The first full week of action since teams returned from the break finds the OKC Thunder doing something they aren’t supposed to do — winning!
Some of their counterparts are on extensive streaks moving in both directions. The Rockets are the outlier as they enter week 13 mired in a 15-game losing streak.
With the trade deadline looming, the final days leading up to the 25th will be invaluable. Clubs will decide if they are buyers, sellers, or elect to remain status quo.
Given the oddity of this season though this could be the busiest trade deadline in years. Due to the tightly grouped tiers and the play-in tournament, copious clubs will seek to bolster their rosters in an effort to improve their postseason chances.
That may well have a huge impact on OKC. The Thunder has several veteran talents with quality skill sets and specialties that could propel a team from the middle of the pact into the upper echelon.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the Thunder star frequently cited in the Thunder excerpts but this week his co-star is rookie Aleksej Pokusevski who also earns high praise.
National writers raise OKC Thunder in week 12 of power rankings
With that, let’s look at how the national sites ranked the OKC Thunder in week 12 of the power rankings.
Overall, the national writers ranked the OKC Thunder in a three-rung range with a high of 20th and a low of 23rd. Let’s dive into their individual comments and specific ranking.
NBA.com – John Schuhmann:
As TI readers know the narrator can’t wait for John Schuhmann’s Monday morning power rankings to discover all the wonderful stats he serves up.
This week on top of the stats, we’re treated to an OKC Thunder offering from Schuhmann that used “gumption” as part of his comments on rookie Aleksej Pokusevski. Let’s be serious –if someone is going to use a word to describe your effort gumption ranks at the top of the list!
Week 12 found the stats master raising the Thunder up three rungs from 23rd to 20th. To view Schuhmann’s full Thunder excerpt and the rest of his power rankings click this link.
"Gather ’round, kids. It’s time for another G League success story. Through Feb. 1, Aleksej Pokusevski had shot 25% (with 93 field goal attempts and not a single trip to the free throw line) and the Thunder had been outscored by 12.8 points per 100 possessions in his 296 minutes on the floor. Then he spent a month in the G League bubble and, though he didn’t shoot much better there, he came back looking more comfortable, and he helped their Thunder win two of their three games last week…jHis behind-the-back pass to a rolling Al Horford against the Knicks on Saturday didn’t lead to a bucket, but it was a glimpse of his gumption."
ESPN Poll:
In week 12, Royce Young pinpoints the biggest issue the OKC Thunder are experiencing — the tanking Thunder can’t stop winning!
The panel moves the Thunder up one spot from 24th to 23rd. Writer Royce Young provides the excerpt for the panel’s full listing click here.
"Despite an obvious goal to draft high in the lottery, the Thunder can’t stop winning. On Sunday against the Grizzlies, four starters sat and they played fourth-quarter lineups without a point guard or shooting guard. Their odd success is due in part to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s underrated stardom, but it’s also because of role players like Kenrich Williams and Mike Muscala. Take a guess which players have the two highest on/off differentials on the Thunder. Not SGA. Not Al Horford. Not Lu Dort. It’s Williams and Muscala; when they’re on the floor, the Thunder are almost eight points per 100 possessions better than when they’re off. — Young"
Bleacher Report:
Mo Dakhil has praised Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all season and this week is no exception. However, SGA gets company in Dakhil’s week 12 excerpt as the Bleacher Report columnist cites rookie Aleksej Pokusevski’s breakout week.
Dakhil moves the OKC Thunder up two rungs from 24th to 22nd. A portion of his excerpt is below and the full Thunder segment plus his full ranking is available here.
"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in the midst of an All-Star-caliber season, but he is not the only Thunder player having big moments. Aleksej Pokusevski had a great week showing off his promise. He put up 13.7 points per game, shot 35 percent from three and pulled down 8.3 boards. Pokusevski went off against the Grizzlies with a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds."
CBS Sports:
As per usual CBS Sports writer, Colin Ward-Henninger is quicker to credit clubs who have a strong week over where they might end up. That was true this week and he was suitably impressed by the impact of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And the rook Aleksej Pokusevski also made the cut in his comments
Ward-Henniger like his counterparts raises the Thunder three spots from 23rd to 20th. To see where he ranks all 30 teams click this link.
"OKC’s only loss this week came without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against the Knicks, with wins over the Mavericks (minus Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis) and the Grizzlies. Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant in both wins, averaging 31 points and 5.5 assists on 46 percent 3-point shooting. NBA Twitter favorite Aleksej Pokusevski averaged nearly 33 minutes per game this week after his G League stint, putting up a career-high 23 points in Sunday’s win over Memphis, while Moses Brown averaged 10 points and 8.3 rebounds in three games."
Hoops Habit:
Our sister site Hoops Habit writer Corey Rausch offers up arguably the most compelling question of week 12 (as per part of the excerpt below). And, like the majority of his peers gave the Thunder a bump up the ladder in week 12 from his previous week rank of 23rd up two rungs to 21st.
The following is a portion of his comments on the OKC Thunder. The remainder of that segment and his full power rankings can be found by clicking here.
"Question: Is Shai Gilgeous- Alexander the next young guard to miss an All-Star game and then go on a tear?Truthfully, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a better case to make the All-Star game this season than Mike Conley, who made it as an injury replacement at the last minute. Conley had the narrative and the emotional ties that made many (myself included) lean toward him getting the nod. But even before considering that, Gilgeous-Alexander was a snub."
Where do you rank the OKC Thunder? Let us know in the comments section.