It was inevitable the OKC Thunder would experience an upward week with the pundits aligning. Turns out week 22 is that moment, as pundits lists power ranked as high as 4th and as low as 7th.
For the OKC Thunder it’s been a season of fluctuation on the court and in the power rankings. Early on there was exuberance over the OK3 with expectations for greatness. When the team struggled to find a rhythm the running narrative was – ‘you can’t rush greatness, give them time to gel‘.
As the season wore on with more highlights of things being done wrong that right many pundits jumped off the bandwagon declaring – ‘they are all iso-ball players, each accustomed to being the primary – this won’t work.’
Then the team seemingly found their footing. Some thought this was due to Carmelo Anthony accepting a reduced role. Others presumed it coincided with Russell Westbrook deciding to listen to his two star cohorts who begged for him ‘to return to playing like the MVP‘.
Westbrook obliged, Anthony acquiesced and it resulted in the previous stilted offense running as smoothly as a bolt of silk. At the precise moment the squad appeared to reach offensive kismet Andre Roberson was lost for the season.
Scribes power rankings as inconsistent as OKC Thunder have been
And, just like that, it threw the entire system into a never ending search to rediscover the one aspect of their game which had excelled all season — the defense. A second win streak coincided with the arrival of Corey Brewer and the simultaneous return of the offense.
Pundits who had called for this version of the Thunder cautiously climbed back on — but with hesitancy to move the team up much. This time OKC would need to demonstrate something this team has lacked all season — consistency.
Still as the NBA Power Ranking lists came out grading week 22, the presumption was most scribes would gladly jump back on side. Games considered in the rankings included a back to back set versus the Kings and Hawks, plus the Clippers. As well as the potential game of the year candidate from the Raptors matinee match. The latter of course prior to Marc Davis ticking off both fan bases to make the game about a whistle instead of a ball.
Let’s cut to the chase and discover the OKC Thunder power ranking for week 22:
NBA.com – John Schuhmann
As soon as the game between the OKC Thunder and Raptors ended, I knew Schuhmann would touch on it in this column. Moreover, that he would appreciate the splendor of that game – which he obviously did.
The statsmaster was so impressed he moved the OKC Thunder up seven spots from 13th to 6th. Make no mistake Schuhmann recognizes qualities and weaknesses in all the teams. He never rewards teams based on name, brand or experience over present performance. Furthermore, he’s the first to recognize upstarts (see: Pacers, Jazz, Blazers – who all moved up his list first). So, rising seven spots is a major sign of respect from the statsmaster.
Schuhmann’s comments:
"Russell Westbrook has recorded five straight triple-doubles and still has a chance (if he grabs 121 rebounds over the last 10 games) to average a triple-double for the season. More important is that the Thunder have won six straight (coinciding with Corey Brewer’s move into the starting lineup), a streak that includes important wins over the Spurs and Clippers, as well as what may have been OKC’s best win of the season (in Toronto on Sunday). The offense picked up last week and featured a lot of Steven Adams after he missed a win in Atlanta on Tuesday. The 28 shots he got in weekend wins over the Clippers and Raptors are the most he’s attempted in any two-game stretch of his career. Only Clint Capela and Rudy Gobert have shot better as a roll man and the 199 assists Adams has received from Westbrook are the most from any player to a single teammate this season."
ESPN – Panel
The fact the panel has rewarded OKC three weeks running is a new trend. The vacillating power ranks have been consistent. Perhaps they finally feel confident OKC has found their groove. Last week the panel ranked the Thunder eighth. In fairness, because of the optimism (and OKC’s record) the jump upward was expected. The game in Toronto gets a nod from the quintet and they raise OKC from eighth to fifth in their rankings.
ESPN’s panel:
ESPN: Kevin Arnovitz | Amin Elhassan |Ramona Shelburne
The Undefeated: Marc J. Spears | FiveThirtyEight: Chris Herring
"In Sunday’s win at Toronto, Westbrook joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history with at least three career streaks of five straight triple-doubles, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. The Thunder improved to 5-2 against the Raptors, Rockets and Warriors, giving them the best record and most wins in the NBA against the league’s three best teams. — Michael Schwartz"
Bleacher Report:
Another expectation was for OKC Thunder season long supporter Grant Hughes to serve up a top five ranking. Color me surprised he failed to do so this week. Mind you Hughes ranks on a different schedule than the other scribes, so the Boston kerfuffle was part of his decision to only move OKC up two spots, from 9th to 7th.
"Oklahoma City should have beaten the Boston Celtics on Tuesday (more on that momentarily) . But managed to dispatch the Clippers and Raptors before the tough defeat that ended a six-game winning streak.Now 5-2 against Toronto, Golden State and Houston, the Thunder continue to profile as the biggest postseason upset threat to a title contender.Through Dec. 9, when a 1-of-12 effort from deep seemed to trigger a turning point in his shot selection, Russell Westbrook was averaging six three-point tries per 36 minutes. Since then, he’s bagged the long ball, averaging just 3.1 long-range attempts per 36.The three-point revolution isn’t for everybody. And Westbrook knows how to be efficient in his own way. As evidenced by the 37 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds he amassed during Sunday’s 132-125 win in Toronto. He shot 15-of-22 from the field in that one, becoming the first player in 30 years to be so efficient in such a massive triple-double effort, according to StatMuse."
Sports Illustrated – The Crossover
This site hasn’t always been on board with the OKC Thunder. Yet, they leap to the front of the pundit pack by moving the OKC Thunder up six spots. Go figure.
Rohan Nadkarni’s comments are spot on regarding how Russell Westbrook should play and let’s hope Billy Donovan takes note regarding something Tony Heim, this scribe and much of the Thunderous Intentions team have been BEGGING FOR — more Westbrook – Adams pick and roll please. Nadkarni ranked the Thunder 10th last week and the sixth spot jump moves them to 4th this week.
"The Thunder leap six spots in the rankings this week. OKC has won six in a row, including an impressive victory over the Raptors in Toronto on Sunday. When Russell Westbrook is as committed to getting to the paint as he was in that game, the Thunder look so much better. Russ’s chemistry with Steven Adams is as good as any pick-and-roll pairing’s in the league. Meanwhile, the Corey Brewer signing may have saved this team’s season."
CBS Sports:
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
Chris Barnewell follows the pattern of all the pundits this week crediting the Thunder for their recent play. And like Sports Illustrated’s Nadkarni (and the TI Staff) recognizes the Adams-Westbrook PNR is the team’s greatest weapon.
Barnewell hit the Thunder hard last week ranking them 14th, but rewards the team this week vaulting them eight spots up from 14th to 6th.
"OKC’s stars feel more like individuals that co-exist together as opposed to a duo or trio. They run sets together, but it’s not often that it feels like they’re truly existing together as a unit. And that is why Russell Westbrook and Steven Adams form the Thunder’s best duo. Their experience together creates an incredible pick-and-roll combo that decimates teams."
In next weeks power rankings scribes will review games in the rocket launch countdown portion of 10 – 9 – 8. Scribes will assess how the Thunder rank based on games versus the Celtics, Heat and Blazers.
Next: Injury report of contending teams and how they could affect seeding and Thunder
Notably this segment of the schedule will also start the 11 consecutive games versus playoff seeded squads.