Power Rankings: OKC Thunder fall plummets in week 7

The OKC Thunder enters the week with an 8-12 record and coming off a week where they won a single match versus the Bulls and lost the other three contests to the Knicks, Nuggets, and Rockets. The matches versus the Nuggets and Bulls were decided in overtime.

The team jumped back up on offense to rank 18th but dropped on defense to 21st. Their net ranking is 23rd with a -2.0 rating and they run the fourth fastest pace.

Where National sites seed OKC Thunder in week 7 power rankings

OKC Thunder power ranking – NBA.com:

With the OKC Thunder falling off from their previous highs on offense and defense the NBA scribe noted their slide out of the majority. That parity pocket featured 22 of the 30 teams who were either above .500 or two games within .500.

While this team never gives up it’s the first time this season they’ve leaned closer to the tanking clubs than the middling pack and subsequently, Shuh dropped them to 23rd in week 7.

A portion of Schuhmann’s OKC Thunder excerpt is below and you can view the rest plus his full rankings here.

"The Thunder are four games under .500 for the first time this season, having lost four of their last five. They played both the Grizzlies and Nuggets close over that stretch, but also lost to the Knicks (with a rest advantage) and Rockets by double-digits last week. Over the last three weeks, their defense has fallen from seventh into the bottom 10, with their losses to New York and Denver on Monday and Wednesday being the second and third times they’ve allowed more than 120 points per 100 possessions. There have been 20 occasions where a team has made at least eight corner 3-pointers this season, and three of the 20 have been the Nuggets (8-for-17 from the corners on Wednesday) doing it against the Thunder."

ESPN Panel:

Every year ESPN comprises a panel of writers who offer up the excerpts on the teams and vote on where the teams rank weekly. This season the panel is comprised of Kendra Andrews, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, and Kevin Pelton.

Well at least we know the panel does move the teams around — after four weeks of ranking 24th they drop the OKC Thunder to 25th.

"2021-22 record: 6-13Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed two games last week due to a sprained right ankle and has been struggling recently. He has scored fewer than 20 points in his past five games, the first time that has happened since the end of the 2019-20 season. Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 30.8% from the floor and 19.4% from 3-point range in this slump. — MacMahonThis week: @HOU, HOU, @MEM"

For the full ESPN preseason listing, click here.

CBS Sports

In week seven Colin Ward-Heninger lifts the OKC Thunder one spot from last week’s 27th rank up to 26th.

To view his entire week five power rankings, click here.

"OKC won its two home games this week against the Bulls and Spurs, while dropping road games to the Rockets and Pelicans. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander couldn’t make a shot from 3-point range, but he still averaged 31 points and 4.7 assists in the three games he played. He missed Wednesday’s win over the Spurs, when rookie Jalen Williams broke out for a career-high 27 points on 11-for-15 shooting."

Bleacher Report

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report has the OKC Thunder ranking 25th in this week’s power rankings. Not surprisingly, SGA stan Bailey is pushing for his inclusion in the All-Star game in this week’s musings.

A portion of his excerpt is below and his full article can be viewed here.

"As previously mentioned, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed Wednesday’s win with a hip injury, but his push for an All-NBA nod stayed on track this week.SGA eclipsed 30 points in each of his appearances since the last version of the power rankings went live, and his high-volume scoring has been about as consistent as anyone in 2022-23.He’s gotten to at least 30 points in eight of his past nine games, and he’s tied with Luka Doncic for the league lead in total 30-point outings with 15."

Three contests are on tap for next week with the OKC Thunder traveling to New Orleans and Minnesota to play the Pelicans and Wolves and will host the Spurs in between those matches at the Paycom Center.