CEBL Weekly Power Rankings

We have finished off the first week the Canadian Elite Basketball League and it is time to power rank the teams

10. Calgary Surge (0-1)

Opening the season with a 97-79 loss is not how they envisioned their season starting but subpar defense and questionable shot selection was their undoing. Giving up 60 points in the paint while allowing your opponent to shoot 63% within the arc is something they need to fix before their next game.

9. Montréal Alliance (0-2)

After being blown out 95-75 against Vancouver, the Alliance rebounded nicely against Saskatchewan Rattlers. Big question marks around the offensive efficiency but they won’t be an easy out. Jordan Bowden has been a fit as a shooting guard in the starting lineup, averaging 21 points per game, and shooting 57.1% from the field.

8. Ottawa Blackjacks (0-1)

The final team to start the season and it showed with a 99-82 loss to the Brampton Honey Badgers. There is so many question marks around this team right now that they could be 9th or 10th. If they put up another performance like they did vs Brampton, they could fall.

7. Winnipeg Sea Bears (1-1)

An 8 point loss in game to Saskatchewan Rattlers to open the season followed up by a 3 point win vs Scarborough Shooting Stars, There is a question around if their defence can step up but there is no questions around their offensive ability.

6. Niagara River Lions (0-1)

We can make the argument for Niagara being behind Winnipeg but a 7 point loss in their opening game to Brampton while holding them to 41% FG Shooting and getting 42 points inside the paint and 37 points from their bench. The biggest question is can the score consistently behind the arc after shooting 13% (3/23) vs Brampton.

5. Edmonton Stingers (1-0)

Edmonton dominated within the arc during their opening game win over Calgary shooting 63% from 2 and 60 points inside the paint. The did struggled from beyond the arc shooting at only 38% and only 50% (5/10) from the Free throw line

4. Saskatchewan Rattlers (2-0)

Rattlers may be off to a 2-0 start but they shouldn’t be satisfied with that as they could easily be 0-2. FG% to start the season is 41.6% and their defensive play had a good outing vs Winnipeg but struggled vs Montréal. This week should allow to see how good the Ratters are.

3. Scarborough Shooting Stars (0-2)

Yes, even at 0-2 Scarborough should be considered as the top team in the East with Brampton. They controlled pace a majority of the time in their two games. Biggest issue with them right now is their inability to finish off their opponent. Had a 11 point lead vs Winnipeg and 13 point lead vs Vancouver.

The defending champions will get slack for their first week of the season, but will fall if this continues.

2. Brampton Honey Badgers (2-0)

Brampton sits at 2 because Quality of opponent matters. and some people may think 2 is even too high for them. Starting off against Niagara with a 7 point followed up by a 17 point win vs Ottawa who has been sitting for a week isn’t the best comparable to other clubs. They have the shown a great ability to move the ball in transition and get easy point in front of the basket. Their next two games will tell a lot about this team

1. Vancouver Bandits (2-0)

Vancouver takes the number one spot to start the season Power Rankings with a 20 point win vs Montréal Alliance then a comeback 88-83 win vs Scarborough Shooting Stars. They are averaging 79 points against and holding their opponent to 39% shooting. If their defense continues to hold, They will continue to win games. However, Let us see what happens if they need to win in a shootout.

13th Man Sports