It feels like ages since the idea popped into the Committee's head to create the definitive ranking of NBA players named DeAndre (or some variation thereof), but the truth is that this wonderful creation is just six weeks old. Six glorious weeks of debating the merits of Ayton, Bembry, Hunter, and Jordan - Deandre, DeAndre', De'Andre, and DeAndre, as you probably know them.
The Committee takes nothing more seriously than the DeAnd'rankings, and it warms the hearts of each member when tens of people (when you add them all up) take the time to read such a labor of love. The Committee is thankful. The Committee is also on a deadline. As is customary, we begin with a series of questions.
Q1: Does this gimmick really have legs to run the rest of the season?
Yep.
Q2: How much does team success factor into these rankings?
It's not the deciding factor, but it matters. For example, being on the Hawks and barely seeing the floor is a negative. However, none of the teams that the DAs play for are good, so it's kind of a moot point.
Q3: What happens if you light a match in zero gravity?
It should, I would think, smother in its own smoke. Smoke doesn't contain enough oxygen for the match to stay lit indefinitely, so it would just kinda go out after a few seconds as there wouldn't be much air movement.
Q4: Why are your questions so dumb?
Because life can be a jagged little pill.
Q5: Ready?
Ready.
THE SIXTH DEAND'RANKINGS: THROUGH JANUARY 9, 2020
4. DeAndre' Bembry
The DeAnd'Ranking honeymoon is over for DeAndre' Bembry. As the Committee has stated, team success is not a huge factor, but it is a factor, and being buried on the Hawks' bench is a bad look. The Hawks played four times this week, which meant more opportunity to earn some run, and Bembry played between 9 and 26 minutes per game. How'd he do?
He totaled 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and four (!) steals. He was 0-4 from deep. Bembry is a solid defender, which is why he still has a job, but the way the NBA is trending, you have to be some kind of a threat on offense - there's gotta be something that you do well - to have an extended career in the league. I like to think that the steals will buy him enough time for his jumper to come around, but right how he's under 22% on 3s, so...more steals would be even better.
Last week's rank: 4
3. De'Andre Hunter
The teammates find themselves next to each other for the first time! A landmark day in the DeAnd'Rankings! The reality is that the two big-men DeAndres are just playing better basketball (this week) thank De'Andre Hunter. With the same four-game week, Hunter shot better and scored better than Bembry, but the rest of his stats were similarly uninspiring, and he didn't get 4 steals. If Bembry could shoot, he might've found himself in the top-3 this week.
Alas, the Committee has valued shooting over bench-non-shooting, and that's how we get to these two rankings.
Last week's rank: 2
2. DeAndre Jordan
We gather today to mourn the end of an era. An era marked by surprise, delight, injury-to-others, a buttload of rebounds, and the Committee's knowledge of what it's like to be over 30-years-old. DeAndre Jordan, who is 31-years-old, has been a really solid bench big-man for the Nets this season, and he turned back the clock by swatting four shots in a game this week.
But the Nets stink. They lost all 3 this week, bringing the streak to 7 straight Ls, and Jordan only had double digits in rebounding once (zero times in points). With Caris LeVert back, DJ might see a very slightly reduced role, as that's one more player who will be in the rotation and need solid minutes. For the first time this season, DeAndre Jordan could really be facing his NBA future.
And more importantly, he's been knocked out of the number one spot in the most important race of the season. After five weeks of dominance, DJ falls to number 2 this week. A devastating blow - far worse than losing seven straight games in the NBA.
On the bright side, this is a season-long competition and DJ is still comfortably ahead in the season rankings, which appear at the bottom of this very important article.
Last week's rank: 1
1. Deandre Ayton
A new leader. A new sense of direction. A new national identity.
None of these things really describe Deandre Ayton, either in the DeAnd'Rankings or in the Phoenix Suns locker room. Ayton has done enough, however, to leap over DeAndre Jordan and take the number one spot in a ranking system that he should've been atop of the entire time.
Ayton is starting to look solid. He seems about as durable as an envelope in a thunderstorm, but he's putting up good enough stats to see his name next to that bold "1."
The big story with Ayton right now is that he's blocked at least one shot in 4 straight games and has at least 3 offensive rebounds in all but one game this season. Those are winning plays. Getting lost on defense - which he still does sometimes - and shooting the ball the exact moment it touches his hands - which is a real thing that happens sometimes - are less winning plays. But still, he dropped 21 and 9 against the Kings with 4 ORebs and a block. That's getting close to the kind of production the Suns were hoping for when they took DA #1 overall last season. I just hope they aren't watching the Mavericks.
Last week's rank: 2
CURRENT SEASON STANDINGS AFTER VOLUME VI
4. DeAndre' Bembry: 9 points
3. Deandre Ayton: 11 points
2. De'Andre Hunter: 17 points
1. DeAndre Jordan: 23 points
Special note: The Committee will be in Hawaii next week until the Friday after-that. The Rankings will be off next week and then probably show up some time late Friday night or early Saturday morning, around the 24-25th of January.
The Committee takes nothing more seriously than the DeAnd'rankings, and it warms the hearts of each member when tens of people (when you add them all up) take the time to read such a labor of love. The Committee is thankful. The Committee is also on a deadline. As is customary, we begin with a series of questions.
Q1: Does this gimmick really have legs to run the rest of the season?
Yep.
Q2: How much does team success factor into these rankings?
It's not the deciding factor, but it matters. For example, being on the Hawks and barely seeing the floor is a negative. However, none of the teams that the DAs play for are good, so it's kind of a moot point.
Q3: What happens if you light a match in zero gravity?
It should, I would think, smother in its own smoke. Smoke doesn't contain enough oxygen for the match to stay lit indefinitely, so it would just kinda go out after a few seconds as there wouldn't be much air movement.
Q4: Why are your questions so dumb?
Because life can be a jagged little pill.
Q5: Ready?
Ready.
THE SIXTH DEAND'RANKINGS: THROUGH JANUARY 9, 2020
4. DeAndre' Bembry
The DeAnd'Ranking honeymoon is over for DeAndre' Bembry. As the Committee has stated, team success is not a huge factor, but it is a factor, and being buried on the Hawks' bench is a bad look. The Hawks played four times this week, which meant more opportunity to earn some run, and Bembry played between 9 and 26 minutes per game. How'd he do?
He totaled 15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and four (!) steals. He was 0-4 from deep. Bembry is a solid defender, which is why he still has a job, but the way the NBA is trending, you have to be some kind of a threat on offense - there's gotta be something that you do well - to have an extended career in the league. I like to think that the steals will buy him enough time for his jumper to come around, but right how he's under 22% on 3s, so...more steals would be even better.
Last week's rank: 4
3. De'Andre Hunter
The teammates find themselves next to each other for the first time! A landmark day in the DeAnd'Rankings! The reality is that the two big-men DeAndres are just playing better basketball (this week) thank De'Andre Hunter. With the same four-game week, Hunter shot better and scored better than Bembry, but the rest of his stats were similarly uninspiring, and he didn't get 4 steals. If Bembry could shoot, he might've found himself in the top-3 this week.
Alas, the Committee has valued shooting over bench-non-shooting, and that's how we get to these two rankings.
Last week's rank: 2
2. DeAndre Jordan
We gather today to mourn the end of an era. An era marked by surprise, delight, injury-to-others, a buttload of rebounds, and the Committee's knowledge of what it's like to be over 30-years-old. DeAndre Jordan, who is 31-years-old, has been a really solid bench big-man for the Nets this season, and he turned back the clock by swatting four shots in a game this week.
But the Nets stink. They lost all 3 this week, bringing the streak to 7 straight Ls, and Jordan only had double digits in rebounding once (zero times in points). With Caris LeVert back, DJ might see a very slightly reduced role, as that's one more player who will be in the rotation and need solid minutes. For the first time this season, DeAndre Jordan could really be facing his NBA future.
And more importantly, he's been knocked out of the number one spot in the most important race of the season. After five weeks of dominance, DJ falls to number 2 this week. A devastating blow - far worse than losing seven straight games in the NBA.
On the bright side, this is a season-long competition and DJ is still comfortably ahead in the season rankings, which appear at the bottom of this very important article.
Last week's rank: 1
1. Deandre Ayton
A new leader. A new sense of direction. A new national identity.
None of these things really describe Deandre Ayton, either in the DeAnd'Rankings or in the Phoenix Suns locker room. Ayton has done enough, however, to leap over DeAndre Jordan and take the number one spot in a ranking system that he should've been atop of the entire time.
Ayton is starting to look solid. He seems about as durable as an envelope in a thunderstorm, but he's putting up good enough stats to see his name next to that bold "1."
The big story with Ayton right now is that he's blocked at least one shot in 4 straight games and has at least 3 offensive rebounds in all but one game this season. Those are winning plays. Getting lost on defense - which he still does sometimes - and shooting the ball the exact moment it touches his hands - which is a real thing that happens sometimes - are less winning plays. But still, he dropped 21 and 9 against the Kings with 4 ORebs and a block. That's getting close to the kind of production the Suns were hoping for when they took DA #1 overall last season. I just hope they aren't watching the Mavericks.
Last week's rank: 2
CURRENT SEASON STANDINGS AFTER VOLUME VI
4. DeAndre' Bembry: 9 points
3. Deandre Ayton: 11 points
2. De'Andre Hunter: 17 points
1. DeAndre Jordan: 23 points
Special note: The Committee will be in Hawaii next week until the Friday after-that. The Rankings will be off next week and then probably show up some time late Friday night or early Saturday morning, around the 24-25th of January.
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