NBA Power Rankings week 7 – OKC Thunder ascend the ladder

Offense: (103.6)  28th
Defense: (113.9) 27th
Net: ( minus -10.3)  29th

Games Week 7: (0-3) Lost to Pistons, Magic, 76ers
Games Week 8: (4 games):  Mon at Celts | Weds vs. Rockets | Thurs at Spurs | Sat at Bucks

Few positives to pull from week seven for the Cavaliers with troubles on and off the court. Three losses and the Magic loss was the only one by less than double-digits. Without Joel Embiid in the lineup, the 76ers spanked the Cavaliers behind a supremely confident Ben Simmons who was so comfortable he even put up another 3-pointer on route to a 47 point differential. Adding insult to injury the 41 point halftime lead the 76ers held was the worst mark in Cavaliers’ history.

Off court, there were rumblings of new Head Coach John Beilein already having lost the locker room. Granted, there is bound to be a major transition from coaching college ball to the pros with Stan VanGundy humorously telling NBA TV viewers the biggest difference is learning to deal with all the losses.

In all seriousness though, it would make sense having to deal with personalities is much different in the pros because in school the players are looking at the coach more as a mentor and instructor and while the same principles should apply in the pros the dynamics are essentially different with the players presumably having more input given the age diversity.