OKC Thunder: TI editor power ranking week 9: The shuffle is on

On any given night the LeBron James can deliver a masterful performance to pull out victory. The issue is (and maybe it’s just a personal bias) I still don’t believe this team comprised of youth and misfits from other clubs equates to the hype they’re getting.

Diving deeper into the Lakers schedule offers some intriguing facts:

Of the East’s top 5 teams the Lakers have yet to face the Bucks, 76ers or Celtics.  Toronto beat them at Staples easily and without Kawhi Leonard. Indiana was the only top East squad they’ve played and defeated.   And that was without Victor Oladipo at Staples with the Pacers on a Western road trip playing their third game in four nights.  In addition, they lost to the Magic twice, Nets and Wizards.

Of the top Western seeds, they’ve yet to play the Warriors or Thunder (or the Clippers). They did get a victory at home versus the Nuggets but then got blown out in Denver 85-117.  As for the other current seeded Western teams they’ve played, the Lakers are up 2-1 on Portland, lost both games to the Rockets and beat both the Grizzlies and Kings in the lone times they’ve met.

It’s likely I won’t change my mind at least until LA play the scheduled segment January 17th through February 10th. That 11 game stretch features seven games on the road, nine current seeds including the Warriors twice, 76ers twice, Thunder, Pacers, Celtics, Clippers Rockets and Wolves.

LA Lakers:

Offensive Rating: 15th
Defensive Rating: 11th
Net Differential: 9th

Offensive field goal efficiency: 47.8 percent (tied 4th)
Opponent field goal efficiency: 45.0 percent (tied 9th)
Points per game: 113.4 (9th)
Opponent points per game: 111.6 (tied 18th)

3-Point percent: 35.0% (16th)35.0 (13th)
Opponent 3-point percent: 35.0% (13th)

Home: 11-4
Road: 7-8
Back to back sets: 6

Versus the West: 12-8, 4th in WC
Versus the East: 6-4

Week nine 2-2:  Won vs Heat, @Hornets, lost @Wizards, @Rockets
On tap for week 10: @Nets, Pelicans, Grizzlies