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NBA power rankings week 13: Halfway mark, OKC Thunder hold steady

By Tamberlyn Richardson

OKC Thunder Power Ranking W13 Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder Power Ranking W13 Chris Paul #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brandon Ingram #14 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the OKC Thunder look on during game on November 29(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

69. . 16-27. Previous: 19th. New Orleans Pelicans. 17. team

New Orleans Pelicans:

Offense: (109.1) 19th
Defense: (112.7)  tied 25th
Net: (minus -3.6) 24th

Games Week 13 (2-1): Won vs. Pistons: 117-110 (OT), Jazz: 138-132 (OT), Lost vs. Clippers: 130-133
Games Week 14 (4 games): Mon at Grizzlies | Weds vs. Spurs | Fri vs. Nuggets | Sun vs Celtics

The Pelicans might want to circle week 13 on their calendars and add an exclamation mark. They finished their three-game week with a 16-27 record winning back to back overtime games prior to the loss to the Clippers although they almost pulled off the upset in that match too.

In case there were any fans, media members or players who needed additional insights on why Brandon Ingram should be a first time All-Star he served up a career-high 49 points (15 of 25 from the field) in the win versus the Jazz. Notably, Ingram delivered this performance one game after he didn’t play due to a sore right knee.

And — that wasn’t the biggest news of the Pelicans week! David Griffin announced Zion Williamson will make his NBA debut next week at home versus the Spurs (Wednesday, January 22nd).  Some in the media voiced disappointment the Duke star can’t play one game sooner since that game is against the Memphis Grizzlies and Nationally televised.

Presumably, the Pelicans prefer Zion makes his debut on home court (or the pessimists in us might assume it’s more likely the brain trust doesn’t want to put extra pressure on Williamson to feel a need to perform given the extra TV attention or against the kid who is seemingly a lock to win Rookie of the Year — yeah the same award everyone engraved Zion’s name on in preseason predictions.

Regardless, it’s great news all around for the Pelicans.

Oh, and for what it’s worth here’s a little tidbit to chew on —-

It took New Orleans 28 games to amass six wins and the next 15 to collect another 10. Aside from the loss to the Warriors the other four losses were all to home court seeded clubs including the Lakers, Jazz, Celtics, and Clippers.

This fact coupled with Zion’s impending return next week has everyone asking if New Orleans could be the most dangerous team in the chase pack for the eighth seed.

Again, the Pelicans will play the Grizzlies in Memphis on Monday trailing the upstarts by 4.5 games for that final playoff berth. After a season of jockeying by the Spurs, Blazers, and Wolves could the real battle for eighth come down to these two young clubs?

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