Eight rankings! We're at the eighth edition of the DeAnd'Rankings - the internet's definitive place for ranking the four active NBA players whose names are spelled d-e-a-n-d-r-e but who also can't seem to match up the capitalization or punctuation therein. We, the Committee, don't take this job lightly (unless we're on vacation, hence a multi-week gap in rankings).
If you're new here, the concept is exactly what has been laid out in the previous paragraph. While the Committee certainly takes into account the season-long body of work, the rankings are updated weekly, which means a hot week can shake up the rankings. But first, we always start with five questions.
Q1: How heavily should team success be considered?
It's considered, but it's not necessarily a huge part of the equation. The reason for this is that all four teams - Bembry and Hunter's Hawks, Jordan's Nets, and Ayton's Suns - are all pretty awful teams. The Nets are playing well over the last week or so, but none of these guys are .500 or better. That makes the playing field pretty level.
Q2: How was this idea birthed?
The Committee shall not reveal their secrets. Next question.
Q3: Is there going to be a change in the setup of this feature when next season rolls around? What if there are more or fewer DeAndres in the league next year?
Hard to say, but I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
Q4: How did you manage to come up with mostly on-topic questions this week?
My boss was going to sell our po-dunk mountain resort town to a corporate bigwig from Colorado so I decided to focus up and take care of things on my end - I just needed some help from my friends. As such I've been all-business.
Q5: Ready?
Ready.
THE EIGHTH DEAND'RANKINGS: THROUGH FEBRUARY 13, 2020
4. DeAndre' Bembry
It's turning into a rough go for Bembry. After missing 11 straight games with a hand injury, he was available Wednesday against the NBA's leading juggernaut, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Bembry didn't get off the bench. There's a chance it was a matter of holding him out because he'll now get an extra week of rest for the All-Star Game, but it's equally likely that he's just not much of an asset right now. Trade rumors suggested that the Hawks took some calls about him, but nothing happened. At this point, he's a defender and nothing more. Maybe his shot will warm up over time, but it's a struggle to this point.
Previous ranking: 4
3. De'Andre Hunter
A real up-and-down week for Hunter, but it's only good enough to keep him in 3rd place. He followed a 4 point, 5 board, 1-7 shooting game with a 19/9 with 5 steals game against the Knicks. While that was great, he closed the week on a 4-13 shooting night against the Cavs, who are borderline allergic to defense (though that should change a little with Andre Drummond on board). He's still a touch under league average on 3pt shooting, so if he can bring that up a little, his ceiling will continue to rise. In either case, De'Andre Hunter is a nice rookie for a young team.
Previous ranking: 3
2. Deandre Ayton
What?! Ayton has been putting up huge stats over the last few weeks but the Committee can't find a spot for him atop this chart?
That's correct. Because Deandre Ayton doesn't play much basketball. Ayton was relatively quiet in short minutes as the Suns blew out the Rockets last week, and then he posted an absolutely monstrous 28/19 with 3 steals and a block vs. Denver the next night. Then what? He sat out the next two games. Anthony Davis was coming to town and Ayton suddenly had "ankle soreness" and missed the next two games. There's something very strange about this guy. He shows these brilliant flashes of, well, brilliance, and then disappears again. He's frustrating, but imagine how much worse it would be if the Suns were actually contenders like they were for the season's first month.
Previous ranking: 1
1. DeAndre Jordan
DJ back atop the charts! What a run!
A really good way to endear yourself to the Committee is to play so well that your team has no choice but to keep you on the floor. Ayton did this against Denver when he played almost 43:00, but he then sat out the next 4 days. DeAndre Jordan is a bench player (behind Jarrett Allen, who is good) and managed to rack up 28+ minutes in back to back games this week. How did he do that?
He grabbed a buttload of rebounds. DJ snagged 14 and 19 boards in those two games. Throw in his 10 against Toronto and you're looking at a weeklong total of 43 rebounds. Combine that with over 50% shooting, 2 blocks per game, double digit scoring twice, and about 4 of those boards being on the offensive end per game, and you're looking at a really nice week. It also helps that the Nets looked really good with him out there, losing a heartbreaker in Toronto, then beating the Pacers and Raptors (at home).
I don't know how or why, but this guy is still a very solid player. And far more importantly, he's still atop the season-long leaderboard of the DeAnd'Rankings.
Previous ranking: 2
SEASON STANDINGS AFTER VOLUME VIII
4. DeAndre' Bembry: 11 points
3. Deandre Ayton: 18 points
2. De'Andre Hunter: 21 points
1. DeAndre Jordan: 30 points
If you're new here, the concept is exactly what has been laid out in the previous paragraph. While the Committee certainly takes into account the season-long body of work, the rankings are updated weekly, which means a hot week can shake up the rankings. But first, we always start with five questions.
Q1: How heavily should team success be considered?
It's considered, but it's not necessarily a huge part of the equation. The reason for this is that all four teams - Bembry and Hunter's Hawks, Jordan's Nets, and Ayton's Suns - are all pretty awful teams. The Nets are playing well over the last week or so, but none of these guys are .500 or better. That makes the playing field pretty level.
Q2: How was this idea birthed?
The Committee shall not reveal their secrets. Next question.
Q3: Is there going to be a change in the setup of this feature when next season rolls around? What if there are more or fewer DeAndres in the league next year?
Hard to say, but I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
Q4: How did you manage to come up with mostly on-topic questions this week?
My boss was going to sell our po-dunk mountain resort town to a corporate bigwig from Colorado so I decided to focus up and take care of things on my end - I just needed some help from my friends. As such I've been all-business.
Q5: Ready?
Ready.
THE EIGHTH DEAND'RANKINGS: THROUGH FEBRUARY 13, 2020
4. DeAndre' Bembry
It's turning into a rough go for Bembry. After missing 11 straight games with a hand injury, he was available Wednesday against the NBA's leading juggernaut, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Bembry didn't get off the bench. There's a chance it was a matter of holding him out because he'll now get an extra week of rest for the All-Star Game, but it's equally likely that he's just not much of an asset right now. Trade rumors suggested that the Hawks took some calls about him, but nothing happened. At this point, he's a defender and nothing more. Maybe his shot will warm up over time, but it's a struggle to this point.
Previous ranking: 4
3. De'Andre Hunter
A real up-and-down week for Hunter, but it's only good enough to keep him in 3rd place. He followed a 4 point, 5 board, 1-7 shooting game with a 19/9 with 5 steals game against the Knicks. While that was great, he closed the week on a 4-13 shooting night against the Cavs, who are borderline allergic to defense (though that should change a little with Andre Drummond on board). He's still a touch under league average on 3pt shooting, so if he can bring that up a little, his ceiling will continue to rise. In either case, De'Andre Hunter is a nice rookie for a young team.
Previous ranking: 3
2. Deandre Ayton
What?! Ayton has been putting up huge stats over the last few weeks but the Committee can't find a spot for him atop this chart?
That's correct. Because Deandre Ayton doesn't play much basketball. Ayton was relatively quiet in short minutes as the Suns blew out the Rockets last week, and then he posted an absolutely monstrous 28/19 with 3 steals and a block vs. Denver the next night. Then what? He sat out the next two games. Anthony Davis was coming to town and Ayton suddenly had "ankle soreness" and missed the next two games. There's something very strange about this guy. He shows these brilliant flashes of, well, brilliance, and then disappears again. He's frustrating, but imagine how much worse it would be if the Suns were actually contenders like they were for the season's first month.
Previous ranking: 1
1. DeAndre Jordan
DJ back atop the charts! What a run!
A really good way to endear yourself to the Committee is to play so well that your team has no choice but to keep you on the floor. Ayton did this against Denver when he played almost 43:00, but he then sat out the next 4 days. DeAndre Jordan is a bench player (behind Jarrett Allen, who is good) and managed to rack up 28+ minutes in back to back games this week. How did he do that?
He grabbed a buttload of rebounds. DJ snagged 14 and 19 boards in those two games. Throw in his 10 against Toronto and you're looking at a weeklong total of 43 rebounds. Combine that with over 50% shooting, 2 blocks per game, double digit scoring twice, and about 4 of those boards being on the offensive end per game, and you're looking at a really nice week. It also helps that the Nets looked really good with him out there, losing a heartbreaker in Toronto, then beating the Pacers and Raptors (at home).
I don't know how or why, but this guy is still a very solid player. And far more importantly, he's still atop the season-long leaderboard of the DeAnd'Rankings.
Previous ranking: 2
SEASON STANDINGS AFTER VOLUME VIII
4. DeAndre' Bembry: 11 points
3. Deandre Ayton: 18 points
2. De'Andre Hunter: 21 points
1. DeAndre Jordan: 30 points
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