Written by (Munch - Clippers)
Sunday Power Rankings: Week 3 Playoff Preview
CONTENDERS
1. New Orleans Pelicans (19-1, Last Week: 4)
There is a new No. 1 team in Sim City Hoops and it is the Pelicans, led by coach Rook and the top offense in the league at 116.6 PPG. Rook plays incredibly aggressive on offense and isn’t scared to get out on the break or pound the paint. The Pels average more PIP than anyone and by a wide margin with 63.4 PIP, which is 7.7 more than the second highest team in SCH, the Spurs. The unquestioned leader of this team is Zion Williamson, who is a beast at 34.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG, and 2.0 APG. Can anyone stop this physical, aggressive team? Who has the bodies to do so?
2. Indiana Pacers (19-1, Last Week: 3)
The Pacers are arguably the most dominant team in the league. They have the best point differential at 20.5. Why aren’t they No. 1? A 114-101 loss to the Pels keeps this team at No. 2 on our rankings. The Pacers are lights out this season from three; they lead the league at 40.4 percent. Of course, they excel in other areas as well. They are sixth in ORPG at 15.3, 11th in free throw percentage at 86.3 percent, and fourth in field goal percentage at 48.7 percent. They are also fourth in fewest points allowed per game at 93.1. This team is dangerous.
3. Washington Wizards (19-2, Last Week: 2)
The Wizards are quietly having another terrific season. They have the second-best point differential at 15.1 and have the deepest roster in the league with seven players over 80 overall. Hoya won last season with a slightly lesser roster so it would be no surprise if he repeats. It will likely come down to how focused and passionate he is. He can’t have any more games like he had versus Rob and the Nuggets when he lost by 37.
4. Utah Jazz (19-2, Last Week: 1)
The Jazz and Ame fall three spots in the SCH Power Rankings following a two-point loss to TK and the Knicks. Is it time to panic in Salt Lake City? Hardly. This team is incredibly talented and well-coached. They still have hands down the best defense in the league, allowing the fewest points per game at 85.2. Ame is a proven championship coach and the Jazz are not a team anyone wants to face in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins is having a great season averaging 25.4 PPG and 5.5 APG. He is finally starting to live up to his potential under the tutelage of coach Ame.
5. Denver Nuggets (19-5, Last Week: 5)
Rob has five games left in what has been a great season for him in his quest to return to the finals. He has three head-scratching losses to the Warriors, Bulls, and Grizzlies. Are these cause for concern or are a few games like those to be expected after being the runner-up last year? Regardless, the Nuggets are one of the five best teams in SCH. Many would assume that Nikola Jokic is the leader of this team, but it actually starts with Darius Garland. When Garland is on, which he often is, this team is hard to stop. Garland is having his best season with 18.8 PPG, 6.4 APG and only 1.0 TOPG.
6. Miami Heat (18-6, Last Week: 6)
Miami has gone 3-2 this week but is still the sixth best team in the league. Coach Geck and the Heat still have some tough games left with upcoming opponents in the Jazz and Pelicans. I think these games will be a great barometer in forecasting whether or not the Heat are title contenders. Either way, there is a new Big Three in South Beach and their names are Shai, Bazley and Brogdon. All three are averaging over 20 PPG at 23.9, 23.0, and 21.3, respectively.
7. New York Knicks (17-7, Last Week: 10)
TK and the Knicks jump up three spots this week in the SCH Power Rankings and there should be little doubt as to why. They went 7-1 this week and had a great win versus the Jazz to cap it off. Is TK on the cusp of showing why he has dominated in other leagues for seasons on end? For one, he takes great shots. He is fifth in three-point percentage at 35.4 percent and ninth in field goal percentage at 47.5 percent. He does this by playing at a very controlled and slow pace. He is second to last in the league at FGA per game with 82. The analytics folks would love TK as 37.31 percent of his total attempts are from three. In other words, he grinds the clock until he can find an open three.
8. San Antonio Spurs (13-5, Last Week: 8)
BigB and the Spurs had a solid week going 4-2. He is showing everyone that he is a team to be taken seriously this postseason. He is currently the No. 4 seed and unlikely to move up unless Rob loses one more game, as the Nuggets won this head-to-head matchup. The Spurs are another team that plays at a slower pace with the sixth-fewest FGA per game at 84.9. Like the Knicks, they wait for good open looks, resulting in the third-best field goal percentage at 49.0 and seventh-best three-point rate at 34.8 percent. How do you stop them? One coach says it is all about limiting his baseline drives. This coach claims BigB lives and dies driving baseline. Is there any truth to that?
9. Charlotte Hornets (12-6, Last Week: 14)
Just when the world was ready to count Dave out, he and the Hornets got hot and went 5-1. This team is now more physical and athletic then they were coming into the season. Gone are Chris Paul and Domantas Sabonis and in their place are Dennis Smith, Jr., Kevin Knox, and Draymond Green. However, the most impressive player for them this season has been Julius Randle, who is averaging 16.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 2.3 APG. Is Randle finally coming into his own? Will Dave stay hot and compete for his second title in three years?
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (18-10, Last Week: 7)
Sean and the Cavs fall three spots this week after going 2-2. The Cavs are still a team to watch. Sean has the Cavs with the third-best three-point percentage at 35.4 percent and 10th-best field goal percentage at 46.6 percent. How does he do it? After all, he only has one player in his starting five rated over an 80 (Ivica Zubac, 81). The Cavs might have the worst starting five in the league, yet here we find them in the top 10 of the SCH Power Rankings. What gives?
11. Los Angeles Lakers (10-6, Last Week: 12)
The Lakers had a great week going 3-1. They still have a lot of games to play, but this team is starting to trend in the right direction. Mic has done great work as a general manager this season. Many might question moving a top-three player in Kevin Durant, and rightfully so. However, it has long been said that Mic prefers depth and this team is deep as it is comprised of guys like Cade Cunningham, R.J. Barrett, De’Andre Hunter, Jaren Jackson, Jr., Blake Griffin, Demar Derozan, and Cedi Osman. The only team that is deeper is the team that now sports Durant, the Wizards. Cunningham has been fantastic so far with 21.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 6.2 APHG and is shooting 50.2 percent from the field. He does need to take better shots from three as he is struggling at 30.6 percent.
12. Sacramento Kings (14-9 Last Week: 10)
After going 3-1 this week, the Kings continue to be underrated. Jack is mentally tough and continues to bounce back from close losses. No playoff contender has more close losses than Jack. He lost by six to the Cavs, two to the Magic, seven to the Nuggets, four to the Hawks, four to the Heat, and one to the Celtics. One could argue that he isn’t mentally tough based on so many close losses as well. Either way, this team could easily be 20-3. They will be a tough out in the playoffs.
13. Detroit Pistons (10-10, Last Week: 13)
Speaking of mental toughness, is there anyone in SCH who struggles more with mental toughness than Nick? We’ve all seen the complaints and shade. We’ve all seen the comments after tough losses. We’ve seen the blown leads. Nick is talented and a good guy. We just need to see him take that next step and be more consistent and mentally tough. The Pistons went 3-5 this week and no loss illustrates this point more than his collapse at the hands of Clip and the Bulls, where he lost by five after leading by 20-plus. Nick has his work cut out for him if he wants to make the playoffs. Currently the No. 7 seed, he still has to face the Jazz, Pelicans, Nuggets, Knicks, and Lakers.
14. Orlando Magic (7-7, Last Week: 9)
After a hot 5-2 start, the Magic and Dom cooled off this week by going 2-5. They still find themselves as the eighth seed in the East, but many wonder if that will last. This team has been dismantled in some bad losses, such as by 35 to the Jazz, 17 to the Nuggets, and 15 to the Bulls. It’s not so much who he lost to but by how much. It could be argued that the only two quality wins Dom has are versus the Bucks by 11 and the Kings by two. But the real challenge this season will be for Dom to get caught up by Friday’s end-of-season deadline.
15. Memphis Grizzlies (11-13, Last Week: 17)
DV and the Grizzlies went 3-6 last week but somehow still find themselves in the driver’s seat as the No. 7 seed in the West. Realistically, this team will make the playoffs unless they completely collapse in their final five games. Ja Morant is averaging 35.7 PPG, 6.4 APG and shooting 49 percent from the field. However, since DV took over, he has fallen in three-point percentage quite a bit, down to 33.2. Is this a quantity versus quality issue? If this team makes the playoffs, they are going to have to play a lot better if they want to advance.
16. Dallas Mavericks (10-12, Last Week: 16)
0-2 this week and in danger of missing the playoffs, this has been a tough season for JustDoIt and the Mavs. Was moving on from Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic the right move? This team has struggled with depth all season. Trading two stars for two stars didn’t help that depth any. To top it off, both LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been dreadful from deep, shooting 27.5 percent and 25.0 percent, respectively. This team is trending down and many expect the Rockets to surpass them and take over the No. 8 seed.
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
17. Houston Rockets (9-11, Last Week: 21)
TeeJay and the Rockets could finish strong and overtake the Mavs for the No. 8 seed. They are playing better basketball right now than the Mavs and went 2-2 this week. They hold the tie-breaker versus the Mavs having beat them 123-117. Karl-Anthony Towns is starting to find his groove in Houston with 26.4 PPG, 20.4 RPG and 6.7 APG. If TeeJay can sneak into the playoffs, get your upset alerts ready.
18. Atlanta Hawks (10-12, Last Week: 15)
Marauder and the Hawks went 1-2 last week. If this team can get to .500, they may sneak into the playoffs in the No. 7 or 8 seed in the East. Kristaps Porzingis is doing Kristaps Porzingis things with 23.3 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 3.0 APG.
19. Milwaukee Bucks (12-15, Last Week: 15)
Mathematically speaking, this season isn’t over for Dez and the Bucks, but it sure feels like it is. This team has four five-point losses to the Bulls, Pacers, Mavericks and Hawks. If Dez could have won just one of those games, it seems like he would have a chance to get into the playoffs.
BETTER LUCK NEXT SEASON
20. Phoenix Suns (10-14, Last Week: 21)
21. Chicago Bulls (8-14, Last Week: 24)
22. Boston Celtics (8-18, Last Week: 26)
23. Brooklyn Nets (6-15, Last Week: 20)
24. Golden State Warriors (6-15, Last Week: 26)
25. Los Angeles Clippers (8-21, Last Week: 22)
26. Portland Trail Blazers (7-19, Last Week: 23)
27. Toronto Raptors (3-18, Last Week: 28)
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-13, Last Week: 27)
29. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-19, Last Week: 30)
30. Philadelphia 76ers (0-18, Last Week: 29)
Parting Notes
- Toronto and new owner FunnyDmoney won three games so far for a previously-winless Raptors team
- Levar and the Thunder finally won a game, beating the Hawks by a score of 100-93
- Mir was booted after going missing for almost a week. Is this the end of an era?
