NBA Power Rankings – Pundits waffling on OKC Thunder, week 9
Week nine the NBA power rankings lists find the OKC Thunder ranked as high as 10th and as low as 17th.
In the week nine power rankings most pundits punished the OKC Thunder for their efforts against the Knicks and Grizzlies. With the team struggling in both those instances it forced some optimists to start to question if this is the new norm for OKC.
Thunder Nation already knows since then the team has gone on a winning streak, but recognizing when you hit rock bottom is and what it looks like is easier said than done.
Week nine power rankings includes games versus the Charlotte Hornets, the inaugural return of Paul George to Indy and a back-to-back weekend series at the Sixers and Knicks.
OKC Thunder power rank by scribe:
NBA.com – John Schuhmann
John Schuhmann drops the OKC Thunder up four spots to number 16th. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but I’d bet big money the OKC Thunder vault up Schuh’s ladder this coning week potentially back into the top ten.
"The energy the Thunder expended to get to .500 (with Friday’s triple-overtime win in Philadelphia) probably hurt them as they fell back below (with Saturday’s loss in New York). They’re 6-3 in December, but rank 24th offensively this month, with Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook ranking 44th and 45th in effective field goal percentage among the 45 players who have taken at least 100 shots in December. Patrick Patterson showing some signs of life (10-for-17 from 3-point range and some good defensively moments over the last six games) is a positive development, especially if Anthony (who has shot better with Westbrook off the floor) ever accepts a move to the bench."
ESPN – Panel
The panel recognized the triple OT win as worthy of rewarding and moved the squad up three spots to 12th.
ESPN’s panel:
ESPN: Kevin Arnovitz | Amin Elhassan |Ramona Shelburne
The Undefeated: Marc J. Spears | FiveThirtyEight: Chris Herring
"In Friday’s triple-overtime win against the 76ers, Russell Westbrook became the fifth player to go for at least 25 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a game in the past 50 seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. He joined James Harden, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Micheal Ray Richardson. — Michael Schwartz"
Sports Illustrated – The Crossover:
Kenny Ducey dropped the Thunder once more, but just a single spot this week to 13th.
"Of all players who average 15 shot attempts, Russell Westbrook (38.8%), Carmelo Anthony (40.4%) and Paul George (40.9%) have the three worst field–goal percentages."
CBS Sports:
Chris Barnewell continues his topsy turvey ranking habit of moving the OKC Thunder up one week only to drop them again the the following week. Last week he vaulted them up seven spots and this week he drops them five spots to 17th.
"The Thunder are finally figuring out their identity — and doing it against good teams. When they play bad teams like the Nets or Hornets, though, they lose. So their problems aren’t quite solved yet."
Bleacher Report:
Grant Hughes take on the OKC Thunder was so good I wish I could include it in it’s entirely. Instead I’ll leave you with a tease, so you go read the whole thing along with the other 29 ranked teams. This week Hughes drops OKC three spots to tenth. But, have no fear Hughes has consistently been the lone pundit who believes in the Thunder, so anticipate an upward movement next week.
"The Thunder are solidifying their status as the league’s great Rohrschach test…."
The week ten power rankings will be based on games the OKC Thunder play versus the Utah Jazz (times two), the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies. Since the Christmas Game falls on a Monday pundits may wait to release week ten rankings and include the Christmas games in their rankings.