REVERSE JAM NBA WEEK 2 RANKINGS
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|
John
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Daniel
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Matt
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1
|  △1 |  △1 |  △2 |
2
|  ▽1 |  ▽1 |  (-) |
3
|  △1 |  △1 |  △1 |
4
|  ▽1 |  ▽1 |  ▽3 |
5
|  △2 |  (-) |  (-) |
6
|  △6 |  △6 |  (-) |
7
|  ▽1 |  △10 |  (-) |
8
|  (-) |  △2 |  △1 |
9
|  △4 |  △4 |  △5 |
10
|  △5 |  △5 |  (-) |
11
|  ▽6 |  ▽4 |  (-) |
12
|  ▽2 |  ▽6 |  △1 |
13
|  △1 |  ▽2 |  ▽1 |
14
|  ▽5 |  ▽6 |  △3 |
15
|  △2 |  △3 |  △3 |
16
|  ▽5 |  ▽7 |  ▽5 |
17
|  △6 | △7 |  ▽1 |
18
|  △12 |  △11 | △3 |
19
|  (-) |  (-) |  △10 |
20
|  △1 |  △1 |  △6 |
21
|  △3 |  △5 |  △6 |
22
|  (-) |  △5 |  (-) |
23
|  ▽3 |  ▽1 |  ▽4 |
24
|  △2 |  ▽10 |  (-) |
25
| ▽9 |  (-) |  △3 |
26
|  △1 |  ▽10 |  ▽3 |
27
|  ▽9 |  △3 |  ▽7 |
28
|  ▽4 |  ▽8 |  ▽3 |
29
|  ▽1 |  ▽8 |  ▽14 |
30
|  (-) |  ▽2 |  (-) |
Matt:
Buy Low: Philadelphia 76ers
While I may be buying low on the 76ers, that does not necessarily mean they are going to grow to be contenders soon… I just believe that their results will begin to reflect their performance and that we will see them start to win games and approach 10th/11th in the East. Joel Embiid has been quite frankly, amazing. Demonstrating an extremely polished post game, a solid basketball IQ, very athletic form (albeit low stamina) and has actually developed an outside shot. Saric and Rodriguez have stepped up and proven to be extremely potent playmakers and the 76ers as a team played well against the defending champions, matching up in just about every facet. The 76ers had a great night in their loss to Cleveland and I expect to see great things from them in the coming weeks.
Sell High: New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets have had an extremely impressive start to the season, putting up a conference-2nd best record, trailing only the Cavaliers. While they may be clicking and that 5-1 record is appealing, I’m selling high on them because their first two weeks’ schedule consisted of four bottom-half teams and only one contender. I want to see Kemba Walker succeed but I simply do not think they will keep this pace up considering their next five matchups are: The Pacers, Jazz, Raptors, Cavaliers and Timberwolves. That lineup is already much more daunting than their past games and teams like the Raptors and Cavs are on a roll.
Daniel:
Buy low: New Orleans Pelicans
There is literally nowhere for New Orleans to go but up from here. Jrue Holiday will rightfully take his time before returning to the team, but his return is vital for the outcome of the Pelicans’ season. As it currently stands, the Pelicans can be completely neutralized by throwing double teams at a woefully unsupported Anthony Davis. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel for New Orleans fans; after a disappointing loss to the Warriors, the Pelicans are now 10th in defensive efficiency.
As the old adage goes, defense wins championships. You just need good (or at least competent) offense to get there. Simply put the Pelicans have bottomed out, so look for them to be on the rise.
Sell high: Milwaukee Bucks (Part Deuce)
Per my own rankings, the Milwaukee Bucks have jumped 7 places in this week’s power rankings. This more a product of numerous disappointing starts to more competent teams this year (looking at you Washington).
The Bucks have two (count em, two!) competent three point shooters.
The Bucks are currently starting Tony “39/23/0” Snell at shooting guard.
The Bucks couldn’t score more than 75 points in an overtime loss to the winless Mavs.
The Bucks are buoyed purely due to heroics of an already slowing Giannis.
The Bucks will in all likeliness be irrelevant come the All-Star Break.
John:
Buy Low: Memphis Grizzlies
I was very high on the Grizzlies coming into this season (go check my August article on them) as they had a very successful offseason that worked to address many of their problems. They didn’t necessarily bust out of the gates (3-4 start) but they put together an okay first two weeks; pretty impressive considering Chandler Parsons played in just one game and Conley and Gasol were restricted/rested frequently. Their defensive grit is something that has really disappeared from the NBA in this generation, and I think their style is going to be enough to put together a playoff-caliber season. Conley is putting up career numbers, Gasol is more offensively potent than ever, and Parsons is going to provide the shooting and playmaking needed to push this team to the playoffs. They have a few juicy matchups against the Bucks and Mavericks, and a few chances to prove themselves against the Jazz and a hot Clippers team
Sell High: Chicago Bulls
I’ve gotta admit, the Bulls have been impressive thus far. I thought the offense was going to be an infinite loop of Rondo driving and kicking to an open Wade, Wade driving and kicking to Butler, Butler driving and kicking to Rondo… But they’ve actually had an offense, largely thanks to Wade discovering he can actually shoot (already has made more 3’s than he did all of last season) and Rondo being content to not dominate the ball. However, I don’t think it’s going to last. The lack of consistent shooting is going to eventually hurt them dearly, and was already glaring in losses to the Celtics, Pacers, and Knicks (ouch). Their upcoming schedule isn’t necessarily hard, so they may squeak out a few more wins, but don’t count on them remaining consistent.
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