NBA Power Rankings week 6- the quarter pole finds OKC Thunder defying the odds

Offense: (111.2 ) – 5th
Defense: (102.3) – 2nd
Net: (plus +8.8) – 2nd

Games Week 6: (4-0) Win vs. 76ers, Knicks, Magic, Jazz
Games Week 7 (3 games): Tues, Dec. 3 vs Heat | Thurs, Dec. 5 vs. Rockets | Sun, Dec 8 at 76ers

Remember when I said — DON’T sleep on the Raptors?

Want reasons why this team might still be among the cream of the Eastern crop? Sure, the Bucks hold the edge on them just like they did last season. But there are palpable differences when the playoffs arrive, not the least of which is the Raptors can lock down individual stars and without a bonafide second superstar, teams will be hard pressed to beat Toronto on both sides of the hardwood. And even that’s not a certainty (see Lakers).

The Raptors can win matches that get ugly via shutting down teams for 12 consecutive possessions and go scoreless for six minutes at a time (see Magic 12 point third quarter). No lead is safe as the Raptors can explode at any given moment with 13 of the 15 players on the roster more than capable of hitting the 3-ball (see Jazz and Raptors 77 point – 40 point differential first half)

They lead the league in perimeter scoring (40.2 percent), opponent field goal percentage (40.8%), and fast break scoring (19.6 points). Furthermore, they are second in points scored off turnovers (20.1) and are third in perimeter defense (33.2%)

If there is a problem for Nick Nurse it might be figuring out his rotations as Serge Ibaka returned versus the Jazz after missing 10 games and Kyle Lowry should be back this week.

While that duo was out another trio stepped up – and will be hard to keep off the floor:

• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson: although he doesn’t shoot the 3-ball he doesn’t need to. He did serve up 10..5 points, 6.9 rebounds (3.2 on the offensive glass) and provided lockdown defense.
• Chris Boucher: 9.9 points, 6.6 rebounds (3.2 on the offensive glass) and rim protection.
• Undrafted rookie Terence Davis: 10.8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists while shooting 46.7 percent from deep on 4.1 attempts.

And that’s not even factoring in Norman Powell who will return to the bench with Lowry’s return. Nurse could quite literally run out two separate lines at this point. It’s a good problem to have but he’ll need to manage it carefully as Ibaka and Lowry’s return is likely to throw a wrench in the rhythm the team has been playing so successfully.

This week will afford Nurse the opportunity to test utilizing everyone as Toronto face top tier talents – the Heat, Rockets, and 76ers. That’s a tough sled while trying to transition back to the full complement of personnel.

They’ll slide lower, but given they were the only team who ranked top five in the three big categories this week afforded them the third slot.