2020 Season Power Rankings: December (30-21)
Feb 7, 2020 21:30:51 GMT
Ian Noble, Walt Frazier, and 5 more like this
Post by Jerry West on Feb 7, 2020 21:30:51 GMT
30 – LA Clippers Mike Krzyzewski (4-24) (0)
We start once again, with the Clippers, but let’s change the tone a little bit.
The Clippers are a storied franchised in D5 and mortgaged their future for a championship title that unfortunately never came even despite an appearance on the 2013 finals. How can we blame them? They were so close. We should celebrate they didn’t turn around and completely rebuild their team because they were the 3rd or 4th seed instead of the 1st. They risked it and didn’t win, not everyone can win, there isn’t enough titles to go around, and unfortunately, they are now paying the price.
They will finally get some room to work with this off-season with possibly around 30 million in cap. So good for them, and let’s hope Mike doesn’t turn it around and starts to climb up the league rankings again.
And let’s not forget to congratulate Mike on the magnificent 10-year achievement, what a better way to celebrate then by not having the worst record of the month, so congratulations on the improvement Clippers fans.
29 – Detroit Pistons Chauncey Billups (7-21) (-1)
Unlike the Clippers, Detroit won’t even have to wait for Free Agency to start turning things around, like previously mentioned they own possibly 2 top 5 picks. And another 60 million in cap. Will be fun to see what Ayton will be able to do with some help next year, altough I'm sure they would rather have Doncic and Hachimura over Ayton and Keldon Johson. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
Meanwhile, it’s a matter of keeping your head down and keep moving forward.
28 – Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Hollis (8-21) (-2)
The surprise team from last year is coming off a 3-12 month, we could say they are also a surprise this year considering how bad they are doing in a terrible western conference.
But Kevin knows what it takes to win, OKC has been twice to the finals and one with Mr. Hollis himself not so long ago. Sure Josh Jackson isn’t panning out but Wendell Carter is one of the best Centers to start building your franchise around for the future.
27 – LA Lakers Mark Price (9-20) (-7)
The Lakers are tearing their house down and it shows in the Power Rankings, but at least they got a nice haul for Spencer Dinwiddie and Eric Gordon. There’s not much to see in LA right now, but at least they are still LA’s best team with DeAndre Jordan, so that’s something.
Good news is, they have 3 first round picks in this draft, and despite 2 being late picks odds are they’ll hit at least one of them.
26 – Utah Jazz Elton Brand (8-22) (+3)
The Jazz are the first risers of December’s Power Rankings, possibly has something to do Jayson Tatum stopping himself from being the least inefficient player in D5.
Despite the positive vibes in this month’s Power Rankings, I still feel like the Jazz are going nowhere, with high lottery pick Jarret Culver still yet to play his first minute in the league and with 35 million cap available that they didn’t even use to try to hit on a one season wonder with a 1 year deal that could possibly be traded for assets early.
Sure they aren’t last, but they will be the first to receive one of my 3 new monthly awards that will find out about during this Power Rankings.
Trash Bin Award: This is an award you don’t want to take home to your parents, but either through a bad trade or questionable decision, someone will have to get it. (Please don’t let this be a reason for you to hate me more than now, if that is even possible, I promise the other 2 awards aren’t like this).
The first winner of the Trash Bin Award goes out to Utah, for not playing Jarret Culver.
25 – New York Knicks Billy King (10-18) (-16)
So let me get this straight, the Knicks didn’t change anything, and yet after going 9-5 in the first month, they went 1-13 in the second? What’s happening in New York? What’s going on with stupid sexy Rubio? Why isn’t he ruining Billy Kings plans while being beloved by Knicks fans?
Well the Knicks aren’t good, every player they have feels like they are slightly overpaid, but on the bright side, they own all their picks. So I guess that’s not as bad? I don’t know. At least their fun to watch with the daily dose of Rubio/Gordon Alley-oops from halfcourt.
24 – Golden State Warriors Chris Mullin (10-21) (0)
Laugh all you want now about blowing them out now and hide in a corner before they seek revenge on you.
Now I have personal thing I would like to ask. Mr. Mullin, could you please start Zaza, Damion Jones, Thomas Bryant, Mitchell Robinson and Richaun Holmes one game? Thank you for taking it into consideration.
23 – Orlando Magic Blake Bowman (8-19) (+2)
Oladipo is back. But is it to late for Orlando? Yes. Yes, it is to late there is nothing they can possibly do to salvage their season. So what can they do?
Well, they can take their pick 10 in the draft and run it back next year we some added extra-depth since everyone will still be under contract, or they can blow it up. Although it’s hard to know what their plans are with their GM taking a long vacation in an undisclosed location.
Rumours are the excentric Mr. Bowman himself couldn't take looking at his team anymore after watching Jimmer Freddette play a considerable amout of minutes.
22 – New Orleans Pelicans Brian Scalabrine (12-16) (-8)
I guess it’s back to reality for the Pelicans, but there’s nothing wrong with that, they still have a bright future ahead of them. Sure, it wasn’t realistic for them to keep their 4th seed in the West, but they ended the month 1 game back from the 8th seed, so who’s to say they aren’t ready for some playoff basketball?
21 – Phoenix Suns Jared Montini (13-16) (-5)
The Suns are half a game back from the 6th seed led by *checks notes* Kyle “Porn star look-alike” Kuzma. Can someone fact check this? This can’t be right. What do you mean he is averaging 22 points with nearly 9 rebounds on 57% TS?
I’m out I need a break, I’ll come back tomorrow for the second part of the Power Rankings.