Power Rankings Weeks 9 and 10

Weeks 9 & 10

What a strange couple of weeks.  The alternate universe-like performances seen in week 10 compared to week 9 is enough to make you think that instead of a road bump, perhaps we're verging on an upheaval of epic proportions.

1. So after Dark Horse pummels Merlness in a clash of titans after week 9, but then himself gets taken behind the woodshed in week 10 by Dream Team, who stands alone? Dark Horse, that's who. Here's a replay of the match ->

One off week by a team that had won five weeks in a row by an average of over 6 points isn't enough to change that.  It is enough to take notice, however, that Dark Horse - who only has 2 moves to his name, may need to actually start playing fantasy basketball instead of trying to ride his horse from draft night.



2. So now the question is does Dream Team sit at the right hand of Dark Horse or has he not shown the level of consistency that Merlness had prior to a Dark Horse smack down.  Merlness had been riding high for six straight weeks, then two unusual losses, then a bounce back win against P.A.E. Sorry Merlness, you have relinquished your princely crown to Dream Team. Yes, he has lost three out of his last five games, but thrashing DH gives him some cred.  The kind of cred our #3 used to have.

3. Merlness, where oh, where have you gone? If you think Dark Horse never made moves, meet Merlness. One move this whole season, but like Dark Horse it has worked to his favor for the most part.  But with his point guards floating back down to reality, that whole guard hype is looking more 2010 than 2011.

4. Cliphairs has been quietly amassing Ws while the big three have been duking it out. Aside from some forgettable losses to Sho-nuff and Repeatabulls, he has enjoyed three solid Ws the last three weeks including wins against Merlness and DreamTeam.

5. Team Canada has been getting the Ws against teams he should be getting Ws against, but what is most impressive is that he's doing this in spite of a roster that suffered critical injuries to key players.  With at least two more weeks of playing chumps, there's no reason he can't make a case for himself among the elites.

6. Cocaine Convict, this team has managed to keep from imploding and is hanging around the table waiting for table scraps.  He has lost five of the last six weeks. So how is he above Big Country who has been winning at an alarming rate? Well Cocaine Convict has just come through the roughest stretch of his schedule and hasn't taken too bad of a hit. He's still within striking range. Our #7 team on the other hand...

7. Big Country has worked himself up from the bottom of the barrel and now stands on the edge of playoffs.Winning six of the last eight weeks.  This all sounds amazing, unfortunately it's little more than smoke and mirrors. A parlor trick by an unmagical magician.  Unfortunately for him he is staring down a stretch that includes Pohn Wall, perennial giant killer, Merlness, DreamTeam, Cliphairs, and Dark Horse.  This is a formula that can only lead to Big Country's demise.

8.  Pippen Ain't Easy is only getting the nod over Pohn because he narrowly beat him in week 9.  Otherwise, his upcoming schedule isn't likely to look kindly on this one.  It's a good sign that DWade has been playing well, but if he wants any chance of beating DreamTeam this week or sneaking into the playoffs, he's going to have to take some serious action.

9. After incredible victories over Dream Team and Clip Hairs, Pohn Wall has been on a skid.  He did win handily against bottom dweller, DNP, but that's not enough for us to think Pohn has still got it.  Looks like Pohn may not be in the playoffs for first time in league history at this rate.

10. For the second time in four weeks, Gone Fishin' has pulled out a W.  Too bad it's also the second time in 10 weeks.

11.  As I predicted after week one or two, this team is heading nowhere but down. Repeatabulls started this year with some incredible luck that he unfortunately hasn't been able to, er, repeat.

12. Averaging a little over two points over the last four weeks means bottom dweller for DNP-Coach's Decision.

13. Where's Leon? No really, Where's Leon?

Happy 2011 to all of you.