NBA Power Rankings: OKC Thunder slide while the elite rise

The cream of the crop is rising while the OKC Thunder are struggling. Discover where they and all 30 teams rank in week 24 of the NBA power rankings.

Heading into week 25 of gameplay most of the playoff seeds are cemented however positioning has yet to be determined. All eight participants in the West are determined with the OKC Thunder in the unenviable position of lining up to play the Golden State Warriors in round one if the playoffs began on the day this article was written.

Sadly, the Cinderella campaign of the Kings is over and we’ll have to wait until next year to discover if De’Aaron Fox and co. can replicate and improve upon this past campaign.

In the East, there are still three specific factions. Milwaukee and Toronto are in a tier of their own and won’t be caught. The 76ers, Celtics, and Pacers are in the next level vying to nab seeds three through five. Finally, the most active and interesting segment is seeds six, seven and eight. Five teams are still in the mix to land these seeds with the Pistons, Heat and Hornets waged in an all-out battle for the final East berth.

Additionally, the typical key stat categories are present with emphasis on the big three (offense, defense, and net differential). The other area affecting ranking is how teams performed in terms of who they won or lost against. Are the teams tanking, elite and is it a statement win?

Remaining schedules are dissected for insights on games already played (road vs. home and east vs. west performance) as well as the remaining strength of schedule and notably how many contests are against top offenses, defenses, and plus .500 clubs.

The closing slide provides excerpts and links to the national media power ranking lists.

Let’s do it!