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

Brooklyn Nets:

Week 11: 2-0
Won vs: Spurs 124-113 (OT), Rockets 132-114

Week 12 opponents: Celtics, Pistons

Offense: (118.2) 1st
Defense: (113.6) 26th
Net: (Plus +4.2) 7th

So the Nets land in the top position on the ladder although they are here under protest (I’m joking — but I’m not). Remember when Kevin Durant balked at super teams?

Well then he joined the Warriors although he refused to admit they were a super team so don’t expect him to admit the Nets are a super team either.

Sure, they have himself, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and the recently added Blake Griffin accompanied by Joe Harris who is shooting 50.6 percent from deep (tops for all players). But, Brooklyn still owns the 26th ranked defense despite refs suddenly treating James Harden and Kyrie like all defensive players based on how they are officiated.

Suffice to say, I’m not thrilled about placing Brooklyn here. As noted throughout this article I’m  a proponent of parity in the league and what the Nets are doing is infuriating. It’s one thing if a franchise goes out and legitimately recruits free agents or makes savvy draft moves and trades.

But this Nets team was built via the collusion of Durant and Irving followed by Harden petulantly demanding to be traded there. And, now Blake Griffin will cash the huge check the Pistons paid him to offer this services at a pittance of the cost.

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• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Although some will say any team can do that the reality is that is a false message.  The one and only time that happened was in Cleveland because of LeBron and even then they didn’t have top-end free agents flocking to play in the land.

It’s an unfair advantage for ten teams in the league (two LA clubs, two New York teams, Golden State, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Houston and Philadelphia). The brutal truth is 20 other clubs don’t have the same leverage and that puts them at a major disadvantage.

Moreover, there are only a handful of players of the ilk of Damian Lillard and Shai Gilgeous -Alexander who are happy to be in a small market and the face of their franchise. That means clubs have to draft quality players and then hope they’ll re-sign when it’s time. That also puts the 20 other teams in a bad situation because it decreases the championship window if they have to constantly worry about defections or trade demands.

Ultimately, the Nets are considered the prohibitive favorite to come out of the East although at least one NBA fan will be pulling for every opponent they face.

As for the OKC Thunder at least Sam Presti has increased the franchise odds via the draft capital in hand and the quality of character players in house. Let’s hope that’s enough to counter the big market super teams when they’re ready to compete for the title.

That wraps up the power rankings at the halfway mark.  Let us know where you rank the OKC Thunder and other clubs in the comment section.