16.  Jedi Ballers

Record: 0-2

Previous Rank: 15

With a league low 43 points through two games and shooting below 15% from the field, I can’t justify putting any team ahead of these guys.  Jedi Ballers also happens to be one of two teams to be shooting a higher percentage from beyond the arch then inside (the other team being Jumpmen).  I still haven’t gotten a chance to watch these guys play because all their games have been at the same time as my games.   Unless Talha Ahmed and Alizain Parekh pick up their game, I expect another blowout this week when play Flyboys.   

 

15.  Ranun

Record 0-2 

Previous Rank: 13

After getting blown out in the first two games by combined 63 points, I don’t really have a choice but to put these guys last in my rankings.  In their defense, they didn’t have a full roster in week one and one the missing players was their current leading scorer Bernard Selenga.  That being said, it’s hard to judge this team too much because they’ve just played two of the toughest teams in D3.  Ranun has a critical matchup against another struggling team this week (DWA) in a battle of the winless.  My advice, focus a little big more the defensive end of the floor.  70 points is the most points given up a team in consecutive games in D3…in any season. 

 

14.  Bless Up

Record: 0-2

Previous Rank: 10

I watched Humza Bhakrani throw his hand in the air making dua for the success of his team prior to his game.  His prayer was answered in the form of a buzzer beater at the end of the game to avoid a 20-point loss.    While Humza Bhakrani is the heart and soul of this team, Aamer Javed the engine that keeps the motor running.  His ability to control the offense will dictate how far this team goes and how many games they win.  That being said, I expect another loss in blowout fashion this week as they play Jumpmen.

 

13.  DWA

Record: 0-2

Previous Rank: 9

“Who care about winning?”

Those are the exact words Hadi Kassamali yelled out as his team was running lay-up lines.  What an inspirational leader!   What compelled him to make that ridiculous statement?  Well, we were talking about MVP and how the award usually goes to the best player on the best team.  The self proclaimed MVP went on to talk discuss reasons he should win the award (reasons I will waste your time on because frankly…they were terrible).    Here’s something kind of interesting; only one team that’s started 0-2 has gone on to make the playoffs since teams had to qualify to make the playoffs in D3. 

 

12.  Ballaholics

Record: 0-2

Previous Rank: 16

The offense looks forced and there seems to be little to no flow on that end of the court.  I’m not quite sure what the problem is because it’s not like they have a talent deficiency.  I guess this is what happens when you make a free agent team?  My advice to coach Walker, run the offense through David Rutledge.  Although I’ve only played against him once in a pick up game, I noted a few things.  First of all, he’s one of the better athletes in D3.  Secondly, he knows how to get into the seams of defenses and make plays.  Why am I giving a team I’m about to play advice? 

 

11.  The Crew

Record: 1-1

Previous Rank: 12

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STOP SHOOTING 3s FELLAS.  I feel like this the Steph Curry effect, guys who shouldn’t be shooting from deep are doing just that.  At only 13.2% from beyond the arc, it’s pretty obvious that’s not their range.  Not one person on this team has made more than 2 triples through 2 games.  Although they did manage to get a win this past week, I’m guessing this week is going to be another blowout against It-Tihad.  Even though these guys are a surprisingly good rebounding team, It-Tihad is just bigger, stronger, and better. 

 

10.  Flyboys

Record: 1-1

Previous Rank: 5

Impressive win in the opener followed by an absolute dud in week 2.  I can’t falter them too much because I really didn’t expect them to win, but I did expect a little bit more of a fight.   One area of concern is the free throw shooting.  Only AK has gone to the charity stripe more than Flyboys, but this team has shot a league low 32% from there.  I’m willing to bet I can do better with my off-hand in as many attempts (31).  Again, it’s hard to judge them too much because the opponent matters, hopefully this week will be a different story.  If you like watching a high-octane offensive show, I would watch a different game.  The leagues two worst scoring teams (Flyboys and Jedi Ballers) face off on Sunday in a battle to see who can score fewer points. 

 

9.  Tera Baap

Record: 1-1

Previous Rank: 11

Another one of those teams that just struggles to score.  Although they’re not the worst offensive team, that’s not really much consolation when you consider the fact that they’re only marginally better than the teams below them.  Against Ballaholics, only 3 players managed to even score.  The team as a whole scored 33 points, 20 of those came from Mujahid Haque.  There’s no way this team makes the playoff if the scoring distribution is so disproportionate.  The two guys I think that have to step up are Abdul Fuad and Ali Akhtar. 

 

8.   Netflix and Chai

Record: 1-1

Previous Rank: 7

A little too much Netflix and Chai prior to their game against Jumpmen.  Before the season started, I was told that Waqas Khan would step up his game and be more of a threat offensively.  Well…I’m waiting.   With a point per game average of 3, he’s actually taken a step back (which by the way I didn’t think was possible).  Anyways, these guys are a surprisingly bad rebounding team even though they’re one the bigger teams.  There doesn’t seem to be any post presence whatsoever and most of the time the offense just looks cluttered.  Smart money says they slide even deeper in the rankings after losing to AK this Sunday. 

 

7.   Naan Stop

Record: 1-1

Previous Rank: 6

After basically getting lit up to a tune of 39 points by Sheraz Kari, I can’t wait for this Sunday to take out my frustration (I’ve already let out some of it on a few of the lower ranked teams).  Turnover have been an issue so far (myself being the primary culprit), but the rebounding effort of Amin Momand (league leader in rebounds) has kept my team in games.   Well, that and the offense of Waqas Anis and Kareem Madkour.  Overall though, some of the other players like Bassem Rashidi and Omar Madkour have to step up and look to be more aggressive.  I feel like they’re playing a little tentative.  I expect them to come out strong in this week’s game against Ballaholics. 

 

6.   AK Trey

Record: 1-1

Previous Rank: 2

I’m ranking these guys this low as sort of a formality.  I do think they’re better than the record suggests however, these rankings reflect current record and play, not projected record and potential.  AK still has Feroze Oomerjee, who I think is one of the top 5 two-way players in D3.  They still have the best posting big man in D3, Deep Bhavasar (when he feels like posting up).  I haven’t mentioned Sameer “Kobe Bryant” Molve (at least that’s what I think the nick name was a few seasons ago).   I honestly don’t think they’ll dip any more in the rankings for the rest of the season. 

 

5.   Team Champa

Record: 2-0

Previous Rank: 8

Think about this for a minute, if the season ended right now, Abdulgafur Math would end up as the MVP and Most Improved Player.  He has been playing out of his mind in the first two games averaging 30 points while shooting a blistering 56% from the field.  In D3 those number are unheard of.   To put things in perspective, he’s scored as many points as the team I had ranked 5th in the preseason rankings (Flyboys).   Now I don’t want to get carried away here because it’s only been two weeks and Champa’s schedule has been relatively weak but, they’ve taken care of business so far and thus they move up in my rankings. 

 

4.   Who’s Next

Record: 2-0

Previous Rank: 3

I think the role players on this team need to decide what’s more important to them…winning or getting more shots for themselves.  After their win against my team, I caught a few of their player complaining about Sheraz Kari taking too many shots.  Let me put it this way, if Sheraz takes, oh I don’t know…lets say 20 shots as apposed to 30…this team walks away with a loss.   The 39 points by Sheraz against me was enough to outscore 7 of the teams playing this past Sunday.   I said in my preseason edition that the structure of this team reminded me a lot of the OKC Thunder.  Let me ask you this, how much better is that OKC team if Westbrook and Durant shoot less to let guys like Andre Roberson and Steven Adams take on more responsibility offensively?  Yeah, that’s what I thought. 

 

3.   2Nyce

Record: 2-0

Previous Rank: 4

2Nyce is number one in D3 in both points, rebounds, and assists.  The Qureshi brothers are 1 and 2 in the assist category.  Their combined margin of victory through two games is 53.  Oh and by the way, Asif Qureshi just missed getting the second triple double in the history D3 by 3 assists in the opener (it would have the been the first triple double during the season).  I’m starting to question why I have 2 teams ahead of these guys.  Well, level of competition counts for something I guess.  I think this week is a playoff-type match-up between 2Nyce and Champa.  This is easily the game of the week right here. 

 

2.   Jumpmen

Record: 2-0

Previous Rank: 14

I was tempted to keep these guys at 14th just to annoy Mostafa Rashid, but I decided against it because they’ve earned this spot.  I still hear teams saying they’re a one-on-one team.  I don’t think that brings them down because of the talent they have.  They have at least 2 guys that can create their own shot (Mostafa and Alexis Rivera) and one I haven’t seen enough of to be able to tell (Ray Castro).  In terms of both makes and percentage they’re the number one team in D3 for 3-point shooting.  Since they’ve already beaten AK, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they went undefeated the rest of the season. 

 

1.   It-Tihad

Record: 2-0

Previous Rank: 1

Although I haven’t been doing power ranking for the past couple season, I’ve done enough to know how this team stacks up compared to past teams.  Here’s what I think: aside from 2Nyce, Jumpmen, and AK, none of the other teams have even a puncher chance of beating these guys.  Never have I seen a team so complete.  Want proof?  They’re the only team in the history of D3 that’s in the top 5 in all 5 statistically categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and block).  Oh and by the way, remember when I hyped up Ibrahim Elaffas in my last rankings, well he had 11 steals to start the season.  Another neat little stat: since D3 started no player has had more steals through two games than Ibrahim. 

 

That's it for this week.  See you all on Sunday!