OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings -Griffin buyout shifts ladder at half way mark

OKC Thunder power rankings at halfway mark Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden and new Nets player Blake Griffin: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
OKC Thunder power rankings at halfway mark Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden and new Nets player Blake Griffin: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) controls the ball against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15): Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

73. . 21-15. Previous: 8th. Denver Nuggets. 5. team

Denver Nuggets:

Week 11: 3-0
Won vs: Bulls 118-112, Bucks 128-97, Pacers 113-103

Week 12 opponents: @Grizzlies, Mavericks

Offense: (116.5) 5th
Defense: (111.1) 14th
Net: (Plus +5.4) 4th

Denver made a quick turnaround from a lackluster season start. They entered the break on a four-game win streak and winners of nine of their last 13 games.

Much of the recent success can be tied to Jamal Murray rediscovering his scoring prowess. Yet, the other tangible change has been on the defensive end of the hardwood.

At the end of week four, the Nuggets ranked 25th defensively and now have risen to 14th. That shift was bolstered during their recent six games when they ranked seventh defensively during that stretch. That fact becomes more impressive when you consider their best perimeter and guard/wing defender Gary Harris has missed the last eight games and 15 of the last 16.

The other factor is the play of Michael Porter Jr who has produced five double-doubles (17.0 points, 10.5 rebounds) in his last six games. Denver won five of those games. It’s an obvious point to make but when MPJ plays to his potential the Nuggets win and he sure makes the load on Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic lighter.