Thunderous Intentions
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Week 1 NBA Power Ranking the roller coaster ride begins

By Tamberlyn Richardson

OKC Thunder: Chris Paul #3 and Mike Conley #10 of the Utah Jazz talk after a game on October 23, 2019 (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder: Chris Paul #3 and Mike Conley #10 of the Utah Jazz talk after a game on October 23, 2019 (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder Power Ranking week 1
OKC Thunder Power Ranking week 1 01: T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Indiana Pacers

Offense: (103.5) – 20th
Defense: (113.4) –  25th
Net: minus -9.9 ) – 26th

Games Week 1: (0-2)
Games Week 2 (4 games): Oct. 28 at Pistons | Oct. 30 at Nets | Nov. 1 vs. Cavs | Nov. 3 vs. Bulls

Arguably the greatest shock in opening week was the performance (or lack thereof) by the Indiana Pacers. It wasn’t simply that they lost but how they lost and to who- the undermanned Pistons and the Cavaliers.

It’s somewhat understandable as the roster turnover was massive. Couple that with Nate McMillan trying to force the Myles Turner – Domantas Sabonis frontcourt pairing in the starting rotation. Although logically Turner and Sabonis should work given one can space the floor and one likes to play close to the basket they’ve never worked cohesively.

The other key not getting much burn (as I noted in the Kings section) is two teams expected to do well and struggled out of the gate were this Pacers squad and the Sacramento Kings. They each traveled overseas and historically teams who start the season in another country get off to slow starts.

We’ll need to keep an eye on this to see if they turn a corner in a few weeks as they sure haven’t looked close to the Pacers club who refused to lose last season.

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