OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings week 10 – All-Star break edition

Utah Jazz:

Week 10: 3-1
Won vs: Hornets 132-110, Lakers 114-89, Magic 124-109
Lost to: Heat 116-124

Opponents this week: Pelicans, 76ers

Offensive Rating: 117 (3rd) | Defensive Rating: 107.5 (3rd) | Net Differential: +9.5 (1st)

There’s a certain similarity between this year’s Jazz and last season’s Bucks. You might recall the Bucks played a slew of games with the opponent superstar or core player(s) out.

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• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

For example, here’s a few opponents and stars who were notably not on the court when Utah played them:

• Nets – Kevin Durant (and pre-James Harden)
• Cavaliers – Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, and Andre Drummond
• Hawks – Trae Young
• Bucks – Jrue Holiday
• 76ers – Joel Embiid
• Pacers – TJ Warren and Caris LeVert
• Clippers – Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Nic Batum
• Lakers – Anthony Davis and Dennis Schroder

Notably, each of the Mavericks, Bucks, and Celtics were struggling when Utah played them.

What separates the Jazz from the Bucks however is they have a coach in Quin Snyder who is adept at making in-game, in-the-moment tweaks. Even the system has been massaged over the past few seasons from a primarily defensive focus to a more versatile offense.

It certainly doesn’t appear like the Jazz will regress with an easier second-half schedule on tap. So the big question will be how successfully the system translates in the postseason.

That wraps up Intentions’ ranking of all 30 teams as they play their last few games to finish the first half and arrive at the break.

Where do you have the OKC Thunder in your power rankings and which teams do you think should be at the top of the ladder? Let us know in the comments section.