NBA Power Rankings Week 15: Concerns for Milwaukee Bucks, other contenders
By Phil Watson
team. 100. . 30-16. Previous: . Indiana Pacers. 13
Last week: Won at Denver 115-107, lost at Utah 118-88, won at Phoenix 112-87, won at Golden State 129-118
This week: Sunday at Portland, Wednesday vs. Chicago, Saturday vs. New York
The Indiana Pacers have a chance for a 4-1 Western road trip with a win at Portland on Sunday and the Pacers have won seven of their last eight to jump past Philadelphia into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Last week included Indiana taking a 30-point pummeling at Utah on Monday before bouncing back Wednesday with a 25-point victory at Phoenix.
T.J. Warren lit up Golden State for 33 points on Friday and for the week averaged 21.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 30.7 minutes per game. Warren knocked down 58.6 percent of his shots while hitting 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. He’s made at least half of his field goal attempts in his last five games and seven of eight — coinciding with Indiana’s 7-1 record in that span.
149. . 28-19. Previous: . Oklahoma City Thunder. 12. team
Last week: Won at Houston 112-107, won at Orlando 120-114, beat Atlanta 140-111, won at Minnesota 113-104
This week: Monday vs. Dallas, Wednesday at Sacramento, Friday at Phoenix
After a 130-127 loss at home to the Lakers on Nov. 22, the Oklahoma City Thunder were 5-10. Since then, the Thunder are 23-9 — the third-best record in the NBA over that span behind only Milwaukee’s 28-3 ridiculousness and the Lakers’ 23-8 mark. Over those 32 games, OKC is ninth in offensive rating and 10th in defensive rating. They’ve been very good.
With a 4-0 week, the Thunder ran their winning streak to five games and are now one game behind sixth-place Dallas — with the Mavericks coming to Chesapeake Energy Arena Monday — and 1½ back of Houston, which is in fifth place in the Western Conference. Not bad for what was supposed to be the beginning of a rebuild.
Super sub Dennis Schroder had a terrific week, averaging 25.3 points, 5.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 32.4 minutes per game. He shot 55.1 percent overall, knocked down 61.9 percent on 5.3 deep balls a night and lit up Orlando in Wednesday’s road win with 31 points and nine dimes on 13-of-18 shooting.