OKC Thunder: End of losing streak credited in week 19 power rankings

The NBA has hit the final stretch with two weeks of regular season play remaining. The OKC Thunder have seven games remaining. While most teams are in the midst of jostling for playoff position or to get into the play-in tournament the Thunder are invested in their own race — the tank race.

First though, in week 19, OKC needed to take care of business and stop that 14-game losing streak. That it came against a quality team like the Celtics offered the fan base a feel-good moment for April.

To that end, it was the only win in April but spoke to franchise character and culture that none of the players wanted to be saddled with the longest losing streak in Thunder annals. Instead, the 2020-21 iteration of the Thunder will be co-owners with the 2008-09 squad of that record. There’s a certain symmetry in that especially if the rise upward emulates that group of youngsters.

OKC Thunder climb upward in week 19 National power rankings

In week 20 the OKC Thunder will follow up the five-game week with another busy schedule featuring four games. OKC will open and close the week versus the Kings and play the Golden State Warriors in between. No rest for the weary!

Despite a 1-4 performance in week 19 many of the national sites credited the Thunder for their victory in Boston and performance versus the Suns.

The national writers rank the Thunder with a high of 28th and a low of 30th.

The following offers excerpts from those sites and writers and links to their week 19 power rankings.

NBA.com – John Schuhmann:

Week 19 served up so many quality performances by individuals, clutch time victories, and must-watch games TI knew John Schuhmann would be all over it.

Few writers can deliver statistical information to elicit excitement like Schuhmann — but he accomplishes it on a weekly basis. (note: Zach Lowe and Kevin Arnovitz are other worthy talents in that regard).

This week the statmaster positions the team 30th — the same spot as last week. A portion of his Thunder insight is highlighted below, but check out the full excerpt and all those incredible stats he wove into his week 19 power rankings.

"The Thunder had a top-10 defense at the All-Star break and they still ranked 11th the day after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played his last game. This team overachieved — the Thunder were 19-24 (better than the Pelicans) after Gilgeous-Alexander’s last game — because it played tough and organized on that end of the floor. There was some probably come luck with 3-point shooting in that top-10 defense; The Thunder ranked fourth in opponent 3-point percentage at the break and rank 27th since the break. But they also ranked fourth (and remain in the top five) in opponent free throw rate and 12th in defensive rebounding percentage.…But those first 11 weeks were evidence that coach Mark Daigneault can make the most of what he’s been given and that this team can be competitive when it wants to be."

ESPN Poll:

The ESPN panel and writer Royce Young also point to the ‘big loss’ this week as the reason for their low ranking.  Young offers a logical explanation of how the lineups have featured fewer and fewer rotational players. TI has referred to it as Mark Daigneault mastering the art of tank.

In week 19 the panel veers from their prior 26th ranking dropping OKC to 29th a three ladder rung drop. To view all the team excerpts and panel seeding for the week click here.

"The Thunder’s 57-point loss to the Pacers was probably the low point of the season, but it really wasn’t all that surprising of an outcome. They’ve been playing fewer and fewer rotation-level NBA players, instead approaching the last few weeks with a very developmental and experimental mindset. They’ve made major progress on securing top-4 lottery odds, though; they are currently fifth worst, and with the Timberwolves rising, things are looking up (down?) for OKC. — Young"

Bleacher Report:

Writer Mo Dakhil of Bleacher Report cites the 57 point margin of loss the Thunder suffered versus the Pacers as his reason for OKC’s placement. Last week, Dakhil seeded OKC 27th but while he notes the horrid five games in seven days that loss cost OKC the bottom rung.

Dakhil’s full excerpt and listing can be found here.

"It was a brutal schedule last week for the Thunder with five games in seven days. Despite the circumstances, Oklahoma City was able to end its 14-game losing streak with a big road win against the Celtics. Then the team continued to lose the last three games of the week…Even though they are tanking, losing by 57 points is enough of a reason to put them in the basement of the power rankings."

CBS Sports:

It’s hard not to smirk at CBS writer Colin Ward-Henniger nod to the tank via “Lu Dort was granted permission”. CWH sums up in those few words the art of the tank for Mark Daigneault.

As for his week 19 power rankings, the scribe moves the Thunder up a spot from dead last to 29th. That’s partially a hat tip to beating Boston and more likely due to the poor showing of the Cavaliers this past week.

Click here to view CWH’s full power rankings for week 19.

"The Thunder played five games this week, and they actually won one, snapping a 14-game losing streak. They also lost one by 57 points, the largest home loss in NBA history, so things are truly in the eye of the beholder here. Lu Dort was granted permission to play in three of the five games this week, averaging 17 points, while Ty Jerome caught fire, putting up 14.3 points per game on 58 percent 3-point shooting."

Hoops Habit:

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Hoops Habit writer Corey Rausch credits the OKC Thunder for correcting their overachievement in the first half of the season. In his week 19 power rankings, he raises OKC up three rungs from 30th to 28th. To view the full excerpt and the rest of his seeding click this link.

"The owners of the worst record in the month of April, the Oklahoma City Thunder surprisingly do not feel all that bad about it. They have put together a collection of young talent that impresses night in and a night out while correcting the issues from earlier in the season of possibly winning too many games. That changed in April, as the Thunder won only one of their 16 games and have pushed their way back into ping pong ball contention."

That wraps up what the national sites and analysts thought of the OKC Thunder in week 19 of action. Just two weeks of regular season power rankings remain.