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

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: Christian Wood #35 of the Detroit Pistons shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons:

Offense: (109.6) 16th
Defense: (111.3)  20th
Net: (minus -1.7) 17th

Results Week 14: (1-3): Won vs. Kings: 127-106, Lost vs. Wizards: 100-106, Grizzlies: 112-125,  Nets: 111-121
Games Week 15: (4 games) Mon vs. Cavaliers | Weds at Nets | Fri vs. Raptors | Sun vs. Nuggets
 

The Pistons are putting up some wins and vying to climb onto the ladder in that eighth seed but for as many good wins like the rout of the Kings, there are equally bad efforts like the loss to the Wizards in an uncharacteristically low scoring effort by Washington.

More importantly the focus for the Pistons shifts to whether their recent middling success equates to retaining players or if they shop certain vets (read: Derrick Rose and Andre Drummond) in an effort to build for the future?

Reggie Jackson made his return to the hardwood this week after missing 42 games this season. Jackson played in the games versus the Kings and Grizzlies but sat out the Nets match given his back was sore which is the same injury he missed all those games for.

His numbers were mixed with 22 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals in the victory over the Kings and 14 points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals in the loss to the Grizzlies.

How Jackson will affect both the Pistons’ overall chemistry and work in conjunction with Rose will be an interesting dynamic to keep an eye on moving forward.