It’s almost time for another week of NBA 2K League action, and you know what that means: power rankings. In an attempt to make everyone angry sort through what should be a competitive season, we’ll be ranking each team based on a number of factors: results, quality of play, strength of schedule and so on. Results aren’t everything, otherwise we’d just copy and paste the league standings into here.
These are a composite ranking of our three writers’ own rankings, aggregated into one. Let’s get to it.
21. Grizz Gaming, (0-3 regular season record, 0-5 overall record), last week: 20
Grizz Gaming is currently averaging under 50 points per game, which is, uh, poor, to say the least. Vandi looks to be getting more comfortable as the go-to guy, but the uncreative Grizz system is hurting this team badly.
20. Wizards District Gaming, (0-3, 1-4), LW: 18
If it weren’t for Grizz Gaming, this would probably be the worst offense in the league right now. The big question is whether they stick with their week two lineup change or go back to the “expected” lineup.
19. Knicks Gaming, (0-1, 1-2), LW: 19
They got a break in week two so they stay put. Games against Magic Gaming and Pistons GT will give them tough tests.
18. Lakers Gaming, (1-2, 2-3), LW: 15
They split last week’s games but mostly move down because teams below them looked a bit more impressive. Big questions remain about how Kontrul will continue to play at point guard.
17. Raptors Uprising GC, (0-2, 1-4), LW: 14
The Raptors got a much-needed bye week to try and figure out what’s going on with their offense. The obvious solution is for Doza to up his scoring. He has games against T-Wolves Gaming and Nets GC to try and do that.
16. Jazz Gaming, (1-2, 2-3), LW: 17
Yeah I Compete looked like a more aggressive scorer, and the Jazz were a better team for it. It also doesn’t hurt that Gliz looks to be an excellent shooter. The Jazz get a bye week to gel that combination a bit more.
15. Kings Guard Gaming, (2-2, 2-4), LW: 16
This team is a sneaky 2-2. BP continues to look like one of, if not the best rookie point guards in the league with 21.8 points per game. The Kings have one of their toughest weeks of the season with games against Celtics Crossover Gaming and 76ers Gaming.
14. Magic Gaming, (0-2, 3-3), LW: 10
The Magic are back in action against Knicks Gaming and T-Wolves Gaming in week three. If they want to get back on the playoff trail, at least one win is going to be crucial here. The good news is Reizy looks to be firing on all cylinders.
13. Pistons GT, (1-2, 1-4), LW: 21
We wrote last week that Jaacko needs to be a shot in the arm for the Pistons. He was that and then some, and excellent showings from MrStylez and May didn’t hurt either. Now it’s about showing consistency with games against Knicks Gaming and Cavs Legion GC this week.
12. Hawks Talon GC, (2-1, 2-3), LW: 13
An up-and-down week for a team that people should be much higher on than they were just two weeks ago. Rando has a week three bye to get more comfortable at the point guard position, though he has already looked pretty good there. They might be a Dat Boy Shotz suspension away from 3-0.
11. Celtics Crossover Gaming, (0-1, 4-2), LW: 9
They have to go up against 76ers Gaming without oFab, followed by a matchup that they can’t overlook in Kings Guard Gaming. This week is an important one for the Celtics.
10. Cavs Legion GC, (2-2, 3-3), LW: 6
The Cavs followed up their hot 2-0 start with two losses. Strainer will have to play better than he did in week two if this team wants to beat Blazer5 Gaming and Pistons GT.
9. T-Wolves Gaming, (1-1, 2-3), LW: 7
The return of BearDaBeast and Hood is always a good thing for viewers. Opposing teams may not agree so much. They have two winnable games against Raptors Uprising and Magic Gaming.
8. Nets GC, (2-0, 3-1), LW: 8
This team looks good so far. We’ll get to see what they’re really about when they face off against Blazer5 Gaming on Friday night.
7. Mavs Gaming, (3-0, 4-1), LW: 11
They’re 3-0 with a paltry schedule. Their biggest test of the season so far comes against Heat Check Gaming. We’ll get a peek at how this team really stacks up with the league’s best in that one.
6. Warriors Gaming Squad, (2-1, 3-2), LW: 5
Sorely missed the post defense of Type against Blazer5 and OneWildWalnut. The good news is they get a bye week to give the big man time to come back.
5. Blazer5 Gaming, (2-1, 3-1), LW: 12
Blazer5 is back. Not that they probably ever left. But a failure to make it out of their Tipoff group and an opening week loss to Bucks Gaming had plenty of people (including us) down on this team more than we should have been. Mama Im Dat Man and Walnut are as good as ever.
4. Heat Check Gaming, (2-1, 4-3), LW: 2
The Bucks got the best of this team, but Heat Check Gaming is still a team that gets major contributions from every player every game, and that alone makes them one of the best in the league. Their toughest game of week three will come against 3-0 Mavs Gaming.
3. Bucks Gaming, (3-1, 4-3), LW: 4
What a win over Heat Check Gaming that was. Unfortunately, they may have overlooked Pistons GT in anticipation of that matchup with Miami, and that could be the reason they’re not 4-0 right now. Still, it should be beyond doubt that the Bucks are legit at this point.
2. Pacers Gaming, (3-0, 5-1), LW: 3
This may shock you, but Pacers Gaming rode its stellar defense to two wins in week two. They let up only 50 points per game against the Cavs and Pistons and got enough out of their offense to get the wins. This is a team no one wants to face.
1. 76ers GC, (1-0, 6-0), LW: 1
The Tipoff champs are back. After handling business in week one, they got a nice break to prepare for the Fab-less Celtics and inconsistent Kings. That doesn’t bode well for the aforementioned teams.