Week 11 Power Rankings
Two more weeks to make or break the season for 4 bubble teams. Two more weeks to sort out seeds for a tightly grouped bunch of teams who have already made it in. Two more weeks to determine whether the Hot Showers or the Cool Runnings will win the regular season title. And two more weeks before all those records are wiped away, everyone begins at 0-0, and the playoffs begin.
Below Average (D’s and F’s)
12. Doctor Dilaudid
Record: 2-9; Last Week: 12
Needing a win to have any shot at salvaging their season, the Doctors dug deep and came up with their worst performance of the season…and the worst performance in the league since the Cactus put up a solid 37 in week 8 last year. Now all-but-officially eliminated, the Dilaudid-ed ones just need to flush this performance behind them and look forward to next year.
11. Cupcakes of DOOM!
Record: 3-8; Last Week: 10
Unlike the Drs., the Cupcakes actually put together a respectable showing with their best effort this year. However, even breaking into the triple digits for the first time wasn’t enough to snag a sorely needed victory. With three teams to leapfrog in order to grab the 8th playoff spot, the clock has just about struck midnight for the Doomed.
10. Bad Bad Victorcat
Record: 3-8; Last Week: 11
For the first time in a month, the Victorcats had a strong showing as they valiantly fought off elimination. In fact, with matchups against the Z’s and Minions, they actually have an easier schedule than the two teams in front of them and only need to make up 30 points to grab that tiebreaker, too. So, while they have to steal at least one win as an underdog and get a bit of assistance, the ‘Cats playoff aspirations aren’t over just yet.
9. ★
Record: 4-7; Last Week: 9
The Stars had the 2nd worst score of the league this week, but were handed a gift with their matchup against a historically bad performance. So, they’ve now won 4 of 5 games (and were only eight points shy of going 5 for 5), they no longer have the fewest points in the league, and they still have an outside shot at sneaking in the playoffs. Fascinating! Standing in the way, however, are the two best teams in the league, the Runnings and the Showers, so if the Stars get in, they’ll have earned it (assuming, of course, that the competitive integrity of the league remains intact).
Average (C’s and B’s)
8. The Schmuckernators
Record: 4-7; Last Week: 8
The Schmuckernators had a chance to more-or-less lock up a playoff berth with a win this week, and couldn’t get the job done. Now the schedule gets a lot more tricky, with tough rematches against the Sheep and the Strangers to end the regular season – the Schmucks have to be thankful that Mr. Victor is one game back and that the Stars have an even tougher end of season schedule.
7. Minions
Record: 7-4; Last Week: 7
Just when it looked like the Minions were spiraling out of control, they caught a huge break going against the Fat Cats’ worst performance of the season. Now with two somewhat unlikely wins in a row, they’ve locked up a playoff berth and could move as high as the second seed if they can win out and get some help. Even grabbing a 4 or 5 seed would be a huge accomplishment for this undermanned but resilient group.
6. Z Power
Record: 6-5; Last Week: 7
Just like they always seem to do around this time of year, the Z’s are finding their groove and making a move. For a season as trying as this has been, they could wind up as high as the third seed if things break right. At this point, their main goal has to be positioning themselves for the easiest possible first round matchup – that probably means moving up at least one more spot from their current position in seventh place.
5. Fat Cats
Record: 6-5; Last Week: 3
Two weeks ago, the Fat Cats were riding high and looked nearly invincible. But two sudden losses leave them wounded and behind in the race for an upper division finish. Next week’s matchup is just what the doctor ordered – the Doctors themselves. A loss in that game, however, and the league’s former hottest team could be looking at two tough weeks in a row versus the Runnings – once to end the regular season, and a rematch as the seventh seed.
Setting the Curve (A’s and B’s)
4. A Sheep at the Wheel
Record: 7-4; Last Week: 4
A close defeat to the Strangers last week more-or-less ended the Sheep’s two year reign as regular season champions. While everyone else readjusts to the new world order, the Sheep hope to rebound against a couple of weaker but still dangerous rivals, the Z’s and the Schmucks, as they jockey for the best possible postseason position. A top three seed is quite possible, and even the second seed is still within reach.
3. Left Hand Strangers
Record: 7-4; Last Week: 5
The Strangers broke through this week with their most impressive victory this year, against a very good Sheep team. Now they get to test themselves against the new hottest team in the league, the Showers. A win in that game would go a long way toward securing a top three seed, a great accomplishment for a team that has now won 5 of their last 6 games.
2. Cool Runnings
Record: 8-3; Last Week: 1
The Runnings regular season express hit a small speed bump this past week as their perpetual foil the Hot Showers improved to 8-0 all time against them, including three playoff defeats. But in spite of those particular troubles, this year has been a resounding success thus far as the Runnings are well positioned to do no worse than the third seed with a very realistic shot at the top spot should the Showers slip up. They just need to take care of business this week against the Stars and then will have an exciting game against the Fat Cats in a rematch of one of the most entertaining games of the season.
1. The Hot Showers
Record: 9-2; Last Week: 2
Just as you’d hope for a late-season skirmish between the top two teams in the league, both teams outscored everyone else. However, the Showers finally came up with a statement game, won this round going away, and even managed to retake the overall points lead by a slim margin. The Showers are now in the driver’s seat for the top overall seed, and cannot finish worse than 2nd barring some historic performances. A tough rematch against the Strangers next week could be a preview of a 2nd round playoff match.
Below Average (D’s and F’s)
12. Doctor Dilaudid
Record: 2-9; Last Week: 12
Needing a win to have any shot at salvaging their season, the Doctors dug deep and came up with their worst performance of the season…and the worst performance in the league since the Cactus put up a solid 37 in week 8 last year. Now all-but-officially eliminated, the Dilaudid-ed ones just need to flush this performance behind them and look forward to next year.
11. Cupcakes of DOOM!
Record: 3-8; Last Week: 10
Unlike the Drs., the Cupcakes actually put together a respectable showing with their best effort this year. However, even breaking into the triple digits for the first time wasn’t enough to snag a sorely needed victory. With three teams to leapfrog in order to grab the 8th playoff spot, the clock has just about struck midnight for the Doomed.
10. Bad Bad Victorcat
Record: 3-8; Last Week: 11
For the first time in a month, the Victorcats had a strong showing as they valiantly fought off elimination. In fact, with matchups against the Z’s and Minions, they actually have an easier schedule than the two teams in front of them and only need to make up 30 points to grab that tiebreaker, too. So, while they have to steal at least one win as an underdog and get a bit of assistance, the ‘Cats playoff aspirations aren’t over just yet.
9. ★
Record: 4-7; Last Week: 9
The Stars had the 2nd worst score of the league this week, but were handed a gift with their matchup against a historically bad performance. So, they’ve now won 4 of 5 games (and were only eight points shy of going 5 for 5), they no longer have the fewest points in the league, and they still have an outside shot at sneaking in the playoffs. Fascinating! Standing in the way, however, are the two best teams in the league, the Runnings and the Showers, so if the Stars get in, they’ll have earned it (assuming, of course, that the competitive integrity of the league remains intact).
Average (C’s and B’s)
8. The Schmuckernators
Record: 4-7; Last Week: 8
The Schmuckernators had a chance to more-or-less lock up a playoff berth with a win this week, and couldn’t get the job done. Now the schedule gets a lot more tricky, with tough rematches against the Sheep and the Strangers to end the regular season – the Schmucks have to be thankful that Mr. Victor is one game back and that the Stars have an even tougher end of season schedule.
7. Minions
Record: 7-4; Last Week: 7
Just when it looked like the Minions were spiraling out of control, they caught a huge break going against the Fat Cats’ worst performance of the season. Now with two somewhat unlikely wins in a row, they’ve locked up a playoff berth and could move as high as the second seed if they can win out and get some help. Even grabbing a 4 or 5 seed would be a huge accomplishment for this undermanned but resilient group.
6. Z Power
Record: 6-5; Last Week: 7
Just like they always seem to do around this time of year, the Z’s are finding their groove and making a move. For a season as trying as this has been, they could wind up as high as the third seed if things break right. At this point, their main goal has to be positioning themselves for the easiest possible first round matchup – that probably means moving up at least one more spot from their current position in seventh place.
5. Fat Cats
Record: 6-5; Last Week: 3
Two weeks ago, the Fat Cats were riding high and looked nearly invincible. But two sudden losses leave them wounded and behind in the race for an upper division finish. Next week’s matchup is just what the doctor ordered – the Doctors themselves. A loss in that game, however, and the league’s former hottest team could be looking at two tough weeks in a row versus the Runnings – once to end the regular season, and a rematch as the seventh seed.
Setting the Curve (A’s and B’s)
4. A Sheep at the Wheel
Record: 7-4; Last Week: 4
A close defeat to the Strangers last week more-or-less ended the Sheep’s two year reign as regular season champions. While everyone else readjusts to the new world order, the Sheep hope to rebound against a couple of weaker but still dangerous rivals, the Z’s and the Schmucks, as they jockey for the best possible postseason position. A top three seed is quite possible, and even the second seed is still within reach.
3. Left Hand Strangers
Record: 7-4; Last Week: 5
The Strangers broke through this week with their most impressive victory this year, against a very good Sheep team. Now they get to test themselves against the new hottest team in the league, the Showers. A win in that game would go a long way toward securing a top three seed, a great accomplishment for a team that has now won 5 of their last 6 games.
2. Cool Runnings
Record: 8-3; Last Week: 1
The Runnings regular season express hit a small speed bump this past week as their perpetual foil the Hot Showers improved to 8-0 all time against them, including three playoff defeats. But in spite of those particular troubles, this year has been a resounding success thus far as the Runnings are well positioned to do no worse than the third seed with a very realistic shot at the top spot should the Showers slip up. They just need to take care of business this week against the Stars and then will have an exciting game against the Fat Cats in a rematch of one of the most entertaining games of the season.
1. The Hot Showers
Record: 9-2; Last Week: 2
Just as you’d hope for a late-season skirmish between the top two teams in the league, both teams outscored everyone else. However, the Showers finally came up with a statement game, won this round going away, and even managed to retake the overall points lead by a slim margin. The Showers are now in the driver’s seat for the top overall seed, and cannot finish worse than 2nd barring some historic performances. A tough rematch against the Strangers next week could be a preview of a 2nd round playoff match.
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