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!
We’re here in the NBA Finals! But let’s see what happened the week before that.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Christian Petersen/Getty Images.)
1) We Have A Fresh NBA Finals
The Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks. Teams that haven’t been in the finals in a very long time. For the Suns, it’s been since 1993. For the Bucks, it’s been since 1974. The Bucks won the title in 1971 but Phoenix hasn’t won a championship.
So it’s nice to have something fresh. I love the Lakers but it’s nice to see a new team get a chance. The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers were actually pretty fresh in 2015 until they weren’t when they did four straight NBA Finals.
Anyway, good to see a new match-up.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Terrill/AP.)
2) It’s Chris Paul’s First Time in the Finals
Chris Paul has been in the league since 2005. But he’s never been to the NBA Finals. Until this season. He got pretty close in 2018 when he and James Harden were in the Houston Rockets. Unfortunately, Paul got hurt and wasn’t able to play in Games 6 and 7 when they had a chance to unseat the Warriors in the West Finals.
Unlikely as it may seem, Paul and Devin Booker got the PHOENIX SUNS to the NBA Finals. A team that hadn’t been in the playoffs since 2010. But the Suns followed up on the momentum from the Orlando bubble and now they’re here in the NBA Finals. What a season it’s been for them.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Brynn Anderson/AP.)
3) Khris Middleton Shows His Worth
Khris Middleton scored 20 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3 as he helped take a 2-1 lead against the Hawks in the East Finals. With Giannis Antetokounmpo hobbled, Middleton put in 23 of his 32 points in the third quarter of Game 6 as the Bucks make it to the NBA Finals.
Some say Middleton is one of the most underrated players in the league. In the East Finals, he showed how good he really is. He’s so important to the Bucks. Now they’re in the Finals.
(PHOTO CREDIT: John McDonnell/Washington Post.)
4) Jonquel Jones Returns to the WNBA
The Connecticut Sun went 2-3 without MVP candidate Jonquel Jones. She promptly returned with a 23-point, 16-board game against the Washington Mystics. She’d like to be acknowleged as one of the best players in the W, please.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Darryl Webb/Arizona Republic.)
5) Minnesota Lynx Are Hot
The Lynx have gotten pretty hot as they’ve won four straight games. They climbed to fourth place with the help of that streak. In the last week, they beat the Phoenix Mercury twice; the second game, they won by 31 points.
Minnesota reached the semifinals last season. Let’s not forget how good this team can be.
HOW, CLINT CAPELA!?#NBAPlayoffs on TNT pic.twitter.com/dtLR5TGWJy
— NBA (@NBA) June 30, 2021
6) Clint Capela’s HORSE Shot
Behind the backboard. High arc. What a shot. I bet you can’t do this.
Splash Mountain SLAM 🤯 on TNT! pic.twitter.com/2lschoGBQG
— NBA (@NBA) July 2, 2021
7) Brook Lopez Is Dunking All Over The Place
With Giannis out of the line-up, suddenly, we have Brook Lopez getting all the dunks. Including this one. THE DUNKING DISNEY-LOVER.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Darron Cummings/AP.)
8) Indiana Fever Win Their Second Game of the Season
It must be a relief for the Indiana Fever to FINALLY win a game after a long while. They upset the Connecticut Sun on Saturday and got their SECOND win of the season.
I feel they should be better than their 2-16 record. But that’s what they are as of this moment.
Patrick Beverley was ejected after shoving Chris Paul from behind. pic.twitter.com/z0GFL1tb6J
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 1, 2021
9) Patrick Beverley Loses His Cool
We all lose our cool. I get that. But we still gotta do our best to control our emotions. Especially since Chris Paul didn’t seem to provoke him at this moment. I love Beverley but this wasn’t… very professional of him.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Brett Davis/USA Today.)
10) Injuries Continue to Plague NBA Playoffs
In the East Finals, both Giannis and Trae Young got hurt. That adds to the multitude of injuries the playoffs have had this year. I can only hope that the teams in the Finals can stay healthy.
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.