Teams hit the halfway mark in week 12 and the OKC Thunder begin the hardest portion of their schedule. This week TI’s power rankings experience a big shift.
Week 12 of the power rankings finds teams hitting the halfway mark. For the OKC Thunder that means they begin the harder segment of their schedule. In fact, the Thunder are projected as having the most difficult schedule remaining based on the quality of teams they’ll face, travel and rest days.
In terms of the full list of teams there are some trends emerging as the top and bottom of the Association has separated themselves. That’s not to say there won’t be minor shifts, but on a whole the top five to ten teams will likely remain the same as will the bottom five to seven.
The greatest fluctuations will occur in the middle ground and mostly in the Western Conference. Numerous West squads continue to vie for entry among the playoff seeds. Among the clubs mired in the sixth through 13th seeds in the West factors which will shift their placement are health, trades, and strength of schedule.
To that end, the trade deadline of February 7 is just three short weeks away and although a big move is possible, salary caps and luxury tax likely preclude much action. Several free agents will hit the market this summer and most squads are eyeing that period which is another reason to believe only minor moves occur.
That is unless Danny Ainge decides to empty his trade coffers to improve the Celtics chances. In the worst kept secret of the Association Boston covets Anthony Davis, but for the big man to land in Bean Town it would require New Orleans abandoning their current stance of retaining Davis and means Kyrie Irving would have to be part of the trade package due to the Rose rule.
With that, I give you my week 12 power rankings list and opinions. The last slide provides the list of where National pundits and top bloggers ranked the OKC Thunder.
Let’s do it.