Monday Morning Tears: Power Rankings Weeks 15 & 16 Edition.
The end of the regular fantasy season is edging ever closer and the playoff fight is getting fiercer by the day. Who has managed to speerate themselves from the pack and who has started to run out of steam? Read on to find out.
Star Performer: James Harden
I joked with someone this week that this section should just be renamed “James Harden Watch”. He continues to be disgustingly good, with the only player coming remotely close on Basketball Monsters rankings being Paul George.
Now for our power rankings.
8th: Metta World War 3 (No Change)
This team has plenty of talented players but are holding themselves back by not being active enough. If we cast our eyes back to a couple of months ago, Post Up Dreams was inarguably in a worse position that Metta. Now, one of them has made some changes, taken a couple of risks and finds themselves firmly in the playoff spots. The other is finding themselves moving increasingly out of the playoff race.
Despite this, there’s still 5 weeks left of play which is plenty of time to have a crack at the playoffs, especially with the teams above them experiencing indifferent form.
They have a winnable matchup against injury ravaged Views from the 6 in week 17 followed by Russlin' Up W’s in the All Star Double Week.
Results: 3–6 vs Still Feathery, 2–7 vs Post Up Dreams
Key Player: Marc Gasol (26th, Pick 57)
Best Categories: FT%, Rebounds, Turnovers
7th: Take That For Data (No Change)
Take That for Data are without a doubt the flukiest team in the league. They turned in a pair of poor performances over the past fortnight but have somehow emerged in the final playoff spot. Their matchup against Better Call Gasol was particularly fortunate, scraping a win, taking categories by single digits. Much of this is down to the deadly duo of Jokic and Doncic, who both deserve your League Pass watching time.
They face a tough pair of fixtures in Still Feathery and Post Up Dreams, in which they’ll need some much better performances if they are to hold onto their playoff hopes.
Results: 4–5 vs 808’s & Fastbreaks, 6–3 vs Better Call Gasol
Key Player: Luka Doncic (32nd, Pick 81)
Best Categories: 3PTM, Assists, Steals
6th: Russlin’ Up W’s (Down 1)
The past few weeks have continued to be tough for Russlin’, with in week injuries to the likes of Butler, Leonard and Gallinari hitting them and thus making it tough to get the results they need to stay in the playoff fight. John Collins kicked in a strong week 16 performance to keep that matchup a bit tighter than week 15’s and Westbrook continues to be a counting categories monster who, when you ignore the turnovers and FT%, is the 3rd best player over the past fortnight.
Up next they face a tough trip to play Post Up Dreams followed by a more winnable matchup on current form against Metta World War 3.
Results: 2–7 vs Better Call Gasol, 4–5 vs Still Feathery
Key Player: Russell Westbrook (30th, 2nd Keeper)
Best Categories: FG%, Steals, Blocks
5th: Views from the 6 (Down 1)
The performances aren’t bad by any stretch but the results just aren’t coming for Views who continue to struggle to get their best players on the court. Those struggles do look like they could be coming to an end though but they’ll need an incredible few weeks if they are to push for the playoffs. In the absence of those key players, others such as Al Horford and Lou Williams have emerged to make some solid contributions.
Views face Metta World War 3 and then Better Call Gasol in matchups they will need to get something from.
Results: 2–7 vs Post Up Dreams, 3–6 vs 808’s & Fastbreaks
Key Player: Al Horford (8th, Pick 53)
Best Categories: Assists, Blocks, Turnovers
4th: Better Call Gasol (Up 2)
Better Call Gasol returns to our top 4 despite LeBron James continuing to battle injuries. Markannen has been outstanding since his return from injury and LeBron’s time away from the starting lineup has had the small benefit of boosting BCG’s FT% to among the leagues highest. They recorded a huge win against Russlin’ Up W’s in week 15 but followed it up with a heartbreaking loss to Take That For Data in a matchup they looked destined to win.
They’ll be hoping that LeBron will return to help them against 808’s & Heartbreaks in week 17 and then face Views From the 6 in week 18/19 in what could be a close matchup, dependent on Views teams health.
Results: 7–2 vs Russlin’ Up W’s, 3–6 vs Take That for Data
Key Player: Lauri Markkanen (16th, Pick 52)
Best Categories: FT%, 3PTM, Turnovers
3rd: Still Feathery (No Change)
Still Feathery continue to tick along quite nicely, recording back to back wins against opposition who have been struggling. There’s little hope of catching them at the top, even with the emergence of 808’s and Post Up Dreams over the past month or so. Nikola Vucevic looks determined to make someone pay him a max contract in July with the way he is playing, accompanied by Still Feathery’s other big men who continue to be dominant.
They’ll be delighted to have yet another star join them for the first time this season, in the shape of DeMarcus Cousins, when they face Take That for Data and then a possibly tougher matchup and potential playoffs preview against 808’s & Fastbreaks.
Results: 6–3 vs Metta World War 3, 5–4 vs Russlin’ Up W’s
Key Player: Nikola Vucevic (6th, Pick 49)
Best Categories: Points, Assists, Blocks
2nd: 808’s & Fastbreaks (No Change)
James Harden is a fantasy cheat code. This does slightly diminish the achievements of the likes of Conley, Drummond and Aldridge over weeks 15 & 16 but Harden is just that good right now. CP3’s return may hurt him a little bit in terms of usage but probably not enough to knock 808’s off their stride. Mike Conley continues to show everyone else how foolish they were to pass on him, regardless of how poorly the Grizzlies are playing.
They go up against a rejuvenated Better Call Gasol in week 17, followed by a trip to big guns Still Feathery which will give them an opportunity to really test their championship credentials.
Results: 5–4 vs Take That for Data, 6–3 vs Views from the 6
Key Player: Mike Conley (4th, Pick 65)
Best Categories: FG%, Rebounds, Steals
1st: Post Up Dreams (No Change)
Post Up Dreams continue their reign atop the power rankings whils continuing to eat away little by little at the lead that 808’s and Still Feathery had over them. The rebuild has been pretty incredible and should show us all what a little risk (combined with some good fortune) can do for a team that was once at the opposite end of our fortnightly report. Paul George continues to flourish in OKC and D’Lo has dragged the Nets to a strong looking playoff berth, both of whoms performances continue to benefit Post Up Dreams.
Can they continue the run they are on against Russlin’ Up W’s and Take That for Data?
Results: 7–2 vs Views from the 6, 7–2 vs Metta World War 3
Key Player: D’Angelo Russell (15th, Pick 54)
Best Categories: 3PTM, Points, Rebounds, Steals
Due to All Star Break, the power rankings will return week beginning 25th February.
