The NBA hits the quarter pole and this week’s NBA Power Rankings reflect the top 16 teams with the surprising OKC Thunder in the mix.
The quarter pole historically highlights the sixteen teams who will play in the postseason and while the OKC Thunder wasn’t expected to make the cut they have to this point. Moving forward the current seeding may change and be dramatic depending on how many players OKC Thunder General Manager Sam Presti trades.
More specifically, what the GM gets back in return for those trades will shape the future but how will they affect this season in particular? With the Thunder gelling and constantly being in the mix at game end, massive changes could make a huge difference.
All teams have played 20 games giving us the early playoff indication of the top 16 seeds (eight from each Conference). They are:
East:
- Milwaukee Bucks: 20-3
- Boston Celtics: 16-5
- Miami Heat: 17-6
- Philadelphia 76ers: 17-7
- Toronto Raptors: 15-7
- Indiana Pacers: 15-8
- Brooklyn Nets: 13-10
- Orlando Magic: 11-11
West:
- LA Lakers: 21-3
- LA Clippers: 17-7
- Dallas Mavericks: 16-7
- Houston Rockets: 15-7
- Denver Nuggets: 14-7
- Utah Jazz: 13-10
- OKC Thunder 10-12
- Phoenix Suns: 10-12
Typically the teams in this position at the quarter pole are the same teams who will be the seeded playoff teams. However, with so much fluctuation in the West, this year could be very different and the end result could vary from the historical trend.
For now, however, this current placement affects the TI NBA Power Rankings for week seven and with that let’s dive in ….