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!
It was a shortened week this time around. Nothing mindblowing happened during the off days of the league. LFG! or whatever abbreviation the kids use these days!
TONY SNELL GAME-WINNING 3 🚨
Hawks win. pic.twitter.com/aF5cVKWLlF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 12, 2021
1) Tony Snell For The Win
I laughed when one of my best friends said that I talk about Tony Snell more than Tony Snell talks about Tony Snell. But this game-winner helped give the Atlanta Hawks’ current 5-game win streak. They went 3-0 after the all-star break and I was dead wrong about the Hawks axing Lloyd Pierce last week.
QUIT PLAYIN’ WITH JAXSON pic.twitter.com/O3OdCcoW0A
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 15, 2021
2) Jaxson-On-Jackson Crime
After this dunk, Jaxson Hayes took Reggie Jackson‘s lunch money. Bullying at its worst.
(PHOTO CREDIT: The Canadian Press.)
3) Triple-Double Saturday
I mean, all these players got that milestone on Saturday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) (33-11-11)
Russell Westbrook (WAS) (42-10-12)
James Harden (BRK) (24-10-10)
Domantas Sabonis (IND) (22-13-10)
Julius Randle (NY) (26-12-12)
The first time 5 players got a trip-dub in the same day. I guess the GAME IS THAT EASY NOW. (It’s not; I’m joking.)
ANTHONY EDWARDS TAKES OFF. pic.twitter.com/RQjnU4tQqV
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 14, 2021
4) Top Gun Anthony Edwards
TAKE MY BREATH AWAY.
(PHOTO CREDIT: NBA.)
5) Carmelo Anthony Is Nearing the Top 10
I suppose we should’ve expected this with Carmelo Anthony being a scoring machine but just remember that he was nearly out of the league two seasons ago. This is pretty cool for Melo.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Justin Ford/USA Today.)
6) LaMarcus Aldridge is Moving On From the Spurs
The Spurs are fighting for a playoff spot but LaMarcus Aldridge won’t be there to see it. While that kind of sucks, it gives Aldridge a possible better shot at a ring should a team like the Jazz, Lakers, Clippers, or Bucks decide to pick him up. Good luck on the next chapter, LaMarcus.
(PHOTO CREDIT: David Zalubowski/AP.)
7) These Schedule Losses
I know that fatigue on players because of too many games being played in a short amount of time has been kind of enlightening in the last few years and it was why the league tried to cut down on back-to-backs. But the pandemic changed all of that and we’re seeing the Nuggets and Mavericks losing and stopping all of their momentum because they’re either tired or/and sitting out star players.
Again, this is nothing new in the year of Dear God’s 2021 but this is the very thing we’ve been trying to avoid lately. Stupid pandemic. Stupid dollars.
I’m gonna need y’all to listen to this pic.twitter.com/3XLaNBypkp
— BEAN 🏁🏁🏁 (@MGRADS) March 13, 2021
8) Wizards Announcer Says Ben Simmons is Overrated
I guess it’s his opinion. But if you don’t see what kind of damage Ben Simmons does on the court then it’s hard to take your opinion seriously. And this is an announcer for a professional sports team, who should know better. Justin Kutcher, who does the Wizards play-by-play, is probably better off on those stupid shows like First Take and Undisputed, where dumb “hot takes” are the norm.
By the way, Ben Simmons is averaging 16-8-8, an amazing lockdown and team defender, and one of the best passers in the league. I’m not saying he’s LeBron James. But I’m also saying he’s not, oh, I don’t know… Mike Muscala?
(Sorry, Mike Muscala. But we also know your limitations even though you have been a wonderful rotation player this season for the Thunder.)
Grizzlies/Nuggets: Rodney Mott appears to signal a foul here, but the whistle wasn’t blown 🤔#NBA #NBATwitter #TheJump #GrindCity #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/H7quWLZAMS
— The Jump on ESPN (@NBATheJump) March 13, 2021
9) That Grizzlies/Nuggets Ending
This may or may not be a foul on Nikola Jokic but the refs really have to be firm with their decisions and not confuse the players and the fans. The ref in question, Rodney Mott, raised his hand on that moment, which baffled everyone. It’s not necessarily a foul call if they raise their hand but good grief, it was pretty much equivalent to a blown call.
Yes, the Grizzlies didn’t lose on that play alone but it certainly didn’t help.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Troy Taormina/USA Today.)
10) The Houston Rockets Can’t Win
16 straight losses. One short of the franchise worst.
I’m sure the Rockets fans already miss losing in the second round of the postseason.
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.
R.I.P. Nala.