There always has to be something unlucky about Cleveland

The Phoenix Mercury returned from the WNBAs month-long Olympic break with a rousing win while the Los Angeles Sparks turned in one of their most uneven performances of the season in a decisive loss.If that pattern remains the same when the Mercury and Sparks square off Sunday in Phoenix in a crucial Western Conference showdown it could be the sign of some changes in the pecking order as the leagues regular season runs through its final nine games.But dont count on it. Los Angeles (21-4), which has been the best team in the WNBA all year, still holds the leagues top seed and is far from pushing any panic button despite its loss Friday to a surging Seattle squad.The Sparks scoring and rebounding leader, Nneka Ogwumike, is one of the favorites for league MVP, poured in 28 points (15 of which came in the fourth quarter) in a losing cause and shows no signs of slowing down.A win on the road against Phoenix (11-14), which currently holds the seventh-seed in the WNBAs new playoff system, would get Los Angeles back on track and ahead of Minnesota, which is a half-game back in second.The game is ultra-important to Phoenix as well for both momentum sake and the help in would give in the Mercurys push for the postseason. Six of Phoenixs final nine games are against teams that are above the Mercury in the standings, and two other are versus squads that are hot on Phoenixs heels.The Mercury are a veteran bunch, with the ultra-talented Diana Taurasi leading the way in both scoring and assists and 6-foot-9 center Brittney Griner a force in rebounding and blocked shots. Phoenix has won three of its past four games, with a 79-77 home loss to Chicago in late July the only defeat in that stretch.Los Angeles beat the Mercury 77-71 on June 17 at Staples Center and the two teams play a third time on Sept. 13 in Los Angeles. Calgary Flames Gear . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. Flames Jerseys China . LOUIS -- St. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. Flames Jerseys 2021 . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Cheap Flames Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Cleveland CavaliersOverall:?13 Title track: T19 Ownership: 38 Coaching: 39 Players: 21 Fan relations: 16 Affordability: 41 Stadium experience: 29 Bang for the buck: 12 Change from last year: +31The Cavaliers broke their citys 50-plus year championship curse to rise in the rankings to ... No. 13?! There always has to be something unlucky about Cleveland, doesnt there? Triskaidekaphobia aside, LeBron James & Co.s epic comeback against the Golden State Warriors to capture the Larry OBrien Trophy rightfully has this group up 31 spots in our standings, knocking on the door for consideration as a top-10 franchise in sports.Whats goodNow that the titleless drought has been lifted in Cleveland, its not so incomprehensible for the Cavs to have the gumption to do it in back-to-back years. They jumped up 32 spots from a season ago in title track, tying with James favorite baseball team in the New York Yankees for No. 19. And make no mistake -- James himself has plenty to do with the Cavs No. 21 ranking in players, up 94 spots from two years ago. The Cavs also rocketed up the charts in bang for the buck, moving up 36 spots to No. 12 overall. It seems like the chance to see a play like James chhase-down block in Game 7 of the NBA Finals live always makes the price of admission worth it.ddddddddddddWhats badHeres a first: Theres not much to complain about as a Cleveland fan. The Cavs lowest ranking came in affordability, though, at 41st. Its still in the top third of teams. And their average ticket price -- of $48.12, seven bucks below the league average -- is lower than 17 teams who arent NBA champs. Best of all? At Quicken Loans Arena, you can fill up on league-low beers, at just $4 a pop for 12 ounces, and $3 hot dogs (also a league-low).Whats newNobody who voted in these rankings is missing David Blatt: Tyronn Lues promotion from associate head coach to the top dog represented the biggest improvement in any category for Cleveland, as its coaching rank jumped 51 spots to No. 39. Lue became the first midseason replacement ever to guide his team to the title and started off his first-ever postseason 10-0, besting Pat Rileys previous mark. Curiously, the Cavs remained No. 7 in the NBA in the players ranking, while lesser teams like Boston, Memphis and Portland all moved up ahead of them.Next: Memphis Grizzlies?| Full rankings ' ' '