Well, here we are. The DeAnd'Rankings has had a nice run, but we may be unexpectedly coming to a close. Temporarily, at least. The COVID-19 situation and subsequent suspension of the NBA season has really thrown a wrench into what is clearly the NBA's definitive ranking program, though the Committee acknowledges that our rankings are minor when compared to the wellbeing of the rest of the world.
But at the same time, this is exactly when people need distractions. And what better distraction is there than the (decidedly not) scientific ranking of the four NBA players named DeAndre - or some variation thereof?
None that I can think of.
We typically start with a handful of questions en route to ranking the DeAndres. Let's do that again.
Q1. Do any of the DeAndres have COVID-19?
So far no. On the bright side, NBA players are extremely unlikely to be aggressively infected by the disease, as they're fairly young and in great physical health. It's entirely possible that the virus can be carried and spread through these guys, and that's the real reason for all the quarantines, but none of the DeAndres seem to have tested positive yet. Although who knows if any of them have been tested.
Q2. What is everyone gonna do without regularly scheduled DeAnd'Rankings?
The Committee has decided that this site will become more of a general basketball blog for the meantime. Semi-regular posts about missing basketball can be expected.
Q3. Do ya love me?
No, but that's a real nice ski mask.
Q4. Does the Committee think the season will continue in a month or two or be canceled?
The Committee has no inside information whatsoever, but the financial ramifications of cutting the season off completely seem too dire for that to really happen. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake for organizations, arenas, the league, players, and stadium workers. Finding a way to recover some or all of it seems like a near-certainty, so long as the outbreak slows down within a month or so (though there's no way of knowing if that's the case).
Q5. Ready?
Ready.
THE ELEVENTH DEAND'RANKINGS: THROUGH MARCH 12, 2020
4. DeAndre' Bembry
Bembry was expected to be back in action - or at least available - earlier this week, but he still hasn't appeared in a game since January 20th. For a moment the Committee thought he did get into a game this week, which would have a surprise effect on the rankings, but twas not the case.
Previous ranking: 4
3. Deandre Ayton
What a roller coaster for Deandre Ayton. The suspension put him in a deep hole at the start of the season, then he battled injuries while putting up gaudy numbers. And here, in what might be the final DeAnd'Rankings of the season, he did not appear in a single game due to an ankle ailment. If you don't play, you don't win the DeAnd'Rankings. It's that simple.
However, due to the aforementioned gaudy stats, and since this seemed to be a short-term injury, Ayton still managed to stay ahead of Bembry. Had Bembry appeared in any game and done anything positive for his team, he would have slotted into 3rd, but it was not meant to be.
Previous ranking: 1
2. De'Andre Hunter
It appeared to be a close one this week, as De'Andre Hunter double-doubled for the 3rd time in his young career and the 2nd time in as many weeks, but he struggled too much from the field to take over the top spot. Hunter's hyper-efficient 13/11 game in a win vs. Charlotte was nice, but in the Hawks' other 3 games he shot a combined 11-34 from the field. He's rebounding though, which is nice, but he doesn't get a ton of credit for his rebounds when the team goes 1-3 and the leading DeAndre is a rebounding machine.
Previous ranking: 2
1. DeAndre Jordan
DJ is back in the top spot after a pretty hilarious week. His coach got fired (allegedly) because the star players didn't like how DJ wasn't the starting center despite Jarrett Allen probably being a better basketball player. Less than 24 hours after the coaching change, DJ started at center. Not super subtle, Jacque Vaughn.
But! It worked! Even though Kenny Atkinson's last game was a 19 point win where DJ pulled down a 12/10 in 22 minutes off the bench, the Nets won the next two games in which he started. In those two wins, the numbers followed: 11/15/3 blocks and 8/12 in a very impressive win over the Lakers.
It's a weird situation in Brooklyn. But DJ is a solid center despite being a giant man who relies on athleticism that naturally declines with age.
More power to him, as he has now put a vise grip on the #1 overall spot in the DeAnd'Rankings. (Side note, did you guys know it's vise grip and not vice grip? The more you know...)
SEASON STANDINGS AFTER VOLUME XI
4. DeAndre' Bembry: 14 points
3. Deandre Ayton: 28 points
2. De'Andre Hunter: 28 points (tiebreaker goes to whoever ranked higher this week)
1. DeAndre Jordan: 39 points
But at the same time, this is exactly when people need distractions. And what better distraction is there than the (decidedly not) scientific ranking of the four NBA players named DeAndre - or some variation thereof?
None that I can think of.
We typically start with a handful of questions en route to ranking the DeAndres. Let's do that again.
Q1. Do any of the DeAndres have COVID-19?
So far no. On the bright side, NBA players are extremely unlikely to be aggressively infected by the disease, as they're fairly young and in great physical health. It's entirely possible that the virus can be carried and spread through these guys, and that's the real reason for all the quarantines, but none of the DeAndres seem to have tested positive yet. Although who knows if any of them have been tested.
Q2. What is everyone gonna do without regularly scheduled DeAnd'Rankings?
The Committee has decided that this site will become more of a general basketball blog for the meantime. Semi-regular posts about missing basketball can be expected.
Q3. Do ya love me?
No, but that's a real nice ski mask.
Q4. Does the Committee think the season will continue in a month or two or be canceled?
The Committee has no inside information whatsoever, but the financial ramifications of cutting the season off completely seem too dire for that to really happen. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake for organizations, arenas, the league, players, and stadium workers. Finding a way to recover some or all of it seems like a near-certainty, so long as the outbreak slows down within a month or so (though there's no way of knowing if that's the case).
Q5. Ready?
Ready.
THE ELEVENTH DEAND'RANKINGS: THROUGH MARCH 12, 2020
4. DeAndre' Bembry
Bembry was expected to be back in action - or at least available - earlier this week, but he still hasn't appeared in a game since January 20th. For a moment the Committee thought he did get into a game this week, which would have a surprise effect on the rankings, but twas not the case.
Previous ranking: 4
3. Deandre Ayton
What a roller coaster for Deandre Ayton. The suspension put him in a deep hole at the start of the season, then he battled injuries while putting up gaudy numbers. And here, in what might be the final DeAnd'Rankings of the season, he did not appear in a single game due to an ankle ailment. If you don't play, you don't win the DeAnd'Rankings. It's that simple.
However, due to the aforementioned gaudy stats, and since this seemed to be a short-term injury, Ayton still managed to stay ahead of Bembry. Had Bembry appeared in any game and done anything positive for his team, he would have slotted into 3rd, but it was not meant to be.
Previous ranking: 1
2. De'Andre Hunter
It appeared to be a close one this week, as De'Andre Hunter double-doubled for the 3rd time in his young career and the 2nd time in as many weeks, but he struggled too much from the field to take over the top spot. Hunter's hyper-efficient 13/11 game in a win vs. Charlotte was nice, but in the Hawks' other 3 games he shot a combined 11-34 from the field. He's rebounding though, which is nice, but he doesn't get a ton of credit for his rebounds when the team goes 1-3 and the leading DeAndre is a rebounding machine.
Previous ranking: 2
1. DeAndre Jordan
DJ is back in the top spot after a pretty hilarious week. His coach got fired (allegedly) because the star players didn't like how DJ wasn't the starting center despite Jarrett Allen probably being a better basketball player. Less than 24 hours after the coaching change, DJ started at center. Not super subtle, Jacque Vaughn.
But! It worked! Even though Kenny Atkinson's last game was a 19 point win where DJ pulled down a 12/10 in 22 minutes off the bench, the Nets won the next two games in which he started. In those two wins, the numbers followed: 11/15/3 blocks and 8/12 in a very impressive win over the Lakers.
It's a weird situation in Brooklyn. But DJ is a solid center despite being a giant man who relies on athleticism that naturally declines with age.
More power to him, as he has now put a vise grip on the #1 overall spot in the DeAnd'Rankings. (Side note, did you guys know it's vise grip and not vice grip? The more you know...)
SEASON STANDINGS AFTER VOLUME XI
4. DeAndre' Bembry: 14 points
3. Deandre Ayton: 28 points
2. De'Andre Hunter: 28 points (tiebreaker goes to whoever ranked higher this week)
1. DeAndre Jordan: 39 points
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