OKC Thunder remain low on ladder in final week of power rankings

With the NBA season complete the OKC Thunder begins the process of packing up lockers and offseason homework. It was a trying year, particularly after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Al Horford, and Mike Muscala were shut down.

As a franchise known for its competitiveness, it took a while for the club to embrace the tank, and even in the final game weren’t able to stick with it one more game.

That choice potentially cost the Thunder the top draft pick (and maybe one of the top three) which we won’t know until June 22nd when the NBA Draft Lottery takes place.

Some of the sites Intentions regularly features finished their power rankings segments in the penultimate week of action but there are still a number of sites that offered a closing list.

OKC Thunder final position in week 21 National power rankings

In the final week of the schedule, the OKC Thunder closed out the season with losses to the Kings and Jazz but finished the week with a win over the Clippers. That victory removed the Thunder from the potential to nab one of the coveted bottom three positions to have 14 percent odds to win the lottery.

Several pundits noted that move in their Thunder excepts and most also cited how difficult it was for the Thunder to abandon the typically competitive nature of the franchise.

Week 21 also witnessed several sites move the Thunder higher up their ladder as many sites elected to view the season and the future with equal regard. That resulted in OKC ranking as low as 30th and as high as 26th.

The following notes comments from the National sites, where the Thunder rank on the power rankings list and includes an excerpt with a link to each article.

NBA.com – John Schuhmann:

The stats master final offering was offered last week. It’s likely another playoff version will follow once the play-in games are completed.

In week 20 he placed the OKC Thunder on the bottom rung in 30th. To review his final power rankings list from last week click here.

ESPN Poll:

Like Schuhmann of NBA.com, the ESPN panel didn’t submit a final week power rankings list. The assumption is a new playoff version may be in the works. The final list placed the OKC Thunder 29th which can be viewed here.

Bleacher Report:

Mo Dakhil did offer a final power rankings list holding the Thunder in place on the bottom rung in 30th. Much like Intentions Dakhil was confused about how the Thunder who spent much of the season tanking won a game they needed to lose.

A portion of Dakhil’s Thunder excerpt is below. His full power rankings list can be viewed here.

"Oklahoma City has lost eight of its last nine games. Picking up the last win of the season actually cost the Thunder a chance at the best lottery odds in this year’s draft. Instead of a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 pick they have an 11.5 percent chance. It might seem small but for a rebuilding team that is a huge difference."

CBS Sports:

In his final power rankings, CBS writer Colin Ward-Henniger moved the OKC Thunder up from 29th to 26th overall. CW-H also offers up compliments for how competitive the team was and just how much they struggled to embrace tanking. Ward-Henniger’s final power rankings list can be viewed here.

"Before they started more aggressive tanking measures, the Thunder were 17-22 in mid-March. It’s a good sign that they were struggling to lose, even when that was the entire goal of the season. OKC has a foundational piece in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a bona fide defensive stopper in Lu Dort, a bevy of young talent that could eventually develop into meaningful role players and about six billion first-round draft picks. Not bad at all."

Hoops Habit:

In the final power rankings post, Hoops Habit writer Corey Rausch touches on the growth made by the Thunder. Subsequently, he moves OKC up from last week’s position of 28th to 26th.

More from Thunderous Intentions

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• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Rausch touches on the trials of being a tanking team but equally notes how bright the future is for the Thunder. Of note, in his excerpt, he highlights OKC has the Heat pick but that’s only if the Rockets pick falls fourth or under (OKC has the two best picks of their own, the Rockets 1 through 4 protected and the Heat).

To view Rausch’s full excerpt and his complete listing click here.

"The Thunder always knew this was going to be a rebuilding season and have taken that in stride in an effort to develop as much young talent as possible. Lu Dort made a major leap on the offensive side of the court while remaining a defensive wizard. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a borderline All-Star before being shut down for the season. Even throughout the season Charlie Brown Jr., Moses Brown and Gabriel Deck have earned contracts and increased minutes."

As noted above, there may be another playoff power rankings offering from the National sites but this grouping finishes off the regular season weekly installments.