Post by Memphis Bears on May 3, 2015 2:11:58 GMT -5
Power Rankings:
1. New York Empire - (9-0)
Offense: 96.7 Points per game (8th in the league)
Defense: 71.9 Points per game (1st in the league)
The Empire are putting up a historic season this year. The team is led by, arguably, the greatest defensive team that the JBA has ever seen. Off-season acquisition, Sang Peters, is leading the way by scoring 18.9 PPG. The league's second place scoring defense gives up nearly 17 more points per game than New York is this year. That gives you an idea of how dominant this defense has been. The team's offense has been middle-of-the-road, shooting only .289 from beyond-the-arc. Keep an eye on this team forward. General Manager Jeremy Sexton is hoping for his team to break some records this season. "I think we have a chance to break the wins record this year." The record for wins is 18, and it was set in season two by Denver and was tied in season 3 by Baltimore. This season is the highest amount of games in league history (24), but the Empire are well on their way to a record-breaking season.
2. Phoenix Beats - (5-4)
Offense: 101.7 PPG (4th in the league)
Defense: 95.2 PPG (5th in the league)
Phoenix is only one game above .500, but they have been a solid team that plays top-five offense and defense. The Beats are being led by PF Ashley Hodges, who is having a resurgence this year by averaging 18.4 PPG. Hodges is shooting a blistering .612 from the field.
3. Detroit Hoodrats - (5-4)
Offense: 107.9 PPG (1st in the league)
Defense: 100.9 PPG (11th in the league)
NtG and the Detroit franchise have enjoyed being one of the most historically significant organizations in the history of the JBA. A team typically known for its defensive play, has flipped the switch and becomes the league's most potent offense this season. Boasting two of the top three scorers in the league (Connie Wiggins and Bobbie Langford) has landed the Hoodrats right back in contention again this season. Wiggins leads the league at 23.2 PPG, while Langford has had a resurgence with 21.2 PPG. Off-season free agent signing and wily veteran gun-slinger Zachary Champagne has put together a nice campaign as well, posting 19.2 PPG (6th in the JBA).
4. Portland Fireballs - (4-5)
Offense: 97.3 PPG (7th in the league)
Defense: 97.5 PPG (7th in the league)
The Fireballs are a game under .500, but have showed signs of being a true contender this season. The team is in the middle of the pack in scoring offense and defense, but does boast rooking sensation PF Darnell Hoopes. Hoopes is 10th in the league in scoring at 18.9 PPG, while posting an offensive rating of 125. Hoopes will need help from his talented back-court if the Fireballs are going to contend in the post-season, as off-season signing Trenton Jack struggles with 14.1 ppg. Jack is playing out of position at the 3, but with Pasquale Jenkins and Nathaniel Stephens taking up minutes in the back-court, the position is very crowded. This should be an interesting situation to watch unfold.
5. Baltimore Braves - (6-3)
Offense: 105.5 PPG (3rd in the league)
Defense: 100.9 (12th in the league)
The Braves are fresh off of an 18-win season last year, and are hoping for more of the same success this season. The team is being led by former Philadelphia PG Cornell Landers (18.4 PPG and a 109 Offensive Rating). The Braves have been known for post play, so will the addition of Landers be enough to land this franchise its first JBA championship trophy?
6. Philadelphia Freedom - (4-5)
Offense: 89.3 PPG (14th in the league)
Defense: 88.4 PPG (2nd in the league)
Philadelphia boasts the league's second-best defense, but the team has struggled to put up the offensive fireworks that it has in the past. Center and team MVP Salvatore Carmichael has led the way though, by ranking fourth in the league in scroing with 20.8 PPG. Carmichael has an offensive rating of 117, but the rest of his teammates need to step up in order for Philadelphia to break away from the pack. Former New York Empire guard Lloyd Brewer is second on the team in scroing with 16.7 PPG, but he has an under league-average Offensive rating of 97.
7. Denver Fury - (4-5)
Offense: 97.5 (6th in the league)
Defense: 100.7 (10th in the league)
Denver has shown signs of dominance, but has also had periods of bad basketball. The Fury, the team with the best regular season winning % in league history, hopes to turn things around as they re-tool their roster. Reigning league MVP Bradly Whitehead has shown no signs of slowing down, as he is second in the league in scoring with 21.9 PPG. Whitehead is in the running for another MVP award and has an unbelievable 126 Offensive Rating.
8. Kansas City Kings - (3-6)
Offense: 93.1 PPG (12th in the league)
Defense: 94 PPG (4th in the league)
Kansas City is the highest ranked of the four new expansion teams that entered the league this season. This ranking is justified by a team that plays good and fundamental basketball while having one of the best scoring defenses in the league. While the team doesn't have any true superstars, Waldo Humphrey is a name to watch out for as he leads the team with 17.9 PPG.
9. Memphis Bears - (5-4)
Offense: 97.9 PPG (5th in the league)
Defense: 100.9 PPG (13th in the league)
Disappointment is the word used by Memphis GM Jimmy Flint to sum up the season thus far. The defending champions have had a target on their back all year long and haven't been able to handle the pressure. Last season's scoring champion, SF Burton Messer has struggled in his new role in Memphis to the tune of only 15 PPG. Messer, Carmine Green and Freddy Baca are all having tough seasons as the Bears have been under .500 on two occasion this season. Will the Bears turn things around?
10. Houston Jets - (5-4)
Offense: 107 PPG (2nd in the league)
Defense: 102.3 PPG (15th in the league)
11. Boston Rebels - (3-6)
Offense: 89.2 PPG (15th in the league)
Defense: 93.7 PPG (3rd in the league)
12. Columbus Blood Wolves - (4-5)
Offense: 89.8 PPG (13th in the league)
Defense: 95.8 PPG (6th in the league)
13. Cincinnati Silverbacks - (5-4)
Offense: 94.4 PPG (9th in the league)
Defense: 99.3 PPG (9th in the league)
14. Las Vegas Money $hots - (3-6)
Offense: 87.5 PPG (16th in the league)
Defense: 98.3 PPG (8th in the league)
15. Chicago Spitfires - (4-5)
Offense: 94.1 PPG (11th in the league)
Defense: 100.9 PPG (14th in the league)
16. Los Angeles Wave - (3-6)
Offense: 94.1 PPG (10th in the league)
Defense: 102.44 PPG (16th in the league)
1. New York Empire - (9-0)
Offense: 96.7 Points per game (8th in the league)
Defense: 71.9 Points per game (1st in the league)
The Empire are putting up a historic season this year. The team is led by, arguably, the greatest defensive team that the JBA has ever seen. Off-season acquisition, Sang Peters, is leading the way by scoring 18.9 PPG. The league's second place scoring defense gives up nearly 17 more points per game than New York is this year. That gives you an idea of how dominant this defense has been. The team's offense has been middle-of-the-road, shooting only .289 from beyond-the-arc. Keep an eye on this team forward. General Manager Jeremy Sexton is hoping for his team to break some records this season. "I think we have a chance to break the wins record this year." The record for wins is 18, and it was set in season two by Denver and was tied in season 3 by Baltimore. This season is the highest amount of games in league history (24), but the Empire are well on their way to a record-breaking season.
2. Phoenix Beats - (5-4)
Offense: 101.7 PPG (4th in the league)
Defense: 95.2 PPG (5th in the league)
Phoenix is only one game above .500, but they have been a solid team that plays top-five offense and defense. The Beats are being led by PF Ashley Hodges, who is having a resurgence this year by averaging 18.4 PPG. Hodges is shooting a blistering .612 from the field.
3. Detroit Hoodrats - (5-4)
Offense: 107.9 PPG (1st in the league)
Defense: 100.9 PPG (11th in the league)
NtG and the Detroit franchise have enjoyed being one of the most historically significant organizations in the history of the JBA. A team typically known for its defensive play, has flipped the switch and becomes the league's most potent offense this season. Boasting two of the top three scorers in the league (Connie Wiggins and Bobbie Langford) has landed the Hoodrats right back in contention again this season. Wiggins leads the league at 23.2 PPG, while Langford has had a resurgence with 21.2 PPG. Off-season free agent signing and wily veteran gun-slinger Zachary Champagne has put together a nice campaign as well, posting 19.2 PPG (6th in the JBA).
4. Portland Fireballs - (4-5)
Offense: 97.3 PPG (7th in the league)
Defense: 97.5 PPG (7th in the league)
The Fireballs are a game under .500, but have showed signs of being a true contender this season. The team is in the middle of the pack in scoring offense and defense, but does boast rooking sensation PF Darnell Hoopes. Hoopes is 10th in the league in scoring at 18.9 PPG, while posting an offensive rating of 125. Hoopes will need help from his talented back-court if the Fireballs are going to contend in the post-season, as off-season signing Trenton Jack struggles with 14.1 ppg. Jack is playing out of position at the 3, but with Pasquale Jenkins and Nathaniel Stephens taking up minutes in the back-court, the position is very crowded. This should be an interesting situation to watch unfold.
5. Baltimore Braves - (6-3)
Offense: 105.5 PPG (3rd in the league)
Defense: 100.9 (12th in the league)
The Braves are fresh off of an 18-win season last year, and are hoping for more of the same success this season. The team is being led by former Philadelphia PG Cornell Landers (18.4 PPG and a 109 Offensive Rating). The Braves have been known for post play, so will the addition of Landers be enough to land this franchise its first JBA championship trophy?
6. Philadelphia Freedom - (4-5)
Offense: 89.3 PPG (14th in the league)
Defense: 88.4 PPG (2nd in the league)
Philadelphia boasts the league's second-best defense, but the team has struggled to put up the offensive fireworks that it has in the past. Center and team MVP Salvatore Carmichael has led the way though, by ranking fourth in the league in scroing with 20.8 PPG. Carmichael has an offensive rating of 117, but the rest of his teammates need to step up in order for Philadelphia to break away from the pack. Former New York Empire guard Lloyd Brewer is second on the team in scroing with 16.7 PPG, but he has an under league-average Offensive rating of 97.
7. Denver Fury - (4-5)
Offense: 97.5 (6th in the league)
Defense: 100.7 (10th in the league)
Denver has shown signs of dominance, but has also had periods of bad basketball. The Fury, the team with the best regular season winning % in league history, hopes to turn things around as they re-tool their roster. Reigning league MVP Bradly Whitehead has shown no signs of slowing down, as he is second in the league in scoring with 21.9 PPG. Whitehead is in the running for another MVP award and has an unbelievable 126 Offensive Rating.
8. Kansas City Kings - (3-6)
Offense: 93.1 PPG (12th in the league)
Defense: 94 PPG (4th in the league)
Kansas City is the highest ranked of the four new expansion teams that entered the league this season. This ranking is justified by a team that plays good and fundamental basketball while having one of the best scoring defenses in the league. While the team doesn't have any true superstars, Waldo Humphrey is a name to watch out for as he leads the team with 17.9 PPG.
9. Memphis Bears - (5-4)
Offense: 97.9 PPG (5th in the league)
Defense: 100.9 PPG (13th in the league)
Disappointment is the word used by Memphis GM Jimmy Flint to sum up the season thus far. The defending champions have had a target on their back all year long and haven't been able to handle the pressure. Last season's scoring champion, SF Burton Messer has struggled in his new role in Memphis to the tune of only 15 PPG. Messer, Carmine Green and Freddy Baca are all having tough seasons as the Bears have been under .500 on two occasion this season. Will the Bears turn things around?
10. Houston Jets - (5-4)
Offense: 107 PPG (2nd in the league)
Defense: 102.3 PPG (15th in the league)
11. Boston Rebels - (3-6)
Offense: 89.2 PPG (15th in the league)
Defense: 93.7 PPG (3rd in the league)
12. Columbus Blood Wolves - (4-5)
Offense: 89.8 PPG (13th in the league)
Defense: 95.8 PPG (6th in the league)
13. Cincinnati Silverbacks - (5-4)
Offense: 94.4 PPG (9th in the league)
Defense: 99.3 PPG (9th in the league)
14. Las Vegas Money $hots - (3-6)
Offense: 87.5 PPG (16th in the league)
Defense: 98.3 PPG (8th in the league)
15. Chicago Spitfires - (4-5)
Offense: 94.1 PPG (11th in the league)
Defense: 100.9 PPG (14th in the league)
16. Los Angeles Wave - (3-6)
Offense: 94.1 PPG (10th in the league)
Defense: 102.44 PPG (16th in the league)