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!
Normally, it’s All-Star weekend at this point. But we’re in a strange season living in a strange world. Anyway, here we go!
(PHOTO CREDIT: Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune.)
1) The Jazz Continue to Stay Hot
The Jazz have won 18 of 19. Of course, they swept the week with wins over Boston, Milwaukee, and Miami. And it’s not only because they’re winning but it’s the way they’re doing it. They have just been dominant over the last few weeks.
I still think they need more respect. And they’re probably not going to get it unless they get deep into the postseason. Like West Finals deep.
Rudy Gobert yams on Giannis 😱 pic.twitter.com/lXtlO8Xx3N
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 13, 2021
2) Gobert Gets one on Giannis
Like I said, they need more respect. Salt Lake is getting the top two spots in this countdown. Look at the two best defensive players go at it in the rim.
(PHOTO CREDIT: David Butler II/USA Today.)
3) The Saddiq Bey Game
Look at Saddiq Bey break out against the Celtics (again, really!). He scored 30 points and grabbed 12 boards in their win against Boston. He’s the first Pistons rookie to get 30-10 in that variety since Grant Hill. He’s also broken the record for most threes without a miss for a rook (he made all 7 threes).
His overall week has been good, too, averaging 17.8 points and his three-point percentage is just under 70 percent. You know what’s under 70, right? You’re so mature.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Tony Gutierrez/AP.)
4) Luka Is Having Quite A Week
The Mavericks went 3-1 but Luka really went off. Averages of 36.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. He also shot .433 from behind the arc. Ridiculous.
5) Super Mario 3D World Had a Switch Release
This was one of the best games for the Wii U and since it was on the Wii U, not many people have played this. I’m so glad it got on the Nintendo Switch and many gamers are going to get to experience this. It might be the best multiplayer mainline Mario game there is. I had so much fun with my two best guy friends playing this game. We even went so far as to say “the best multiplayer game we ever experienced.” And we are hardcore gamers.
And this one comes with a bonus game called Bowser’s Fury. It’s a mix of Mario Odyssey and 3D World. It’s really really good, too.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Cary Edmondson/USA Today.)
6) The Warriors Are So Average
Can’t win more than two straight. Can’t lose more than two straight. The former is not so good. The latter is actually not a bad thing. Obviously, you know how exciting the Dubs can be with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. But man, they haven’t set anything on fire in nearly two months because they’re just getting Cs across the board.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ken Lambert/Seattle Times.)
7) This Seattle Storm Team Is Gonna Look Different
So Alysha Clark went to the Mystics. Natasha Howard had to be traded to the Liberty because she took too much cap room. Sami Whitcomb went with Howard on the deal. Crystal Langhorne retired.
Coming to the Storm? 7-time all-star Candice Dupree, who was recently with the Indiana Fever. Mikiah Herbert Harrigan was traded by the Lynx to Seattle. Katie Lou Samuelson came from the Wings. Stephanie Talbot came from New York. And Tamera Young also signed with the Storm.
Their “big three” of Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, and Jewell Loyd are still there. But what a change this is as they have lost two of their main starters from their championship team.
(PHOTO CREDIT: David Zalubowski/AP.)
8) The Cavs Continue to Fall
Losers of 7 straight. I suppose this was not unexpected but they were having such a nice run early. And Collin Sexton had a 4-point game against the Nuggets. Ouch.
Not how they drew it up pic.twitter.com/QVKbIGEMUx
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) February 9, 2021
9) “The Smartest Dumb Play”
I hate everything about this. When you’re on offense and you’re down by a maximum of three points, you try to get the best shot possible. But because one of the strategies nowadays is to foul up three when you’re defending (which I loathe), Draymond Green anticipated it and decided to put up a three just so he wouldn’t get fouled. The Spurs did NOT foul (which I love) and Green looked like a fool shooting the long distance shot.
Just get a good shot. Don’t overthink it. If you get fouled, so be it, but, at least, you get a chance to extend the game (which is why I don’t like fouling up three).
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ned Dishman/Getty Images.)
10) The Eastern Conference is Weak Yet Again
The very average Warriors are the 8th seed but they’re one game over .500. With the Celtics losing on Sunday, the East only has four teams above .500. What?
The Sixers, who are first in the East, would be 4th in the West. The #2 Bucks would be #6. The fifth-seeded Celtics, who are .500? Wouldn’t make the playoffs if they were in the West. That burns.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.