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 and rank them accordingly. You don’t like them? Make your own rankings!
I’m doing my best to enjoy the NBA season, guys. Well, here we go.
A’ja Wilson makes a powerful statement on getting a statue at the University of South Carolina pic.twitter.com/PPDu4wEj2a
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 18, 2021
1) A’ja Wilson Statue Reveal
This is really cool.
The University of South Carolina honored their alum, A’ja Wilson, with this statue. She finished as the all-time leading scorer for the school and helped them win the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
The great thing about this is that little black girls can see this and they can aspire to be as great as the legendary A’ja, who isn’t even 25 yet. This whole thing is just awesome.
(PHOTO CREDIT: David Liam Kyle/Getty Images.)
2) Collin Sexton Breaks Out
So the Nets vaunted Big Three played together for the first time on Wednesday. But Collin Sexton wrecked that party by scoring 42 points in a stirring Cavs win in overtime. At one point, he scored 20 straight points for the Cavaliers. Incredible. If Sexton’s career turns out to be incredible (and there are indications that it might), this is the game we can point to.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Jason Behnken/AP.)
3) I Think The NFL Got The Super Bowl They Wanted
So Tom Brady, who switched to Tampa Bay after a remarkable 20 years with New England, helped the Bucs beat the Packers in the NFC championship. On the other side, Kansas City defeated Buffalo in the AFC title game to set up a Tom Brady/Patrick Mahomes match-up in the Super Bowl.
We all know about Tom Brady. And of course, Mahomes has become pretty much the face of the NFL. The NFL must be THRILLED to get this for their big game.
Congrats to @StephenCurry30 of the @warriors for moving up to 2nd on the all-time THREES MADE list! pic.twitter.com/OuduIRyoqz
— NBA (@NBA) January 24, 2021
4) Stephen Curry is Second on the All-Time List for Most Threes
Dude. That is a lot of three-pointers. We expected Curry to get there but it’s still so impressive that he did it in a short time. I expect Curry to get near 4.000 once all is said and done.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images.)
5) Clint Capela Gets The Triple-Double on Blocks
Capela did something really rare here as he did the incredible feat of getting a triple-double with blocks. Considering how the game has changed into getting more charges than blocks, this makes it even more incredible.
The last time this happened was Mar. 11, 2018 when Anthony Davis did it.
🚨 COLE ANTHONY grabs the board, goes the length of the court and RISES from DEEP for the WIN! 🚨#TissotBuzzerBeater #ThisIsYourTime #MagicTogether pic.twitter.com/xKO79IBXyf
— NBA (@NBA) January 21, 2021
6) Cole Anthony Wins The Game
Look at this game-winner by Greg Anthony‘s son. He had to rush that one from the other side to get there. What a shot.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Jerome Miron/USA Today.)
7) Vintage Boogie
DeMarcus Cousins back when he didn’t have injuries could do this on the regular. I didn’t think Cousins was still capable of doing this but 17 points and 15 boards at the half is impressive, regardless. He ended with 28 and 17 in a big Rockets win.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Logan Riely/Getty Images.)
8) Wizards Are Back on the Court
The Wizards hadn’t played for 13 days and had 6 of their games postponed. So it’s great that they were finally back on the court on Sunday.
Then they promptly got wasted by 20 against the Spurs. Welcome back!
Draymond Green gets ejected from the game 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ALHFIwXnUl
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) January 22, 2021
9) Draymond Green Ejection
So this is awful. Young ref John Butler ejected Draymond Green because he thought Green was using foul language against him when it was clear that he was barking instructions to his teammate, James Wiseman. It really made it tough for the Warriors to win their game against the Knicks.
Apparently, Steve Kerr was told at halftime that head referee Ben Taylor said it was a mistake to eject Draymond. So why couldn’t they rescind the technical then and there and bring Draymond back? This just sucks and no matter if Butler got reprimanded, you can’t take that loss back from the Warriors.
Donovan Mitchell is not here for Shaq’s motivational techniques pic.twitter.com/DNkNYCse6r
— CJ Fogler 6’7″ IQ 269 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) January 22, 2021
10) Shaq is Trying Way Too Hard
Listen, I have no problems with Shaq. But when he gets like this, it’s hard to enjoy whatever else he does. He sounds so bitter towards this generation of players when he’s doing something like this. What does this accomplish? Why would he tell, even if it’s just a publicity stunt of some sort, a young player that he CANNOT get any better? If it’s motivation, it didn’t turn out that way. Donovan Mitchell had the perfect response and he didn’t seem interested in playing games with a former player-turned-analyst who doesn’t seem to like the evolution of the game.
If Shaq wants to go viral, go ahead and make a fool out of himself. Don’t bring down others because he wants to be a social media sensation of that moment.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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