My problem with power rankings
First, it causes too many people to go (as my friend Scooter would say) ape-poopy. WNBA.com released its first power ranking list yesterday and the West is all a-shambles right now.
- 1. LA (1-0)
- 2. Seattle (2-0)
- 4. San Antonio (1-1)
- 5. Minnesota (1-0)
- 6. Sacramento (1-1)
- 9. Phoenix (0-2)
Okay, now let’s look at how I think (and I know you necessarily weren’t asking me) power rankings should go. Yes, Candace Parker was great in her first game, but it’s still the only game that the Los Angeles Sparks have played. Lisa Leslie played a great first comeback game and Sidney Spencer had a great shooting first half and finished with 14 points, but it’s still one game against the defending champs, who have dropped to 9th based on two losses (Los Angeles, @ San Antonio) to championship-contending teams.
So is Phoenix bad or good but struggling. My main problem with power rankings is it seems as though too much is placed on potential. Phoenix opened against two strong teams, one of whom lost to a team ranked below them (San Antonio @ Sacramento), but of course, road losses should be less damaging.
I don’t have a problem with the rankings (per se), I have a problem with the reaction to them (which it seems like I’m perpetuating, but alas).
Tags: "power rankings", "sidney spencer", candace-parker, lisa-leslie, los-angeles-sparks, minnesota-lynx, phoenix-mercury, sacramento-monarchs, san-antonio-silver-stars, seattle-storm, WNBA, wnba-basketball, womens-basketball
1 opinion for My problem with power rankings
doesn't matter
Jul 7, 2008 at 5:39 am
You have to understand that Sparks were top in the “Pre-season” Power rankings, so you can’t really stress on the fact that they’re top after one game…and of course, a road game at the defending champions would obviously give them a higher score…
But then, i don’t look much into such rankings considering the fact that it’s simply the opinion of one of the admins on wnba.com and i really don’t know why people go up in arms when they see this.
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