Bleacher Report top 100 highlights OKC Thunder depth

Bleacher Report ranked its top 100 NBA players with the OKC Thunder landing five members on the list.

As of yesterday, the NBA season resumption is two weeks away. While fans anxiously await this date we’re devouring any information coming out of the Disney bubble on the OKC Thunder and 21 other teams.

Part and parcel of the restart is an analysis of who has the best shot of winning the title and which teams are the dark horse clubs at Orlando. Analysts and pundits all have personal opinions on what factors will afford certain clubs benefits or be considered weaknesses that can be exploited.

One thing you won’t find is many TV analysts or national sites who earmark the OKC Thunder as a team who’ll make a deep run. In fact, I’ve yet to hear anyone cite them as even having a shot.

The teams that are getting tapped as potential dark horses include the Rockets, Nuggets, Jazz, Mavericks, Pelicans, and Blazers. The interesting part of that equation is every team except the Thunder and Grizzlies among the current seeds has at least one expert giving them a vote of confidence.

Both LA teams are expected to meet in the Western Conference Finals while the majority favor the Celtics even ahead of the Bucks to come out of the East. The reason these teams are earmarked as favorites is a variety of factors. The most common reason cited is superstar talent and depth. Likewise, the teams who earn those ‘dark horse’ selections are also noted for similar strengths and sometimes for consistency of their program.

That’s why the recent Bleacher Report top 100 NBA players offer another perspective on which teams pundits view to have the greatest depth.

OKC Thunder among six teams with most players in BR top 100

Not surprisingly, the eight teams not attending the restart in Orlando have a total of 13 players who make the top 100 list. Or those teams the Hawks have three players while the Cavaliers and Wolves have two apiece, so more than half of the 13 from this group.

Of the 22 teams participating in the restart, two clubs (Wizards, Kings) have two representatives although both players from the Wizards are not in Orlando (Bradley Beal, Davis Bertans). It’s also a bit suspect Bogdan Bogdanovic doesn’t make the cut for the Kings.

The Lakers, Mavericks, Heat, Blazers, and Grizzlies have three players on the list while nine teams have four representatives. Those teams are the 76ers, Nets (Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie aren’t in Orlando), Pacers, Magic, Nuggets, Jazz, Rockets, Spurs, and Suns.

That leaves six teams that Bleacher Report considers to have five or more top 100 players. Four teams nab five representatives including the OKC Thunder.

Milwaukee Bucks:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (1)
• Khris Middleton (10) *It’s a reach to put Middleton 10th
• Eric Bledsoe (40 – not in Orlando yet due to testing positive for COVID-19)
• Brook Lopez (58)
• Donte DiVincenzo (100)
• Plus George Hill made the honorable mention list

Boston Celtics:

• Jayson Tatum (11)
• Kemba Walker (24)
• Jaylen Brown (30)
• Gordon Hayward 43)
• Marcus Smart (54)

OKC Thunder:

• Chris Paul (13)
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31)
• Danilo Gallinari (38)
• Steven Adams (57)
• Dennis Schroder (68)

New Orleans Pelicans:

• Jrue Holiday (25)
• Brandon Ingram (28)
• Zion Williamson (29)
• Lonzo Ball (56)
• Derrick Favors (60)
• Plus JJ Redick made the honorable mention list

And two teams topped the list with six representatives:

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• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Toronto Raptors:

• Pascal Siakam (17)
• Kyle Lowry (20)
• Fred VanVleet (42)
• Serge Ibaka (55)
• Marc Gasol (90)
• OG Anunoby (96)
• Plus Norman Powell made the honorable mention list

LA Clippers:

• Kawhi Paul (3)
• Paul George (16)
• Montrezl Harrell (59)
• Patrick Beverley (71)
• Lou Williams (86)
• Marcus Morris Sr.,  (92)

Adding in the honorable mentions that would place the Raptors first with seven players, the Bucks, Clippers, and Pelicans tied for second with six players while the Thunder and Celtics are tied in third with five players.

Considering these six teams have the most players ranked in the top 100 it’s odd the OKC Thunder never gets tapped as being a dark horse candidate. And, it’s also odd Luguentz Dort didn’t at least get the nod in the honorable mention section given how well he played defensively.  That’s the thing about ranking lists though- – everyone has

Ultimately, being an underdog and not having anyone consider your team as a threat can work to the club’s advantage. I’m just not sure opponents will see it the same way.

Fans shouldn’t expect the eight seeding game opponents or their first-round playoff adversary to underestimate them.