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NBA Power Rankings Week 5: Favorites keep falling, champs keep climbing

By Jack Simone

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 17: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks wait for a free throw during a game at Fiserv Forum on November 17, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 17: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks wait for a free throw during a game at Fiserv Forum on November 17, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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NBA; NBA Power Rankings
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2), guard Theo Maledon (11), and forward Luguentz Dort (5) react after forward Darius Bazley (7) against the Atlanta Hawks (Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports) /

NBA Power Rankings: 23. Oklahoma City Thunder (6-10)

Last week: (1-4) – vs. BKN (L), vs. MIA (L), vs. HOU (W), @ MIL (L), @ BOS (L)

Rank last week: 22

Offensive rating: 98.4 (29th in NBA)

Defensive rating: 105.3 (13th in NBA)

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to be an enigma. Despite being pegged as the worst team in the league going into the season, they are far from it right now.

Shai Gilegous-Alexander and Lu Dort are leading this team to a decent record, in comparison to how well the team was supposed to do. They probably won’t end up in the play-in, but they’re not a bottom-five team in the league, either.

The one thing separating OKC from the rest of the bottom-feeders is the fact that they continuously triumph over worse teams. Whenever they go up against a team with a worse record than them it seems like they always win.

This was supposed to be another tanking year for the Thunder, but they actually look solid. Their quality defense is what is carrying them, though, as their offense hasn’t been too hot.

Season outlook: The Thunder will still be a lottery team, but not a high lottery team. They’ll probably end up with somewhere around the sixth to eighth-best odds, based on the trajectory they are currently odd. It’s safe to say that this rebuild could be a bit ahead of schedule.