The NBA 2K League’s remote play system has brought the league plenty of excitement in its first two weeks, with some teams taking to the system quickly and others struggling in their first matchups. The hot takes have started to fly, so 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.
While numbers don’t lie, they also don’t show the whole picture. To remedy this, we threw a variety of those numbers at the wall, and this week’s featured number is average Fourth Quarter Point Differential.
These are a composite ranking of our own rankings, aggregated into one. Let’s get to it.
Not yet played: NetsGC
22. 76ers Gaming (0-6)
Last Week: 17 (of 19)
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: -6.7
While fans of the franchise have no choice but to cling onto the possibility that the team can turn it around, previous success does not have any bearing on this year’s title hopes. If the 76ers drop their upcoming game against Heat Check Gaming, there might not be enough morale left to climb out of this hole.
21. Grizz Gaming (0-4)
Last Week: 16
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: -4.1
Grizz Gaming had its heart broken twice this past week, dropping a competitive game against Heat Check Gaming in overtime before falling to Kings Guard Gaming on a buzzer-beater. Goofy has been vocal on social media after losses; expect him to have the type of standout performance his team needs to get over the hump this week.
20. Lakers Gaming (0-5)
Last Week: 18
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: -4.1
The hotel wi-fi has become so synonymous with the Lakers Gaming organization that it has taken over their identity after three weeks into the season. Nobody was expecting them knocks off the Warriors, but just like in Philadelphia, the Lakers must separate themselves from their peers this week in matchups against Pistons GT and Grizz Gaming.
19. Heat Check Gaming (1-4)
Last Week: 19
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: -2.7
King Peroxide was one point away from having Miami finish with all players in double digit scoring in both games. With GlenRatty facilitating to his teammates, Heat Check Gaming looked solid in week three. Coach Famous has not made excuses, but he has pointed out this is a new team, and perhaps this gets their confidence going.
18. Pistons GT (0-2)
Last Week: N/A
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: -4.3
It’s tricky to make your debut against two of the top ranked teams that have several games under their belts already, and Pistons GT found that out the hard way this past week. While it is still early, the development and maturation process of Detroit’s offense will be an interesting storyline to monitor.
17. Cavs Legion (1-3)
Last Week: 14
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: -0.6
Cavs Legion had to reschedule their game against CLTX Gaming due to connectivity issues, but questions surrounding their point guard position remains. The experimentation continues this week against Magic Gaming and Knicks Gaming.
16. CLTX Gaming (0-1)
Last Week: N/A
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: +3
Connectivity issues have plagued CLTX Gaming early in season three, and it reared its head throughout the team’s debut matchup against Knicks Gaming. It’s difficult to assess this team should their wi-fi issues persist, but with Fab at the helm, cause for concern is still far off.
15. Pacers Gaming (2-3)
Last Week: 15
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: +0.5
There was perhaps no better team at distributing their shot attempts than Pacers Gaming over the last four days. The approach was the same on the defensive end, with the team only one steal away from having every player record at least one takeaway in both games against 76ers GC.
14. Knicks Gaming (2-2)
Last Week: 13
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: -1.8
Credit to Knicks Gaming for fighting through the mental fatigue that comes with a delay in the middle of a series. Rookie point guard Duck is settling into his role as the leader of his team’s offensive attack. Will they be prepared to take on a rare three-game week?
13. Magic Gaming (1-2)
Last Week: 10
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: -1.7
Reizey struggled with his outside shot and some fans were calling for Toxsik to be given more opportunities after Magic Gaming failed to spoil Jazz Gaming’s debut. Orlando will likely focus on executing down the stretch after not being able to maintain impressive starts in each of their last two games.
12. Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai (2-2)
Last Week: 12
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: -0.9
Rookie point guard ShiftyKaii has been given the keys to the Tigers offense, and it has resulted in wins over struggling teams and close contests against higher-ranked squads. Until to this point, the franchise has done a solid job of navigating the treacherous waters that come with being an expansion team. Upcoming games against T-Wolves Gaming and Bucks Gaming will reveal more about Gen.G.
11. Bucks Gaming (2-2)
Last Week: 11
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: +1.6
Due to a bye week, Regg had to watch his draft class put up some impressive numbers, but after averaging nearly 40 points a game during week two, we are all excited to see what he does next. The spotlight could return on the confident rookie and the entire Bucks team if they can knock off the undefeated Blazer5 squad.
10. Jazz Gaming (1-0)
Last Week: N/A
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: +8.5
The trio of Splashy, Lotty, and Ria were extremely impressive in their debut against the aforementioned Magic Gaming. It is still early in the season for this roster, but a convincing win over a Magic Gaming team that looked solid in previous weeks is a great start.
9. Kings Guard Gaming (3-2)
Last Week: 9
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: +3.9
With only three weeks in the books, the fourth quarter stats in the chart above is most relevant for teams in the middle portion of the rankings. If you remove CLTX Gaming and Jazz Gaming due to sample size, Kings Guard Gaming has allowed the fewest fourth quarter points per game. They are an early sleeper team that has a real chance at shaking up the league.
8. T-Wolves Gaming (3-1)
Last Week: 7
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: -3.5
Admittedly, the fourth quarter averages can be deceiving when it comes to the defending champs, who can afford to take their foot off the pedal late in games. Their single drop in the rankings is more of a testament to the Hornets’ breakout week. Look for this team to steal the spotlight back with upcoming bouts against Mavs Gaming and the Gen.G Tigers.
7. Hornets Venom GT (3-2)
Last Week: 8
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: +3.9
A massive win against the previously undefeated Mavs Gaming and pushing Wizards District Gaming to the limit is enough proof that this team is legit. Combine that with their valiant effort against Raptors Uprising, and it’ll be exciting to see what they can do against the rest of the league.
6. Hawks Talon GC (3-2)
Last Week: 4
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: +2.4
For a moment, it looked like the Hawks could hang with the juggernaut in Toronto, but a few miscues were all it took for them to fall. Hawks Talon lost six of seven quarters to the Raptors by three points or less. If this team can effectively make use of its bye week to regroup and recover, they should be dangerous the rest of the way.
5. Blazer5 Gaming (2-0)
Last Week: 5
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: +4.2
It has been a while since we have seen Blazer5 in action, but we would not be surprised if they reintroduced themselves to the world in a dominant fashion. With Mama Im Dat Man making history with his newly acquired sponsorship, there’s a lot of momentum here headed into their three-game-week. But that’s business as usual for Blazer5 Gaming.
4. Mavs Gaming (4-1)
Last Week: 3
Fourth Quarter Point Differential Average: +2
Despite a disappointing end to their undefeated start, Mavs Gaming has an opportunity to quickly regain their stride against the defending champions. A devastating third quarter proved to be their undoing in the Charlotte series.
3. Wizards District Gaming (4-1)
Last Week: 6
Fourth Quarter Point Differential: +1.6
The signs have been there all along. Washington is still the team to have been the closest to defeating Raptors Uprising GC, and this past week they got past surging Hornets Venom GT. Similar to the two teams ranked above them, there is a fun possibility that these teams don’t lose again for the remainder of the published schedule.
2. Warriors Gaming Squad (5-0)
Last Week: 2
Fourth Quarter Point Differential: +3.9
It’s disappointing to see that neither of the top two teams in our rankings will be in action this week. With defensive stops being difficult to come by for most squads, this team can lock down when it counts the most. If CB13 is also dropping a 50 bomb, of course, things can quickly unravel for any team they match up against.
1. Raptors Uprising GC (6-0)
Last Week: 1
Fourth Quarter Point Differential: +4.3
Only a bye week could stop this well-oiled machine up North. The Raptors are slowly—or quickly—chipping away at the idea that teams cannot put too much stock into rapport when building a team.