ESPN Power Rankings: Marc Stein Harsh on Brooklyn Nets in Week 19

Feb 24, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts to a play in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts to a play in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The Brooklyn Nets reached their fifth straight winless week and were criticized heavily in the most recent ESPN Power Rankings by Marc Stein.

Current Ranking: 30

Ranking Last Week: 30 (no change)

ICYMI: Last Week’s Rankings

It’s been quite a while since the Nets won a game. But it’s been even longer since they were ranked other than last in the ESPN Power Rankings. This week marks the 11th straight week in which the Nets were ranked dead-last.

In this week’s edition, Marc Stein didn’t let up in his remarks for the Nets, and rightfully so. He started it off by naming several ESPN NBA reporters, asking sarcastically which one of them would be able to predict when the Nets will get their 10th win.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Stein followed it up by stating, “the Nets are 1-24 in 2017 — you can look it up if you, like us, struggle to believe that’s a real stat.”

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To top it all off, Stein pointed out that if the Nets don’t win any of their next four games, their losing streak will reach 19 games. That just so happens to be the Nets’ franchise record for longest losing streak.

Stein evidently didn’t let up on the Nets this week, but then again, why should he? There’s no question that the Nets are last, and when you’re last, there’s not too many nice things to say.

The Nets will be desperately looking to pick up win #10 this week. They’ll be taking on the Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, and Portland Trail Blazers – all on the road.

Big Movers: Chicago Bulls (up seven spots)

Thanks to a nice trade and a 2-0 week, the Bulls benefited in the power rankings this week. Especially considering one of those wins was on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls were certainly deserving of this bump.

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Big Losers: New Orleans Pelicans (down five spots)

As the saying goes, what comes up, must come down. That was the case for the Pelicans, who were Big Movers in the power rankings only last week. It seems they’ll need some more time to mesh together as they finished their first week with a new-look team 0-3.