NBA 2K League Power Rankings: Post-TICKET Edition
June 18, 2019
It’s going to be hard to top that.
The NBA 2K League’s visit to Orlando resulted in wild finishes and the most thrilling tournament in league history. When the dust had settled, a familiar champion remained as Warriors Gaming Squad captured THE TICKET title and an automatic playoff berth. So, just how did the chaos shake up our bi-weekly NBA 2K League Power Rankings?
Let’s find out.
1. Warriors Gaming Squad
Regular-season record: 7-4
Previous rank: 3
They topped these rankings for the first time this season following their victory at THE TURN. They’re back on top after their title this weekend makes them the first team in league history to win two tournaments in the same season. Bsmoove took home MVP honors, but this is a dangerous squad in which any of its five starters can star in a given game.
2. Pacers Gaming
Regular-season record: 6-4
Previous rank: 5
They put any doubts about their recent uneven regular-season play to bed with an impressive march through the tournament that saw them win four games to come out of the play-in bracket to make the finals. The success can be attributed to a lineup that featured Ramo working out of the post, where he was at times unstoppable during THE TICKET.
3. Blazer5 Gaming
Regular-season record: 10-1
Previous rank: 1
A 10-game winning streak couldn’t help them in the unpredictable nature of tournament play. They entered as the No. 1 seed, only to suffer an upset to Heat Check Gaming, marking Portland’s second consecutive one-and-down appearance at a tournament. Yes, they sit in first place in the standings, but their tournament struggles can’t be glossed over.
4. Mavs Gaming
Regular-season record: 10-1
Previous rank: 2
A slow start in their tournament opener doomed them in an eventual loss to Knicks Gaming and first-round exit after coming in as the No. 2 seed. All is not lost, however, as Mavs Gaming remain tied for the league’s best regular-season record and, barring a massive collapse, shouldn’t have to sweat out making the postseason.
5. 76ers GC
Regular-season record: 7-4
Previous rank: 4
Among the handful of favorites entering THE TICKET, 76ers GC failed to make the finals of a tournament for the first time this season. Their quarterfinals matchup against Pacers Gaming could have gone either way, but they came up short at the end. Philly has an upcoming bye week to prep for the season’s final stretch.
6. Magic Gaming
Regular-season record: 6-5
Previous rank: 8
They made a valiant run in front of the hometown crowd, at times looking like a serious threat to take home the title. They ran into a tough Warriors Gaming Squad in the semifinals, suffering a two-point loss to dash their hopes Magic Gaming have an upcoming bye week before returning to action in Week 10.
7. Cavs Legion GC
Regular-season record: 7-5
Previous rank: 7
If Cavs Legion fail to make the postseason, they’ll look back on their loss to Knicks Gaming in the quarterfinals with even more disgust. Cleveland blew a seemingly insurmountable eight-point lead in the waning seconds to bow out of contention for the tournament’s automatic playoff spot. Still, they’ve won four in a row during the regular season.
8. Kings Guard Gaming
Regular-season record: 7-4
Previous rank: 6
An early exit at THE TICKET shouldn’t deter their spirits as Kings Guard remain tied for the third best record in the league. They should have a good shot on staying there in Week 9 with a doubleheader vs Knicks Gaming and Lakers Gaming, two teams who have combined for four regular-season wins to this point.
9. Raptors Uprising GC
Regular-season record: 5-6
Previous rank: 15
They came a possession shy of playing in the tournament’s semifinals, falling to Warriors Gaming Squad on a late jumper. Still, Raptors Uprising had a productive weekend in picking up a pair of wins. They are right in the thick of the playoff hunt and should take some positive vibes into the last portion of the regular season.
10. Bucks Gaming
Regular-season record: 6-5
Previous rank: 11
How can they best utilize Plondo? That’s their biggest question down the stretch. The rookie big man slide over to power forward and busted out for 36 points in Week 8, but managed just 5 points in an opening-round loss at THE TICKET. Finding that happy medium will go a long way in aiding their playoff chances.
11. Heat Check Gaming
Regular-season record: 4-7
Previous rank: 13
Their surprising run at THE TICKET came to an end in the quarterfinals against Magic Gaming in the Battle of the Sunshine State. Hotshot was a one-man wrecking crew working from the post, but will need some consistent help from his supporting cast moving forward. This team is far better than the one that’s dropped five straight in the regular season.
12. Nets GC
Regular-season record: 5-5
Previous rank: 9
They couldn’t have been dealt a worse first-round draw at THE TICKET as a third seed facing a Pacers Gaming team that is above them in the standings. Regardless of the quick exit, Brooklyn has won three of four in the regular season and might represent the best shot of the four expansion teams of making the playoffs.
13. T-Wolves Gaming
Regular-season record: 5-6
Previous rank: 17
The most impactful midseason acquisition in the league has arguably been JMoneyRep817. He’s provided a potent scoring punch, scoring over 30 points on two occasions, and averaging 20.7 PPG in seven games with T-Wolves Gaming. They’ve won two straight and currently sit one game out of the playoffs.
14. Celtics Crossover Gaming
Regular-season record: 4-5
Previous rank: 10
There was no magical tournament run this time around, with Boston suffering a tough two-point loss in the opening round to Raptors Uprising, a year after making a Cinderella run to the title game of THE TICKET. They enter a pivotal Week 9, with games against Warriors Gaming Squad and Mavs Gaming looming.
15. Jazz Gaming
Regular-season record: 5-5
Previous rank: 12
They were unable to replicate their magic from a semifinals appearance at THE TURN, falling in OT to Knicks Gaming in their TICKET opener. They’ve been a .500 team to this point and will likely be content with walking away with a doubleheader split vs Blazer5 Gaming and Pistons GT in Week 9.
16. Knicks Gaming
Regular-season record: 2-8
Previous rank: 19
After a Cinderella run to win THE TICKET last season, Knicks Gaming nearly replicated the feat. Rolling with a lineup that didn’t include mainstay G O O F Y 7 5 7, they instead relied on the sharpshooting of OriginalMalik and playmaking of iamadamthe1st to make a trip to the semifinals before falling to Pacers Gaming.
17. Grizz Gaming
Regular-season record: 5-6
Previous rank: 16
Three. That’s the number of points Grizz Gaming scored in the first quarter of it’s opening game at THE TICKET. The slow start haunted them in getting bounced by Magic Gaming, leaving Memphis to now try and separate itself from a crowded group of teams within one game of the final playoff spot.
18. Wizards District Gaming
Regular-season record: 4-6
Previous rank: 18
A trendy sleeper pick entering THE TICKET, they saw their tournament come to a quick end with a first-round loss to Cavs Legion. WDG have been much improved in the regular season, having won two straight, but still have some ground to make up in the coming weeks.
19. Hawks Talon GC
Regular-season record: 4-6
Previous rank: 14
In a copycat league, the rise of the shot-creating post scorer can be traced to Dat Boy Shotz. Unfortunately, his success on the build hasn’t translated into success for the team in recent weeks, with Atlanta dropping three in a row to fall down the standings, in addition to lasting one game at the tournament.
20. Lakers Gaming
Regular-season record: 2-9
Previous rank: 20
The good news: They snapped a six-game losing streak in beating Hawks Talon in Week 8. The bad news: They have a much better chance at this point of winning the draft lottery than they do of making the playoffs.
21. Pistons GT
Regular-season record: 1-10
Previous rank: 21
It’s been two full months since they’ve won a game, and their last hope for a postseason spot ended with a first-round loss at THE TICKET. The biggest mystery remains the absence of New Zealand import Jaacko, who has found himself on the bench after a promising start to the campaign.
This article represents the thoughts and opinions of the writer and not on the NBA 2K League.