Power rankings Week 17: Pundits split where OKC Thunder rank at break

NBA.com – John Schuhmann

The stats master John Schuhmann serves up his typically wonderful fodder. This week he raises the Thunder one spot from 10th to 9th.  This of course follows a few weeks ago when Schuhmann ranked OKC as high as 5th. But, Schuh has earned his reputation for pointing out interesting facts which he does below. To wit, OKC are 3-0 against the top two seeds in the west (and arguably the NBA).

"The Thunder are 3-0 against the Rockets and Warriors after beating the champs in Oakland on Tuesday in a game in which Paul George (38 points, six steals, 11-for-23 shooting) was the best player on the floor. George has shot 48 percent from 3-point range over the last nine games, but the OKC offense came up empty (shooting 36 percent) without Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony in L.A. on Thursday. Alex Abrines is the latest wing to get a shot at taking Andre Roberson’s starting job and had four threes as the offense did enough work early (74 points before halftime) to survive their second straight ugly second half to beat Memphis without Westbrook and Anthony on Sunday. Abrines’ shooting numbers are almost identical to what they were last season, but he has shot better with George on the floor."