2017 Power Rankings (Week 8)

Who stepped up their game this week?

Happy holidays everyone! Welcome to the halfway mark of the regular season and the eighth week of Power Rankings. Skip ahead to the rankings if you want but in case you are curious, here's how the scoring works...

Each team was ranked in six categories for the week:
-Total fantasy points scored.
-Fantasy points averaged per game by starters.
-Total amount of points produced by the bench.
-Games missed due to inactivity (doubled for starters).
-Fantasy points per game gained or lost through transactions (using last 30 averages)
-The standings.

Then, each team was given points depending on where they were in the rankings. The better a team performed in the rankings, the less points I gave them.

I doubled the scores in the weekly total and per game categories as a final touch because this game is ultimately about scoring fantasy points.

From there, I totaled each team's score across the six categories and used those final scores to sort my power rankings. 52 points would be average with the lower scores being above average.

I also added everyone's season average (and ranking) beneath their week's score. Just another way to consider how things are shaking out.

Here are my results:

12. TimAint Duncan - Nick (2-6)

Week Total: 12

Per Game: 12

Bench Scoring: 11

Injuries: 3

Transactions: 5

Standings: 9

Week 8 Total: 76

Season Average: 70.8 (12th)

In the same spot as last week, TimAint Duncan scored 612 points on 19.7 points per game in a loss to All-NBA 5th Team. Nick's bench put together 143 points while the team missed 14 games due to inactivity. Nick did not make a transaction this week.

Even with the high amount of missed games, the low scores all-around are tough pills to swallow. This team seems to be missing scoring pop as it is often found near the bottom in scoring from the starting lineup and bench alike. Until that is resolved, TimAint Duncan will have difficulty climbing the ranks.

11. Draymond Green Tornado Kick - Nathaniel (2-6)

Week Total: 10

Per Game: 9

Bench Scoring: 7

Injuries: 4

Transactions: 12

Standings: 9

Week 8 Total: 70

Season Average: 59 (10th)

Sliding two spots down this week, Draymond Green Tornado Kick put up 754 points at a pace of 25.1 points per game in a pivotal win over RIM JOBS. Nate Dogg's bench added in 232 points of their own while the team missed 13 games due to injuries. The team netted a total loss of 12.2 points per game by dropping Jonathan Simmons for Cameron Payne and trading away Kyrie Irving for Avery Bradley. 

A quality win while missing a good amount of games is nice to see. The bench was solid but the starting lineup was actually below average. The transactions this week have a lot of good qualities to them but certainly come with risks. If they pay off, however, Draymond Green Tornado Kick may see a resurgence.

10. Pippen Aint Eazy - Freddy (2-6)

Week Total: 8

Per Game: 11

Bench Scoring: 5

Injuries: 10

Transactions: 5

Standings: 9

Week 8 Total: 67

Season Average: 55.5 (9th)

Falling four spots, Pippen Aint Eazy posted 832 points on 23.1 points per game in a tough loss to Make It Nashty. Freddy bench contributed 242 points as well while the team missed 4 games due to inactivity. No transactions were made.

Another narrow loss has got to be painful for a team with such dynamic players. The biggest concern is the low per game average from the starters this week. The bench looked good but the injuries were also uncharacteristically low. With the injuries finally clearing up, the best starting lineup may still be forming for this team.

9. MAMA Said Knock You Out - Rich (2-6)

Week Total: 9

Per Game: 7

Bench Scoring: 9

Injuries: 10

Transactions: 5

Standings: 9

Week 8 Total: 65

Season Average: 67.5 (11th)

Slipping two spots this week, MAMA Said Knock You Out scored 807 points at nice rate of 26 points per game. Rich's bench mustered 206 points and the team missed 4 games due to injuries. Rich did not complete a transaction and MAMA Said Knock You Out had the added bonus of having last week's tie be updated to a victory this week.

Poor point totals from both the bench and the starting lineup while missing very few games is a bad look. The saving grace is the quality per game pace from the starting lineup. To me, those are signs of a team with a good core that needs more depth.

8. RIM JOBS - Monty (4-4)

Week Total: 11

Per Game: 10

Bench Scoring: 6

Injuries: 1

Transactions: 2

Standings: 5

Week 8 Total: 56

Season Average: 53.8 (8th)

Down three spots from last week, RIMS JOBS could only put together 630 points on 24.2 points per game in a rough loss to Draymond Green Tornado Kick. Monty's bench added in a cool 241 points while the team was struck by the most missed games this week with 23. Monty added on 4.2 points per game by bringing on Garrett Temple and Tim Hardaway Jr to replace Wayne Ellington and Willie Cauley-Stein.

The starting lineup had a tough time but that was most likely due to the unusually high amount of missed games. The bench put together another good performance and the transactions were solid once again. If the injuries clear up, this team will likely bounce right back.

7. Admiral Kryptonite - Gus (4-4)

Week Total: 5

Per Game: 8

Bench Scoring: 1

Injuries: 12

Transactions: 5

Standings: 5

Week 8 Total: 49

Season Average: 48.6 (6th)

Rising three spots, Admiral Kryptonite scored 915 points at a pace of 25.4 points per game in a win over MAMA Said Knock You Out. My bench lead the league with 341 points with my team missing a league low of 3 games this week. I did not make a roster move.

A nice point total on a soft per game average is reasonable but it is my bench that is the real winner here. My injuries were lowest this week so some of these numbers are likely to dip going forward but it was still a quality showing overall.

6. Make It Nashty - Danny (4-4)

Week Total: 7

Per Game: 4

Bench Scoring: 10

Injuries: 2

Transactions: 5

Standings: 5

Week 8 Total: 44

Season Average: 50 (7th)

Jumping five spots this week, Make It Nashty tallied just enough with 851 points on a brisk rate of 27.5 points per game in a close win over Pippen Aint Eazy. Danny's bench provided 171 while the team missed 18 games due to inactivity. Danny made no transactions this week.

We still have not seen this team at full strength so it is hard to blame the below average bench. The high per game average by the starters, however, indicates that there is capable talent on this team. If the injuries ever clear up and give way to solid depth, this team may become consistently good.

5. Balls to the Wall - Brett (5-3)

Week Total: 4

Per Game: 5

Bench Scoring: 12

Injuries: 5

Transactions: 5

Standings: 3

Week 8 Total: 43

Season Average: 46.5 (5th)

Slipping one spot this week, Balls to the Wall threw up 986 points on 27.4 points per game in a honorable loss to Team Penetration. Brett's bench could only chip in 122 with them missing 9 games this week. No transactions were made.

Balls to the Wall has subtly become one of the more consistent teams around. The starting lineup has been providing strong numbers for over a month now and it is beginning to show in the standings. As usual, the main thing holding this team back in the rankings is the poor bench. I believe resolving that issue will be the difference-maker for this team.

4. All-NBA 5th Team - Matt (5-3)

Week Total: 6

Per Game: 6

Bench Scoring: 3

Injuries: 6

Transactions: 1

Standings: 3

Week 8 Total: 37

Season Average: 38 (3rd)

Down one spot this week, All-NBA 5th Team scored 875 points at a pace of 27.3 points per game in a win over TimAint Duncan. Matt's bench was strong with 303 points while the team missed 8 games due to inactivity. Matt added 4.4 points per game this week by bringing on Courtney Lee to replace James Ennis and receiving Kyrie Irving in a trade for Avery Bradley. Unfortunately for All-NBA 5th Team, due to stat updates last week's tie was changed to a loss.

Matt's starting lineup was a bit down but MDUB still got the dub. The bench looked elite this week and All-NBA 5th Team topped the transaction market by acquiring Kyrie Irving in a trade, making this a strong week overall. Matt's squad has become a real finals threat.

3. Blow Me - Tyler (4-4)

Week Total: 2

Per Game: 3

Bench Scoring: 4

Injuries: 8

Transactions: 4

Standings: 5

Week 8 Total: 31

Season Average: 43.6 (4th)

Flying up five spots from last week, Blow Me dropped 1060 points on 29.4 per game scoring in a surprise win over Team Nipple. Tyler's bench added in 285 points while the team missed 8 games this week. Adding on Kelly Oubre Jr. to replace Dario Saric currently brings no change to Blow Me's per game average.

A big win from a team that is proving to be capable of big things. Blow Me put in elite scoring across all categories and toppled one of the top dogs. It will be interesting to see how often this can be replicated but, at the very least, Tyler's squad is clearly knocking on the championship contender door.

2. Team Nipple - Chris (6-2)

Week Total: 3

Per Game: 1

Bench Scoring: 8

Injuries: 6

Transactions: 3

Standings: 2

Week 8 Total: 27

Season Average: 26.3 (2nd)

Relinquishing the top spot this week, Team Nipple put up 1030 points on a league leading 31.2 points per game but it was not enough in a tough loss to Blow Me. Chris' bench added in 222 points of their own while the team missed 8 games due to inactivity. Team Nipple gained 0.8 points per game by picking up Luol Deng for Andrew Harrison. 

Another excruciating loss for the team that is still producing the highest per game average by the starting lineup. Maybe it is an issue of depth, maybe it is the nature of having so many must-start guys, maybe there is no issue at all and it a result of rotten luck. Regardless, this team is still elite and has the best core in the league. It will be interesting to see if that is ultimately enough.

1. Team Penetration - Michael (8-0)

Week Total: 1

Per Game: 2

Bench Scoring: 2

Injuries: 8

Transactions: 5

Standings: 1

Week 8 Total: 22

Season Average: 23.9 (1st)

Taking back the top spot, Team Penetration lead the league with 1133 points at a rate of 30.6 points per game. Michael's bench was also strong with 323 points while the team missed 6 games due to inactivity. Michael did not make a transaction this week.

At this point, we know where this team stands and it stands very tall. The bench and starting lineup alike are to tier and the undefeated record shows it. Team Penetration his the team to beat.