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NBA Power Rankings week 14: OKC Thunder among the ‘road warriors’

By Tamberlyn Richardson

JANUARY 20: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets (Photo by Cato Cataldo/NBAE via Getty Images)
JANUARY 20: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets (Photo by Cato Cataldo/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder, NBA Power Rankings Week 14
OKC Thunder, NBA Power Rankings Week 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on against the Orlando Magic (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

team. 77. . 33-14. Previous: 3rd. Los Angeles Clippers. 3

LA Clippers:

Offense: (112.4) 5th
Defense: (106.0) 6th
Net: (plus +6.4) 5th

Results Week 14: (3-1): Won vs. Mavericks: 110-107, Heat: 113-99, Magic: 112-97, Lost to Hawks: 95-102
Games Week 15: (3 games) Tues at Lakers | Thurs vs. Kings | Sat vs. Wolves

Interesting rumors out of the Clippers camp this week regarding chemistry issues in the locker room and dissatisfaction with the “star treatment” of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

TI noted this just last week (and previously) in the power rankings so we’re not buying there is no truth to the rumors.

The Athletic article noted the Clippers felt they’d turned a corner yet the reasons behind this might not be as comforting as they should be. First and most importantly Doc Rivers isn’t about to let this fester in the media. The team could be at each other’s throats and he would be the one standing center court chanting “om”.

An easy recent schedule including four days off helped the club. However, the fact remains six of the Clippers’ 14 losses are versus sub .500 squads. Of those, the 114-140 beat down by the Grizzlies was the most concerning. With Rivers trying to tell everyone things were blown out of proportion and all is fine week 14 served up reasons not to drink the Koolaid Doc is serving.

Just eight games after that seeming low point LA lost again to a sub .500 team. And not just any lower-tier team but the Hawks who were playing without the services of star Trae Young.

No, this isn’t the end of the growing pains for the Clippers — but if Doc has anything to say about it fans won’t be hearing about it via the players again.

As for the good news, Kawhi Leonard earned the All-Star start and collected his first career triple-double (522 regular-season games) in Miami.

This week serves up another tipoff versus their Staples Center partners and if the Clippers win again expect a shift on the board next week.

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