They Are who We Thought They Were
GILBERT DRAFT: Week 2 Power Rankings
By Chris Walker | Arizona Regional Coordinator
It's Week 2 in Gilbert, and, for Week 1 at least, teams more or less were who we thought they were. Let's see if there are any changes heading into Week 2.
1. Drip Too Hard
Whatever it is that's dripping (I don't dare guess) flooded out Week 1, as Adam Bickerstaff and company won by an impressive 22 points against a temporarily fractured Road Runners squad. Nothing suggests they're slowing back to a trickle any time soon.
2. Team James (aka "The Chris Walkers", their request not mine 🤷♂️)
In perhaps every single player here's first time playing together, Melvin Orji and company pulled out a big W without potential sharpshooter Danny Sievers. Given the commish's magic touch as GM (and apparently team muse), I expect big things of these guys.
3. D4G
Team effort in Week 1, but there's one big name that jumps out here: Carlos Nosie, who in his last three games (dating back to summer is averaging 42-plus points per game and seven 3's per game on better than 50 percent beyond the arc. Someone check this man, or feel his wrath again quickly.
4. Full-Court Pressure
Never pretty when you're first-round pick goes down for the season Week 1, particularly not when it's recent MVP finalist & floor general Anthony Smith. Enter Chris Hilton Allen, who brings out of retirement physical play and a fierce competitive fire to keep the troops on course. I have faith captain Seth Wampler can rise to the occasion.
5. Terror Squad
Considering Monte Jones, Eric Mosley, and Ray Estrella just won the Gilbert regular season championship last season and the only thing that's changed is MVP Finalist Calvin Logins Sr taking Mosley's place, this squad could be nasty. They played entirely without Monte and with a very I'll Calvin getting out 44 minutes and still almost got the W Week 1 vs "The Chris Walkers", so look out 👀
6. Generation Z
Easily the youngest starting five in draft history (only one is even 20), the baby faced crew has some bumps to take before glory comes their way, but for a group that may not even have started shaving yet, the talent and the fire are there. I love to throw shade his way, but shout out to Thomas Aranda.
7. Road Runners
The return of captain Tae Fox along with just having 5 in general should go a long way toward moving these guys up the rankings quickly here, but right now, they have to wake up 0-1 one more day before the run begins. Shout out to potential ROTY Marlon Burnett, who looks the part of breakout candidate in a big way.
8. Bombers
Not sure if the bombing in their name is 3-point shooting or what they're about to do in the W/L column, but a 27-point L to kick off the season isn't a hot start. Better luck this week?
Best of luck to all, and we'll see everybody out there tonight!