OKC Thunder: The Rich List: Volume Nine, week of Mar 20-26

Mar 2, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) looks to pass the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends during the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) looks to pass the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends during the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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Mar 2, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) looks to pass the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends during the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) looks to pass the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends during the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to OKC Thunder: The Rich List, Volume Nine. Also known as Russ Plus Four, a weekly breakdown of the five (four plus Russ) best players in the NBA for the preceding week. We’ll take a look at all the happenings around the week during the week of Mar 20 to 26.

We’re in the home stretch. The NBA regular season is starting to wind down. There’s only nine games remaining on the OKC Thunder schedule before the playoffs. While OKC is pushing for a five seed out West, things are really getting murky in the East.

Starting at the top, where the Boston Celtics have overtaken the Cleveland Cavaliers for the one seed. Cleveland has been in quite a free fall of late, mostly due to their complete lack of defense. However, despite how bad it looks, I’m not quite buying the demise of Cleveland just yet. Cleveland doesn’t particularly seem to care much about the regular season. I wouldn’t be surprised if they all of a sudden started locking teams down in the playoffs.

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The Wizards and the Raptors remain steady in the 3rd and 4th seeds, but after that is where things get interesting. The Atlanta Hawks are currently losing with aplomb, mostly due to the extended absence of power forward Paul Millsap. The Hawks are winless this season in games that Millsap hasn’t played in. As of now, however, the Hawks, Bucks, and Pacers are tied in the standings with a 37-36 record.