only scored 4 points and was a non-factor throughout. Hope they recover for Game 2.
9) The MVP Arguments
No matter what, we’re going to get arguments because we’re human and we like to debate everything. Although I always felt like it was so easy to see that Giannis Antetokounmpo was the MVP. 30-14-6 in 31 minutes for the best record in the league. ISN’T THAT ENOUGH?!
(PHOTO CREDIT: Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images.)
10) Clippers Collapse
There was nothing pretty about this. They led by 16 in Game 5. Led by 19 in Game 6. Led by 12 in Game 7. Lost them all. Kawhi Leonard was looking for high-IQ players. Paul George was insisting that the year was NOT championship-or-bust after declaring to Sports Illustrated last June that they were.
We all expected an all-Los Angeles Western Conference Final. Instead, we’ll probably have to wait another millenia for this to happen. The Clippers fans are numb at this point because they’re so used to disappointment throughout their fandoms.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.