NBA Power Rankings Week 21: Milwaukee Bucks won’t match Warriors
By Phil Watson
17. team. 211. . 32-32. Previous: . Memphis Grizzlies
Last week: Won at Atlanta 127-88, won at Brooklyn 118-79, lost at Dallas 121-96, beat Atlanta 118-101
This week: Tuesday vs. Orlando, Thursday at Portland
It was a bit of a week of extremes for the Memphis Grizzlies. When a 17-point win over the Hawks on Saturday can be described as “the close game” of the week, it’s been a wild one. Before last week, the Grizzlies had never won a road game by more than 32 points. So, of course, Memphis won consecutive road games by 39 points each at Atlanta and Brooklyn.
After dropping five in a row, the Grizzlies have responded with four wins in their last five games and hold a 3½-game lead over Sacramento for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. While his team isn’t going to win 60 games, it might be time to think about giving Taylor Jenkins some Coach of the Year dap for the job he’s done this season.
Jonas Valanciunas continues to be a roller-coaster of greatness and not-so-greatness, but he put together 27 points with 17 rebounds and three blocks in Saturday’s win over the Hawks, hitting 10-of-13 from the floor. For the week, he averaged 16.3 points, 14.8 boards and 1.0 blocks in 27.9 minutes per game on 73.0 percent shooting, making 1-of-2 from deep.
Brooklyn Nets. 16. team. 147. . 28-34. Previous:
Last week: Won at Boston 129-120 (OT), lost to Memphis 118-79, beat San Antonio 139-120
This week: Sunday vs. Chicago, Tuesday at Lakers, Thursday at Golden State, Friday at Clippers
Not even a 2-1 week with a huge comeback win at Boston and a blowout of the Spurs could save Kenny Atkinson, who is out as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets as of Saturday morning.
The Brooklyn Nets and Head Coach Kenny Atkinson have mutually agreed to part ways. Jacque Vaughn will serve as head coach for the remainder of the season.
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 7, 2020
Mutual agreement or firing, it was reported by Anthony Puccio of Nets Daily there were players in the locker room who did not want Atkinson to remain in his post.
Source tells me in regards to Kenny Atkinson’s departure: “(Some) of the players wanted him gone.”
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) March 7, 2020
Lead assistant Jacque Vaughn, who was 58-118 as head coach in parts of three seasons in Orlando from 2012-15, now takes over for Atkinson, who compiled a record of 118-190 in parts of four seasons, including a 42-40 mark and the franchise’s first playoff berth in four years last season.
Not even the stellar play of Caris LeVert could save Atkinson. LeVert averaged 30.7 points, 7.0 assists and 6.3 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per game, shooting 52.5 percent overall and going 8-of-20 from long range. He had a career-high 51 points — 37 in the fourth quarter and overtime — at Boston on Monday and posted his first career triple-double Friday against the Spurs.