Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Week 13 Power Rankings

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Guillermo Diaz Memorial All-Stink Team












With five weeks left in the regular season, the Kings and the Jai-Rai meet up with a mere half-game separating them. A big win by either team—coupled with another likely 5-4 win for Zermatt—could put the winner in first place in the World.


The WFBL recently announced the lineups for the 2010 All-Star game—a group of individuals considered the best of the best. Players who give each team daily joy, as owners check their box score totals. These are the players of whom dreams are made, and on whom championship teams are built.

And then we have the Guillermo Diaz All-Stink Team. Named after the horrible backup guard for the St. George Underdogs who made the All-Star team in 2008 (thanks to the "Best vs the Rest" format) despite his player rating in the high 500's, the Guillermo Diaz All-Stink team follows the same guidelines as the All-Star team, only in reverse. Who is the lowest-rated player on each team? Let's take a look, Power Rankings style!


Team, Rank, (Previous), Record

1 (1) 61-53-3
Kevin Martin (237). As well as things have been going for the Champs this year, injuries have kept them from utter domination. After leading the league in scoring for the first week of the season, Martin missed 11 weeks with a hand injury and is doing everything in his power to convince Coach Barnes to leave him on the bench.

2 (2) 60-54-3
Allen Iverson (235). The Kings' recent success (five straight wins, second only to the A-Boms' six-straight) can be attributed to many factors. One of those is never having to start Allen Iverson. With guys like Paul Pierce and Stephen Jackson ahead of him, thankfully New York will never have to.

3 (3) 65-50-2
Nate Robinson (201). Technically, Lil' Nate hasn't been a hindrance to the Sundancers' title aspirations, since he was just added this week. But for a guy who was integral to Park City's run to—and loss in—the Concludings last season, a ranking of 201 is quite disappointing.

4 (6) 58-56-3
Ben Gordon (184). It's a tribute to Richmond's saavy front office (Channing Frye and Wilson Chandler for Andrea Bargnani as Most One-Sided Trade, anyone?) that their opening-day starter at shooting guard is their worst player, yet here the Butchers are a mere three games out of first place.

5 (7) 61-54-0
Josh Howard (252). The Jai-Rai were approached numerous times with offers of a backup small forward upgrade in exchange for Brandon Jennings. Udorn turned them all down, and then Danny Granger went down. Sure, they're 1.5 out of first now that Granger is back, but who knows where they'd be if they could have had All-Star Gerald Wallace fill in for Granger instead of Howard?

6 (5) 61-51-5
Tracy McGrady (386). Your winner for "lowest rated rostered player". T-Mac hasn't—and almost assuredly won't—see the light of day for Twin Falls, and one has to wonder what it is that's keeping him a Gator. Oh yeah, the good luck thing.

7 (8) 55-58-4
Shaquille O'Neal (257). Thankfully for Trojan fans, the Big Trojan Horse has spent much of the season riding the pine, behind All-Star Brook Lopez. Now that Lopez is gone in favor of Chris Kaman (and Steph Curry, a move lauded by the Power Rankings), the only thing keeping the washed-up O'Neal from destroying Rigby is Kaman forgetting to drink his milk.

8 (4) 58-55-4
Raja Bell (303). Not that it matters, really, since the Iguanas never change their starting lineup (Bayside 2.0?), but it does seem odd that the Igs are keeping Bell on their roster, seeing as how he's out for the season and contemplating retirement. Maybe they know something the rest of the league doesn't. This year's keeper, anyone?

9 (9) 51-62-4
Richard Hamilton (279). Speaking of never changing their lineups! We need to give honorable mention to Bayside, who leads the league with five players on the All-Stink team. The other representatives: Tyrus Thomas (234), Hakim Warrick (221), Maurice Evans (193), and Kirk Hinrich (173)

10 (6) 53-62-2
Mike Dunleavy (185). Ladies and gentlemen of Nephi, your starting shooting guard! With Brandon Roy seemingly hurting every week, the Strats have had to turn to Dunleavy to help guide them to the consolation round this year. In more positive news, the Strats surprisingly had only two players make the All-Stink team (Nenad Krstic, 159).

11 (11) 52-64-1
Leandro Barbosa (208). The rare case of the worst player rostered actually being someone the team relied on heavily this season. It was one injury after another for Barbosa, who really wasn't that great when he wasn't injured.


12 (12) 50-64-3
Tayshaun Prince (350). It's hard to put too much blame on Prince, when guys like Mike Miller (220), Devin Harris (190...and the U-Dogs' keeper from last year!), and J.R. Smith have all done their fair share of leading St. George to the bottom of the Power Rankings.

So, who do you think is your worst player? And don't forget to vote on the Game of the Week and Week 12's EBP!

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