Power Rankings Week 3
Dec 19, 2013 22:04:46 GMT
Post by runsNgoses on Dec 19, 2013 22:04:46 GMT
A pretty lackluster week for NAH, as we got a first dose of multiple days without a sim due to a hectic Finals week for our Commish. No worries about that though, we’re all understanding...just a dead week on the forums too. Big shout out though, to Chicago Bulls GM Jamal for stepping in for Jestor to run the sim. These Rankings do not reflect the sim he ran today (or yesterday) unfortunately, but we still appreciate you running the sim for us. It’ll likely be another lackluster week coming up too with the holidays about to take place in the next coming week, but oh well. Life goes on. And now, the Power Rankings for Week 3. Enjoy guys!
Biggest Rise: Sacramento Kings +9, Milwaukee Bucks +7
Free Falling: Houston Rockets -7, Utah Jazz -6
RANK) TEAM (LAST RANK) (WEEK RECORD)
1) New Orleans Pelicans (2) (4-0)
The Pelicans, one of only two teams this week to go undefeated in the short week of the sim world. And because of that, they move into the top spot of the Rankings. Yeah, they had a bit of an easy schedule for their four wins but they DOMINATED those four games by an average of 24.8 points including a 40 point spanking of the Suns.
2) Boston Celtics (1) (5-1)
Despite still owning the league’s best record, I had to bump them down a spot. Their 10 game winning streak was snapped by the Charlotte Hornets, who evidently took their frustrations out on the Celtics due to their previous game. Still, LeBron James continues his dominance and James Johnson is filling in nicely for the injured Robinson.
3) Brooklyn Nets (4) (4-1)
The Nets jump right back into the top three of the Power Rankings. Their only loss of the week came to Philly when Durant was locked down by Kirilenko putting up only 17 points while Tony Parker’s 13 turnovers also added to the loss. Can’t help but think that, if the Nets had a better second option, they wouldn’t have lost. Tony Parker, snap out of it!!
4) Atlanta Hawks (7) (4-1)
The Atlanta Hawks finally crack the top 5 of the league. They’ve also jumped the Charlotte Hornets in the division too. Their only loss came against the Toronto Raptors, who got a rare win at home. Melo is ready this season, you can tell her wants to go all the way. Nene has greatly stepped up his game and having a career year for the Hawks too, they’re clicking right now.
5) Philadelphia 76ers (6) (4-2)
Their only two losses this week, came against the Celtics and the Bulls. Although, they immediately avenged their loss to the Bulls by beating them the next game, with an angry Wade going off for 42 points. That wasn’t even their most impressive win either, it was against the Brooklyn Nets, where they locked down Kevin Durant and made him shoot 5-16 and forced Parker to turn the ball over 13 times.
6) Charlotte Hornets (3) (4-3)
Injuries hurt the Hornets a little this week. With backup center Nick Collison having been hurt the last two weeks and starter Danny Granger playing on a bum ankle…They decided to keep their roster untouched…and it didn’t pay off for them. Granger wasn’t able to play much against the Cavaliers that ended up costing them, and when Bogut got into foul trouble, Rashard Lewis got dominated. They also lost to the Pacers and then beat the Celtics…
7) Golden State Warriors (5) (3-3)
Well, their lack of big time scorer really showed with their losses to the Cavaliers, Spurs, and Knicks but their defense came through big in their three wins. Like the Hornets, the Warriors fell out of the top 5. The Warriors both blew out their opponents in their wins but were also blown out too. Not a good week for the Warriors, we’ll see if they can bounce back.
8) Cleveland Cavaliers (9) (4-1)
What a week for the Cavs. I know they only went up one spot, and for that I apologize to them, but they really turned it on during the week, beating two top teams in the Hornets and Warriors. James Harden is playing better than he was, which is key for them, he’s back to being the leading scorer, but they’re still playing as a team, and that could go a long way.
9) Chicago Bulls (8) (2-2)
The Bulls split the week. They lost to Philly and Milwaukee, but then Joakim Noah decided to go crazy on the Wizards, going for 42 points and 12 rebounds on 14-21 shooting and 14-19 from the free throw line. That’s pretty damn impressive if you ask me. He limited both Lopez and Love to 16 minutes each. Just let that sink in for a second…
10) Denver Nuggets (15) (4-2)
And the scrappy Nuggets round off the top 10 of the Rankings. They beat the teams they were supposed to beat, other than the Kings (who went 4-0 this week), which looks like it might have been a fluke game (lost by 2). Still though, I like the way this team looks on paper, and Monroe is proving me wrong as I doubted him as a first round pick at 14th overall. 20/10 and getting better.
11) Dallas Mavericks (10) (2-3)
And it looks like the Mavs slip down yet again, this time, only slightly. They got much needed wins over the Clippers and Suns, but were handled by the Lakers, Hawks, and Kings. There’s still time left during the season to see if this team can start to click, but I’m not sure how much time I would give them before the trade value of Amare and JJ keeps dropping.
12) Los Angeles Lakers (14) (3-3)
The Lakers are doing exactly what I knew they would do since Bosh went down…they’re keeping a steady pace, trying to stay in the mix of the playoff teams. Although, now Lawson is out for two weeks and they’ve dropped their last three games. A very rough start for the Lakers, who expected to be in the top tier with the Celtics, Nets, Pelicans, etc. It’ll be a long month for them.
13) Milwaukee Bucks (20) (4-1)
One of the hottest teams of the week, raising up seven spots. With wins over the Cavaliers, Bulls, Hornets, and Lakers, three of those teams ranked higher this week. They had a heart breaker of a loss to the Pistons (only by 7 points), but it seems as if the team is finally clicking. Currently rocking a small four game winning streak right now. They have the Warriors coming up and that’ll be a true test.
14) Sacramento Kings (23) (4-0)
The other team that went 4-0 during the week. Yeah, their schedule was a bit on the easy side, but I’m not going to take anything away from those wins. They’ve been team effort wins too as Jeff Teague, Manu Ginobili, and Josh Smith have gone back and forth between being the go to guy. They finally have a little momentum and I’m not about to take that away from them.
15) Minnesota Timberwolves (12) (2-4)
The Jamal Crawford experiment continues to go with the Wolves. At point guard, his points per game average has taken a huge hit from what he’s used to, although he is having a career year dishing out assists (6.9). I have to wonder though, when George Hill will get a shot at starting…if he ever will. I imagine he’d be able to organize the offense a little better than JCraw can…
16) New York Knicks (17) (3-2)
They had a slightly better week, probably due to there not being very many sims. So it actually benefitted the Knicks as the raised up a spot. So that’s a positive. I still think that this team needs a slight tweaking, because it’s hard to believe that they aren’t performing to expectations. It’s likely due to their schedule but I guess that’s what separates the contenders from playoff teams…
17) Washington Wizards (18) (3-3)
The Wizards, on paper, look like they should be doing better, but they aren’t. Their defense just isn’t there either. It was exploited by Kevin Durant (40 points) and Joakim Noah (42 points). They could not contain either player and it resulted in blowout losses. I just feel like this team should be playing better, maybe trying to trade for a small forward or point guard would help.
18) Houston Rockets (11) (1-4)
The Rockets plummeted down the rankings this week. Their defense just was not there at all. They allowed Jeremy Lin, who isn’t a huge scoring guard, to rip them for 39 points on 18-22 from the field…only 1 three pointer made out of two and only two points from the free throw line too. That’s not good at all. Their one win came against the Clippers, which they blew them out.
19) Utah Jazz (13) (1-5)
It’s very evident that Rajon Rondo (three triple doubles this year), is playing some pretty damn good basketball…but he can’t do it all himself. The team’s record isn’t very good right now and in my opinion, is hurting Rondo’s chances at MVP this year. Their only win was against the Westbrookless Heat team and the rest, were blowout losses. This team needs another piece to go with Rondo.
20) Detroit Pistons (16) (2-3)
The good news is that Deron Williams is starting to play like his old self…the bad news is that it’s not producing enough wins though. Although, they did ruin the Bucks perfect week, they just couldn’t handle Philly, New York, or San Antonio. I think they need to try and shop Calderon around for a SG, or give Prince a shot in the starting lineup…but that’s just me.
21) San Antonio Spurs (19) (3-2)
I feel a bit bad for dropping the Spurs down two spots despite them having a winning week…but unfortunately for them, that’s how the cookie crumbled this week. They even scored a huge win over the Warriors at home, with Davis giving a slight peak at what’s to come for Spurs fan. Despite Jon Henson still outperforming Davis from the bench, it’s clear that it won’t be for long.
22) Memphis Grizzlies (25) (4-2)
Their only losses came against the Pelicans and the Hawks. They’re beating teams that they’re supposed to beat. I can see the Grizzlies making the post season with this team, but as either a 7th or 8th seed, likely 8th. They don’t have that one player to get them over the hump and make them true threats in the league. Otherwise, they’re going to have a short lived playoff run.
23) Phoenix Suns (21) (2-3)
The really only thing worth mentioning about this team, was that the new GM in town made the first trade in NAH history by bringing in Grant Hill and throwing him in as a starter. Hill in his first game as a Sun put in 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Not too bad for an old timer like him, so we’ll see how this will work out for the Suns. Maybe they need to trade someone…
24) Toronto Raptors (27) (3-2)
The Raptors took it to the Hawks as their big game of the week. Chris Paul is finally playing like Chris Paul, which could be disastrous for other teams in the league if the Raptors finally get going. On paper, the team doesn’t look bad, some raw talent in the starting 5 but if those youngsters find their potentials soon…could be dangerous.
25) Los Angeles Clippers (28) (2-4)
Despite the Clippers having a losing week, they go up a couple of spots because other teams had far worse weeks. To be fair, they played two back to backs in a row, with only 1 day of rest in between. To me, it’s looking like Blake Griffin can’t lead a team on his own, that he may need someone else other than Jennings as a scoring option.
26) Indiana Pacers (30) (2-4)
The Pacers did something that not many thought they’d be able to do…they had a TWO GAME WINNING STREAK! And most impressive, they stole one from the Hornets at home by a point and then lasted through Kris Humphries 42 point 19 rebound outburst to string together two wins. Then they were close to winning against the Celtics…so there’s been some sort of glimpse at what they might be able to do…
27) Orlando Magic (22) (1-5)
The only good thing about this Orlando Magic team, is Kris Humphries. If I were them, I’d try to deal him while he’s going insane like this, because odds are, it won’t last for long. That, or try to trade a struggling John Wall, who looks to be finally getting into some sort of consistent rhythm…Still not quite there but I think that’ll change. Maybe next year for this Magic team.
28) Oklahoma City Thunder (24) (1-5)
I think this team is a shooting guard away from being a much better team…Maybe their intentions were to start Vasquez and Evans together before Evans got hurt…I’d be a bit surprised to see this team down at the bottom when Evans gets better…they’ve got the pieces, but things just aren’t clicking. Their games have been close, just can’t seem to get over the hump…
29) Portland Trail Blazers (26) (0-6)
The Blazers are close to getting where I thought they’d be all season…the bottom of the league. Although, it’ll be a race to the bottom with the Pacers. The benching of DeMar DeRozan is still a head scratcher…He definitely needs to be starting in place of Elliot Williams. In all of their losses, they got blown out, handled, and smacked around…Ouch.
30) Miami Heat (29) (1-5)
Not much to say about the Miami Heat…they scored a win against the Thunder. Leonard and Knight have stepped up their scoring a bit, but they clearly don’t have enough to do much this year. Westbrook was their go to guy…So who do the Heat take in the draft if they score the first pick overall?