NBA Week 6 Power Ranking - Where National Scribes Rank OKC Thunder
Six weeks into the season the OKC Thunder are on track for a 50+ win season. After a solid 3-0 week let’s see where the national pundits rank the OKC Thunder.
After a rough couple of weeks the OKC Thunder have produced two positive weeks in a row. They managed to go 3-0 this week with wins over the New York Knicks, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans.
Although the schedule was soft and the games were closer than they perhaps should have been, it is important the OKC Thunder close out these close games against bad teams if they want any shot at having home court in the first round of the playoffs.
How did the pundits respond to the Thunder’s 3-0 week?
Marc Stein of ESPN moved the Thunder up three spots to #8.
Our pal Zach Lowe made the recent observation that Russell Westbrook‘s bid to become the first player since Oscar Robertson in the ’60s to average a triple-double over an entire season is basketball’s answer to a great hitter flirting with a .400 season. It’s a wonderful comparison that also pinpoints the bonus of Westbrook’s quest, which is giving us more-than-usual cause to tune into regular-season basketball in December. Quite handy for a league that’s so widely expected to deliver the same Finals matchup we’ve seen the past two Junes.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com moved the Thunder up five spots to #10 on his rankings.
Pace: 101.7 (4) OffRtg: 103.3 (15) DefRtg: 101.9 (9) NetRtg: +1.4 (13)
Russell Westbrook’s averages are at 31.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 11.3 assists and his triple-double streak is at five games. More important is that the Thunder have won all five, scoring 110 points per 100 possessions. Going back to last season, they’re 27-2 in games he’s recorded a triple-double. Their shooting did go cold and Steven Adams turned an ankle in Sunday’s win over New Orleans. Friday’s offensive matchup between Westbrook and James Harden will be fun, but watching Avery Bradley defending Westbrook on Sunday could be just as fascinating.
Matt Moore was unimpressed and moved the Thunder down a spot to #12.
More from Thunderous Intentions
A five-game winning streak hides overtime squeakers against the Nuggets and Wizards. The Thunder can beat any team on any given night … and can lose to any team just as easily.
Our last ranker, Jeremy Woo of SI, moved the Thunder up 3 spots to #9.
I have no idea how long Russell Westbrook-averaging-a-triple-double watch is going to last, but hopefully it lasts forever.
This week the OKC Thunder have three games. Up first the Thunder traveled to Atlanta to play the Hawks on Monday and posted yet another victory to extend their win streak to 6 in-a-row.
OKC Thunder will finish the week at home facing the Houston Rockets Friday and close out week 7 against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
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