The 2020-21 season has reached the stage typically called ‘the stretch run’. It’s the time of year when teams look to build momentum heading into the postseason. That’s not the case for the OKC Thunder who have no designs on a playoff run. Rather the franchise is approaching this season with an entirely different mindset.
For the first time in the 13-year franchise history, the Thunder are actively trying to lose games. We can sugarcoat the losing by stating it’s a development period and an opportunity to gauge specific player growth but the primary goal is to collect as many losses as possible through the final 19 games.
In week 16, the Thunder overachieved at reaching their goal by losing all four matches. They began the week dropping a 108-132 match to former teammates Jerami Grant and Hamidou Diallo of the Pistons. On Wednesday, they lost 102-113 to the Hornets in the only competitive match of the week.
Case in point, the Cavaliers (102-129) and 76ers (93-117) served up two more defeats by margins of over 20 points. Even with four losses they dropped only one spot in seeding but made up some ground on the teams underneath them.
OKC Thunder plummet down National power rankings list in week 16
A scan around the national sites provides a common thread to the power rankings this week. Former OKC Thunder captain Chris Paul and his Suns hit the top of the ladder on many of the listings while the Thunder plummeted hitting the bottom rung on a few.
Overall the Thunder are positioned on a range of five ladder rungs with a high of 26th and a low of 30th.
Let’s take a look at the National writers’ comments on the Thunder and the specific ranking of the team.
NBA.com – John Schuhmann:
For the first time this year, the statmaster John Schuhmann drops the OKC Thunder to the bottom rung of the ladder. He also puts up some red flags regarding the play (or rather the effort) of Aleksej Pokusevski.
The NBA week16 full listings and the rest of his Thunder excerpt can be viewed here.
"It’s not breaking news to say that Aleksej Pokusevski needs to get stronger. When Saddiq Bey got into him on one third quarter possession on Monday, the Thunder rookie promptly lost the ball. His turnover rate of 14.9 per 100 possessions is the 12th highest among 312 players who’ve averaged at least 15 minutes. Still, at 19 years old, energy shouldn’t be an issue. So to see him put minimal effort in navigating a pair of screens in the same game should set off a mini alarm bell. Pokusevski has ridiculous length, which he used to get two straight blocks (after he got out-muscled for a rebound) while barely leaving the floor in that same against the Pistons. But his 1.3 deflections per 36 minutes rank just 266th among 310 players who’ve played at least 500 minutes."
ESPN Poll:
Following the pattern of the group the panel also pushes the Thunder down the power rankings ladder. Royce Young jokes about the tank by citing the development of the team, but he, like everyone knows this is a purposeful direction.
The panel drops the Thunder two spots from 24th to 26th in week 16. Young’s excerpt is below and the full power rankings are available by clicking here.
"While the Thunder are finally settling into their, ahem, developmentally focused strategy (aka losing games), they have battled against a rash of injuries that has thinned out the roster. But it also has allowed for more opportunity for their young players to learn and grow, particularly rookies Theo Maledon and Aleksej Pokusevski. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, against the Hornets they became the first pair of teammates, both teenagers, to each score at least 25 points in a game in NBA history. — Young"
Bleacher Report:
Mo Dakhil like his counterparts drops the Thunder down his seedings. OKC fall three spots from 23rd to 26th in week 16. To view the full excerpt and his full listing click here.
"The Thunder have gone 1-9 in their last 10 games and have lost their last six. The games have not been close. Oklahoma City still has a lot of losing to do to get into the bottom three for the best lottery odds.Despite all the losses, two Thunder rookies have stood out over the 10 games. Theo Maledon and Aleksej Pokusevski have been Oklahoma City’s top scorers over that stretch. Maledon has averaged 15.8 points and 4.7 rebounds a game. Pokusevski has put up 13.8 points and shot 38.2 percent from three."
CBS Sports:
Colin Ward-Henniger like John Schuhmann drops the Thunder to the bottom rung in week 16 of his power rankings. It’s a six rung drop down his positional ladder from 24th to dead last in 30th.
For his full rankings click this link.
"The tank appears to have finally caught up with the Thunder as they suffered four more blowout losses this week, including to the Pistons and Cavs, to extend their losing streak to six games. Lu Dort and Darius Bazley returned to the lineup on Saturday, which provided some help for Theo Maledon, Aleksej Pokusevski and Kenrich Williams, who had been running the show without them."
Hoops Habit:
Corey Rausch of Hoops Habit emulates the same mindset of all the National columnists this week by dropping the OKC Thunder down the ladder. He also notes the obvious choice by the Thunder to lose as much as they can down the stretch.
Rausch drops the Thunder four rungs in his seedings this week from 25th to 29th.
A portion of his excerpt is below while the full entry and remainder of his power rankings click here.
"The OKC Thunder seem to be content not winning a game for the rest of the season, trying to catch up in the race to the bottom with the rest of the league’s tanking teams. They have lost six games in a row and nine of their last 10. At this point the Thunder are not looking at one specific x-factor, considering their ostensible franchise player (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) is out indefinitely."
There you have it – the week 16 power rankings musings of the National sites. Do you think they waited too long to drop the Thunder down or were they credited the team for the early efforts? Let us know in the comments section.