OKC Thunder National power rankings week two – a drop before the climb

Week two of national media power ranking lists are in for all NBA teams and the OKC Thunder not surprisingly fell down the ladder.

With the second week of the regular season behind us the power rankings were published and the OKC Thunder clearly won’t be excited about their rank. Fortunately, the third week’s rankings are just around the corner, so expect a jump this coming week.

One thing I’ll point to is reviewing some of the points made in the early weeks is always entertaining. Some teams will regress to the mean while others will begin their natural ascent.

For example a few pundits cited the OKC Thunder having issues on defense but as week three is about to wrap they rank in the top five. AND – that is more sustainable than some of the other squads listed among the top five. Factor in Andre Roberson’s eventual return and we could be staring at a top three defense fans.

For now, here’s where the pundits ranked the Thunder in week two of play.

NBA.com – John Schuhmann:

The stats master didn’t pull any punches in week two with the OKC Thunder still unbeaten. Fortunately, the coming week should find the squad regaining ample ground given their turn about. This week Schuhmann drops them two spots to 22nd from their previous perch of 20th.

"Nerlens Noel getting the start against the Suns on Sunday was a surprise (Steven Adams was a late scratch with calf tightness). Noel being the star (20 points on 9-for-14 shooting, 15 rebounds, four steals and a block) in the Thunder’s first winand best offensive game of the season was an even bigger surprise. After starting the season 1-for-11 from beyond the arc (with two quick-trigger misses at the end of the Thunder’s loss to Boston on Thursday), Russell Westbrook may be doing that thing where he stops shooting so many 3-pointers (like last season after a 1-for-12 performance in Memphis). Ten of his 13 shots on Sunday came within eight feet of the basket and he didn’t take a single shot from 3-point range."

ESPN – Panel

Last week the panel noted the OKC Thunder in the middle of the pack placing them 16th, but after a win-less season (to that point) felt obliged to drop them another four spots into 20th.

ESPN’s panel:

ESPN: Kevin Arnovitz | Tim MacMahon |Andre’ Snellings

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

"The Thunder notched their first win of the season on Sunday against the Suns, though they still rank last in the NBA in offensive rating. Second Spectrum tracking shows OKC has been in the top 10 in both overall shot quality (factoring in shot type, location and nearest defender) and shot probability (shot quality with a consideration for who is taking the shot), so there’s reason to believe this team won’t be the league’s worst offense for long. — Snellings"

Bleacher Report:

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

Grant Hughes did drop the OKC Thunder five spots in his second ranking to 17th, but of note he is a full weekend behind in games because his ranking runs from Friday to Friday. This took into account the atrocious loss to the Kings.

Funny how hindsight works because several top teams are learning the Kings aren’t just a push over and their pace led by much improved De’Aaron Fox is also no joke.

Hughes ranks the Thunder 17th this week.

"Russell Westbrook is back after knee surgery, but his return wasn’t enough to prevent a dispiriting 131-120 home loss to the Kings on Sunday. A lack of player movement grinds OKC’s attack to a halt whether Westbrook or Dennis Schroder is in charge, and all the underrated passing in the world won’t matter if the Thunder continue to post the league’s worst effective field-goal percentage.Oklahoma City remains one of just two win-less teams, thanks to an offense that hasn’t come together."

Sports Illustrated – The Crossover

Writer Khadrice Rollins didn’t move the Thunder out of their 16th position in week two. Perhaps because he knew the tide was changing and of course he had the benefit of the one win to draw from.

"When the fifth game of the season is a must-win, there are real problems with a team. Oklahoma City threw away a home game against the Celtics on Thursday and made Sunday’s contest with the Suns way more crucial than an October game against the Phoenix should ever be. But to their credit, the Thunder showed up and took care of business, leading by as many as 26 in the 117-110 win.Russell Westbrook looked angry against Phoenix, and unlike the contest against Boston, he appeared more relaxed when it was time for him to takeover the game. Getting to play off the ball more with Dennis Schroder around should lead to big things, but only once the offense adds a real rhythm to it."

For the rest of The Crossover commentary on the Thunder check out the rest of Rollins article.

CBS Sports:

CBS’ offering comes courtesy of Reid Forgrave who like everyone drops the OKC Thunder in week two. In his case they fall four spots from 13th to 17th.

"The Thunder finally won, but they had to beat the Devin Booker-less Phoenix Suns to do it. This team has two very big problems: The defense, which was so good last season when Andre Roberson was in the lineup, is once again mediocre with him injured, ranking 12th in the NBA in defensive rating. (Roberson isn’t due back for another month or longer after a setback in his rehab from knee surgery.) And they can’t buy a shot. The Thunder are dead last in the NBA in three-point shooting. Alex Abrines has been the Thunder’s most reliable three-point shooter, and he’s only making 31.6 percent of his 3s."

That wraps up the week two power rankings from the National pundits. They arrived late this week due to an illness (my own). As it turns it it was a bit of luck since you’ll have to dwell on these low rankings for a few days and no doubt see an upshift from the squad in the rankings next week.

Next week I’ll have enough of a feel to offer some of my own insight, but since I’m still not quite firmly out of sick bay yet, I’ll leave these rankings as is and hope the Thunder never hit this low again all season.