NBA Power Rankings week 11: OKC Thunder continues hot streak
![OKC Thunder Nerlens Noel (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) OKC Thunder Nerlens Noel (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/18517de3d362f8aa416abd2a0146be19376ee8fda283e57c474a0ac41453ca90.jpg)
Previous: 21st. New Orleans Pelicans. 18. team. 69. . 12-24
New Orleans Pelicans:
Offense: (107.8) 20th
Defense: (112.1) 26th
Net: (minus -4.3) 24th
Games Week 11 (1-1): Won vs. Kings: 117-115, Lost to Lakers: 113-123
Games Week 12 (4 games): Mon vs. Jazz | Weds vs. Bulls | Fri at Knicks | Sat at Celtics
The Pelicans are winning and putting together stretches of solid games. Through the last six games, they’ve won five. Entering week 12 they’ll get shots at two sub .500 teams and two elite squads.
Health has played a bigger part of the equation this season than Alvin Gentry could’ve planned for but if they can continue to post victories and keep everyone on the court they’ll join the chase pack for a playoff seed.
As they finish week 11 they are three games off the pace to catch the eight seed which isn’t insurmountable if everything bounces right.
The win over the Kings was a lucky break for the Pels who had a double-digit lead entering clutch time then coughed it up and needed a JJ Redick bail out shot to retain the victory.
That said, of the young teams having players like Redick, Favors and Holiday on your squad can be the difference in close games when a veteran’s voice can be the calm required.th