Power Rankings: OKC Thunder and SGA shines in week 5

The parity of the league is on full display with the OKC Thunder right in the middle of that mix now possessing a 6-7 record.

The team ranks 20th offensively, 15th defensively, 17th for net differential and seventh in pace. They arrive at this ranking following a split week with losses to the Pistons and Bucks and wins versus the Raptors and Knicks.

Let’s have a gander at where the national scribes ranked the team in week five.

Where National sites seed OKC Thunder in week 5 power rankings

OKC Thunder power ranking – NBA.com:

John Schuhmann will undoubtedly spend ample time this season offering up great stats about the OKC Thunder cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.  (HINT: the opening paragraph offered some of that in his excerpt).

But he’ll also provide those statistics that make you stop and go – hmmmmmm.

We knew the offense took an early leap but the stat Schuh provides in the excerpt with regard to the offense in the Knicks game and where it ranks in franchise history was, well, frankly a bit shocking. (in a good way).

The stats master ranks the team 20th this week, a jump up from his 22nd ranking last week.

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

"But things have certainly picked up since then. On Wednesday, the Thunder scored more efficiently than the league average for just the third time this season, losing in double-overtime to the Bucks. Over the weekend, the Thunder offense went off, scoring 130 points per 100 possessions in wins against Toronto and New York. Gilgeous-Alexander was the star (he had 37 on Sunday), but there were contributions up and down the rotation, with eight guys in double-figures on Friday and 10 draining at least two 3s over the two games. The Thunder’s effective field goal percentage of 72.2% at Madison Square Garden on Sunday was the franchise’s highest mark since it moved to Oklahoma City and the second highest mark for any team in a game this season.With the two wins, the Thunder (who ranked 30th offensively in each of the last two seasons) have climbed out of the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency. They’ll face the league’s No. 1 offense on Monday, Game 6 of a stretch of seven straight against the Eastern Conference."

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, Kendra Andrews, Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, and Kevin Pelton will provide the excerpts and voting.

For the third consecutive week, the ESPN panel ranked the OKC Thunder 24th with Andrew Lopez serving up the weekly excerpt.

"On Sunday at the Knicks, Josh Giddey had 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to become just the third player in NBA history to record triple-doubles in each of his first two career road games versus a single opponent, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The other two? Luka Doncic and Oscar Robertson. — Lopez"

For the full ESPN preseason listing, click here.

CBS Sports

In week five Colin Ward-Heninger raises the OKC Thunder three spots from 25th up to 22nd.

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

"OKC’s offense suddenly looks like the 2015-16 Warriors, averaging 130 points per game in a 3-1 week with wins over the Raptors, Knicks and Wizards. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just unstoppable, putting up 34 points and 6.8 assists per game this week, including a beautiful step-back 3-pointer in the closing seconds on Wednesday to beat Washington and tie his career high with 42 points. Lu Dort and Josh Giddey have provided support, combining to average 35 points this week on 46 percent 3-point shooting."

Next week the OKC Thunder will be road warriors hitting Boston, Washington, and Memphis to play the Celtics, Wizards, and Grizzlies.