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!
The NBA postseason is about to begin! The WNBA has started! Lots of basketball to go through! Let’s do this.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ben Margot/AP.)
1) Russell Westbrook is the New Triple-Double King
This was once thought impossible. Heck, Westbrook wasn’t even in the realm of this 6 years into his career. And then something went off and he just started grabbing all the boards and dishing all the dimes to go with his scoring with reckless abandon. Before we knew it, he had broken the most triple-doubles in a season. And with his pace, it was suddenly a matter of time before he caught up to Oscar Robertson.
And he did it on Monday. He would grab another triple-double for good measure to go two above Oscar at 183 and a mind-numbing 38 for the season.
What a career he’s had. Congratulations to Russell Westbrook.
SABRINA FOR THE WIN. ICE COLD ❄️ pic.twitter.com/XEHFXemqGv
— ESPN (@espn) May 15, 2021
2) WNBA Opening Day
The 25th season of the WNBA is here and the league has never been hotter. And wouldn’t you know it; the first WNBA game of the season included a game-winner by one Sabrina Ionescu, who had been itching for this comeback. What a game she had.
Not to be outdone, Diana Taurasi also made a game-winning three for her team against the Minnesota Lynx. The WNBA is here and they are here to play some high-level basketball.
Truly saving the best for last.
🎥 Your @MaimondiesMC Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/GKbPwcALmB
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) May 17, 2021
3) The Brooklyn Nets Are Hotdogging
Okay. I think the Nets are going to be just fine, guys. I mean, LOOK AT THIS.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group.)
4) Curry Wins Second Scoring Title
We remember that Bradley Beal was the only one in the realm of winning the scoring championship this year. Then Stephen Curry returned from injury and something just happened. He made all the threes. He got all the buckets. From March 31 on, he averaged 36.7 points per game. He claimed the title from Beal with a 32.0 PPG clip. It’s his second scoring title and he’s proved once again to the haters that, yes, he can carry a not-so-great team to the postseason. But seriously, why does this even have to be some sort of challenge? People are weird.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Vincent Carchietta/AP.)
5) The Knicks Are Back
I had predicted the New York Knicks to have a really really bad record but this team proved everyone wrong and, with Coach Tom Thibodeau behind them, went to take a home court advantage first round spot. No. None of you guys thought the Knicks were going to finish in FOURTH. No way.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Elaine Thompson/AP.)
6) The Seattle Storm Still Look Amazing
I found it a little funny that a ton of people seemed to pick the Las Vegas Aces to win the WNBA title and the Seattle Storm seemed… a bit ignored. Not that the Aces are a bad pick at all but the Storm are the champs, dude. They have Breanna Stewart. They have Sue Bird. They have Jewell Loyd. And they ran over those same Aces on their opening game. They’re the champs until someone beats them in the postseason.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Will Newton/Getty Images.)
7) The Wizards Getting To The 8th Spot
The Wizards started off 3-12. Heck, they were 17-32 at one point. Then Westbrook went off and Beal put the scoring load on his back. The Wiz finished with a 17-6 flourish and miraculously took the 8th spot. Now they’re only one win away from making the postseason altogether.
They draw #7 Boston on Tuesday.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post.)
8) The Stars Have Returned
I wish it never came to this but we’re so glad that James Harden and LeBron James are back in time for the postseason. We’ll probably see some chemistry and timing issues with these injured stars (though both looked great in their final regular season games this season) but, hey, these guys are superstars for a reason. They’ll figure it out.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Doug McSchooler/AP.)
9) I Guess The Play-In Is Here To Stay
I don’t like the play-in. I’ve said it as such multiple times throughout the season. I think the playoffs need to be more special and we don’t need to expand the field from 16 to 20. We want the regular season to matter more.
With that said, the NBA hit a boon with a LeBron vs Curry 7-8 match-up. It’s here to stay no matter what I say.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Joe Camporeale/USA Today.)
10) The Suns/Blazers Ending
Without context, I don’t have a problem with the foul call.
However, the game had apparently been physical. So to call that at the end of the game is a bit much. People just ask consistency from their officials. And I’ve defended the refs many times because they get this right 90 percent of the time.
And these calls also bring out conspiracy theorists, no matter how wild they are. I mean, what else can you do besides ask robots to be refs? People just find a way to complain no matter what.
In the end, the Blazers still stayed at #6 but I hope some games don’t end like this.
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.