Power rankings Week 18: OKC Thunder in the middle ground

In week 18 of NBA power rankings lists pundits examine the final week of action prior to the All-Star Break ranking the OKC Thunder in the middle range.

Power ranking lists for week 18 tend to veer a bit away from the normal process with the OKC Thunder receiving effects from this change. Logically around the midway mark of the season teams have fallen into their natural placement. To wit, rarely do teams who rank in the top 16 by mid season not represent the final 16 teams by season end. Occasionally one or two squads will shift, but seldom does more than two unseeded teams move up.

This season is unlikely to produce a different result either. But, there were be lots of shifting. This because on both coasts the glut of teams accumulated between the third and tenth seeds is unprecedented. One win or one loss can find a home court seed suddenly plummeting to the bottom of the ladder.

As the teams returned from the break this week they have one of three goals in mind:

Secure a home court seed
Get into the playoffs (with best possible seed or idle first round matchup)
Tank as low as possible (without being obvious)

Clearly, the OKC Thunder will be attempting to accomplish a top seed, so they can capture home court at least in the first round. With news this week Spurs star Kawhi Leonard may be out for the season and with the injury to Jimmy Butler suddenly OKC’s chances to land a home court seed improve. For a quick reference of how each teams stretch run schedules pan out check out the full break down.

Next: Stretch run WC seeded teams schedule comparison

Power rankings for week 18 is also unusual in that some scribes will reflect back to games played prior to the break (week 17 again) while others will look at the team’s progress leading up to the break since there are no actual games to comment on given all teams are off for a week. Because of this variance some scribes skip ranking this week. Due to that variance there are only three lists this week.

With that, let’s see where the scribes rank the OKC Thunder in week 18.

NBA.com – John Schuhmann

Ever the wise scribe John Schuhmann provides insight into every team often serving up stats which capture my imagination. I’m not sure I could call Schuhmann my muse, but he sure does help summon copious thoughts which inevitably end up in articles. So — thanks for that Schuhmann the Stat God.

In week 18 the master of stats drops the Thunder two spots from 9th to 11th. This isn’t a bad spot considering OKC fall just outside Schuh’s top ten. Moreover, his point about the Thunder limping into the break is well warranted.

"Though they have a win at Golden State this month, the Thunder were a team that probably needed the All-Star break and was fortunate that they got to play the Grizzlies in two of their three final pre-break games. They rank 19th defensively since losing Andre Roberson for the season and will come out of the break searching for some consistency, another win at Golden State and an answer as to who they can count on as their fifth guy, both to start games and to close them. Maybe the closer is Raymond Felton, who played well after Alex Abrines suffered a hip contusion in Memphis on Wednesday. The numbers haven’t been bad (plus-5.7 points per 100 possessions) in 292 minutes with Felton and Russell Westbrook on the floor together."

ESPN – Panel

Big surprise the panel who loves to hate (little shade thrown in there) drops the OKC Thunder four spots from 9th to 13th.

ESPN’s panel:

ESPN: Kevin Arnovitz | Amin Elhassan |Ramona Shelburne

The Undefeated: Marc J. Spears | FiveThirtyEight: Chris Herring

"Coming out of the break, the Thunder are now one of four teams (Golden State, Houston, Toronto) that rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency … yet OKC still hasn’t found a cruising altitude. Here’s an encouraging signal: After ranking 18th in shot quality on New Year’s Day, the Thunder have compiled the sixth-best rating since, as they’ve refined their offense."

Sports Illustrated – The Crossover

No listing for week 18. The list from February 12 is the last one presented by SI – the Crossover. In that listing Rohan Nadkarni subbed in for Kenny Ducey and he listed the OKC at 12th.

CBS Sports:

Like Sports Illustrated scribe Kenny Ducey the CBS Sports main pundit Chris Barnewell also didn’t provide a listing for week 18. His last entry however listed OKC at 17.

Bleacher Report:

Grant Hughes was excitedly adding the Thunder to the top five last week, but after a sub par week caved to the pressure. Remember Hughes list reflects games played through to Friday, therefore he is always commenting on said week minus the weekend. To that end, Hughes dropped OKC from 5th to 10th this week.

"Not all 2-1 weeks are created equal. For example, when both wins come against the Grizzlies, it’s hard not to discount the record.The Oklahoma City Thunder were competitive against the Cavs in a 120-112 loss Tuesday, and both Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony returned from ankle injuries this week. But the Thunder still haven’t gotten anything from the shooting guard spot since Andre Roberson ruptured his patellar tendon Jan. 27, and the man occupying that role changes day to day.Finally, consider Steven Adams your glass-half-full guru. Fred Katz of the Norman Transcript noted recently: “Adams when asked how Russell Westbrook looked today: ‘Still above ground.’ As are the Thunder, despite a drop after finishing the pre-break slate with six losses in their last nine games."

That wraps up week 18 power rankings.

In next weeks power rankings scribes will revisit the games played in the first week back from the break. For the OKC Thunder that will encompass the two games played on the road. First at Sacramento to the Kings and then in Oakland against the Warriors.

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