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OKC Thunder week 5 power rankings – Continued progress and TI’s top 10

By Tamberlyn Richardson

Russell Westbrook, OKC Thunder (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Russell Westbrook, OKC Thunder (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder Power Ranking
Kyle Lowry, (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Toronto Raptors:

I freely admit my bias (I live in Toronto) to the Raptors and Thunder, but there is a commonality between these two teams which I believe will serve them well moving forward in the season. Both squads’ benches have yet to perform to their potential. For the Raptors, much of that had to do with injuries which kept Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, Delon Wright, C.J. Miles and Norman Powell all out of the rotation. Beginning in week five with the Bulls blow-out and carrying over into week six this unit is finally resembling the group which feasted on opponent reserves last year.

For those concerned about Kyle Lowry’s poor shooting during the three game losing stretch it should be noted he was playing through an injured ankle. To drill home how well Lowry is playing the Raptors are 5-1 in games Leonard hasn’t played and in each of their second nights during back to back series Lowry has been the driving force behind each of the five wins delivering the top performance in four of the five wins and sparking the initial oust of the Bulls:

  • @Washington: 28 points, 12 assists, 3 rebounds shot 4 of 9 from deep – win 117-113
  • Philadelphia: 20 points, 12 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 of 7 from deep – win 129-112
  • @Utah: 17 points, 11 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 of 7 from deep – win 124-111
  • @Chicago: 8 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 of 8 from deep – win 122-83
  • @Atlanta: 21 points, 17 assists, 12 rebounds, 3 of 6 from deep – win 124-108

Factors:

Offensive Rating: 3rd
Defensive Rating:  7th
Net Differential: 2nd
Offensive field goal efficiency: 48.7 percent (3rd)
Opponent field goal efficiency:  44.1 percent (tied with Boston in 3rd)
Win/Loss 1-3: Losses to the Pelicans, Piston Celtics with lone win over the Bulls.
Record: 13-4
Injuries:Factors: Leonard rested vs. Bulls, Anunoby was injured early in Boston and missed the Bulls game, Miles played 7:31 vs. Pelicans and missed the rest of the games this week. Powell remains out.

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