Where national NBA pundits rank OKC Thunder in week 4

The National pundits provide week four NBA power rankings. Discover where the top sites and experts rank the OKC Thunder.

With week five of the 2019-20 NBA season underway the National pundits and bloggers reflect back on week four seeding all 30 teams. Thunderous Intentions weekly rankings are coming shortly but in the interim, it’s interesting to note how each of the top analysts is ranking the OKC Thunder.

As per usual, each of the top sites varies in their opinions and some pundits are respecting the energy the Thunder are bringing to the court while others are more impressed by wins than overall stats.

Here’s how the top-ranked National sites and blogs rank the OKC Thunder in week four:

NBA.com – John Schuhmann:

Through four weeks John Schuhmann has remained resolute in placing the OKC Thunder in the middle to lower tier of the pack.

In week one the stats master seeded the team in 20th, week two he jumped the club three rungs to 17th and in week three he raised them one spot to 16th and holds them steady at 16th again in week four.

Schuhmann points out the issues with the Thunder third quarter and how that puts them in hot water as they try to close out games. The following is a portion of his excerpt:

"Only the Grizzlies have been worse in the third quarter than the Thunder, who have been outscored by 20.7 points per 100 possessions in the first 12 minutes after halftime and were outscored 112-68 in the third over a three-game stretch prior to Friday. They allowed another 34 points in the third that night, but were able to recover by shooting 11-for-16 from the field and 17-for-17 from the line as they outscored the Sixers, 42-25, over the final 12:06 of their overtime win."

The rest of the above excerpt and full NBA power rankings can be viewed in its entirety by clicking this link.

ESPN – Panel

ESPN’s panel:

ESPN: Tim MacMahon |Andre’ Snellings | Royce Young | Bobby Marks

The Undefeated: Marc J. Spears

After finally raising the OKC Thunder up to 18th last week the panel moves them up again in week four to 17th.  Royce Young offers the excerpt on OKC noting how well Chris Paul is playing while still dominating but also helping to get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander experience and aid in his growth.

Click this link for the full panel rankings.

"He started slowly, but Chris Paul has quietly put together a couple of weeks of very good basketball. His game Friday against the 76ers was vintage Point God stuff, with him running the game down the stretch, mastering the midrange, finding open shooters for daggers and competing in mismatches on the defensive end. The Thunder are plus-3.3 points per 100 possessions with Paul on the floor and minus-5.3 with him off. Assists are at a career low, but that’s more an indication of Paul’s buy-in to give Shai Gilgeous-Alexander room to breathe than anything else. — Young"

Bleacher Report:

Grant Hughes extols on the prowess of Chris Paul this week in his rankings and is impressed enough to move them up another rung on his ladder to 17th this week. The following is a section of his excerpt on the Thunder and his full comments and rankings can be found via this link.

"Paul isn’t the same play-to-play dominant force he was in his prime, but his steadying influence (zero turnovers in 38 minutes against Philly) meshes perfectly with a youthful collection of athletic guards and developing talents like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It also helps that CP3 is hitting a career-best 42.0 percent from long range and is running more pick-and-rolls than he did in either of his Houston years."

Sports Illustrated – The Crossover

Michael Shapiro seeded the OKC Thunder in 17th last week and holds them steady at that spot again this week. Shapiro notes the changes to the squad in terms of their rebounding and style.

The Crossover writer’s full ranking can be viewed here.

"The Thunder thrived on the offensive glass in the Russell Westbrook era, leading the league last season with Westbrook, Paul George and Steven Adams punishing teams on the board despite shaky percentages from three. This year’s squad is more conventional with the league’s No. 27 offensive rebounding rate, understandably so given the roster’s current athletic limitations. Oklahoma City’s stylistic transformation is among the league’s most jarring."

Hoops Habit:

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Phil Watson has been the OKC Thunder biggest supporter through the first three weeks of action ranking them the highest of all the pundits. However, all good things apparently do come to an end as Watson slides the Thunder down to 17th this week.

Watson cites the two sides of the spectrum with the blowout loss to the Pacers and then upset win over the 76ers as his reason for the drop in his ranking.

The following is a portion of the excerpt on OKC. The rest along with Watson’s full listings can be viewed by clicking this link.

"It was a light week for the Thunder last week — an overtime win over the scuffing 76ers after being blown out at Indiana.Chris Paul certainly reflected the extremes, scoring 27 points with eight rebounds and five assists against Philadelphia after mustering seven points with eight dimes, four boards and three steals in 25 minutes against the Pacers."

CBS Sports:

Colin Ward-Henninger of CBS Sports power rankings placed the OKC Thunder 18th in week four dropping them one spot from 17th last week. Like Hoops Habit writer Watson he notes the blowout loss and big win over the 76ers and feels the Thunder’s depth is lacking. His full power ranking can be viewed via this link.

"OKC was blown out by the Pacers, then turned around and picked up a huge home win over the 76ers. The Thunder’s net rating is almost dead even, which is consistent with them playing pretty much like a .500 team so far. They have a solid core in Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Steven Adams, but they simply don’t have the depth to win consistently right now."

That wraps up week four of the National writers power rankings with them all ranking the Thunder in one of three positions and all in sequential order. The lowest placement is 18th and the highest 16th.

Make sure to check back to see how Thunderous Intentions rank all the teams and where the OKC Thunder is seeded in our opinion.