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Power rankings Week 14: OKC Thunder vault up ladder

By Tamberlyn Richardson

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 20: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is defended in the key by Paul George #13 of the OKC Thunder and Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena on January 20, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. Oklahoma City defeated Cleveland 148-124. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 20: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is defended in the key by Paul George #13 of the OKC Thunder and Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena on January 20, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. Oklahoma City defeated Cleveland 148-124. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 3: Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the OKC Thunder high five during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on January 3, 2018. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Trend Oddity:

Something I noticed recently is an oddity occurring this season within the Association. I’ve wondered how much of it has to do with the new referees and how much is simply coincidence. In past seasons once teams hit the quarter mark their identities were basically established. From that point forward there was a benchmark if you will set for officials to follow. But this year, the variance in how teams are officiated (and subsequently awarded fouls and free throws) is baffling.

To be clear, this isn’t in reference to the refs calling what’s happening on the court – that should be what they call.  Rather, it’s the tendency for the officials to seemingly award hot trendy teams with calls as if they are among league leaders, allowing travels, phantom fouls and rewarding rookies for minor infractions while letting stars get hammered without the same benefit call.

As one point or another the Magic, Bulls, Mavericks and Nets have all gone on streaks. Now the  Lakers is the team du jour.  Case in point – the Lakers seasonal offensive and defensive ranks are 11th and 28th. Suddenly during this little ten game win streak they rank 4th in both categories and are getting sent to the line like the roster was filled with All-Stars.  Just saying – it’s odd.

Hot and Not:

The Sixers are rolling and whether they are benefitting from the above oddity or not, they are taking advantage of it by winning. Philly ranks 8-2 in their last 10 and only two other Eastern teams have records better than .500 in this period (Heat, Pacers). The Cavaliers, Pistons and Knicks are reeling. The Celtics rank the worst (to this ranking week 14 period) in January.

As for the West, it’s the Thunder who are the current hottest Western squad. Golden State and the Pelicans were the other two hot teams. A sad situation for the latter with DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins being the first horrific injury of the weekend. Joining them is the aforementioned Lakers (picture me shaking my head and rolling my eyes at this moment).

Houston continue to roll and their tunnel partners the Clippers continue to defy all the odds. Here’s hoping they find a way to make the postseason and match up versus the Rockets. If the NBA wants drams  -that series would offer it in spades.

Overall the West is doing much better through the early dog days of winter than their Eastern Counterparts.

With that here’s the power rankings of the scribes for week 14 encompass games played versus the  Kings, Lakers and Cavaliers

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