Oklahoma City Jumps Into Top Five in NBA's Latest Power Rankings

The national media is taking notice of the Thunder's hot start to the NBA season.

Oklahoma City is off to a red hot start. The 2023-24 campaign is rolling, and the Thunder now ranks No. 5 in the NBA’s Power Rankings. Behind a 10-4 record and ultra efficiency across the board, it was only a matter of time before one the youngest teams in the NBA leaped into the top five.

A 6-game win streak has the Celtics back in the top spot in this week's NBA App Power Rankings!

See @johnschuhmann's full list on the NBA App!

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After back-to-back wins in Golden State and a blowout road win in Portland, the Thunder secured its first spot in the weekly top five rankings. It’s been an impressive start to the season to say the least, knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers twice, the Phoenix Suns once, and the Atlanta Hawks, too.

The Thunder’s consistency across the board is striking, ranking seventh in offensive rating, sixth in defensive rating and third overall in net rating. The team’s pace ranks No. 7 in the NBA, which has been a big part of the overall success. Oklahoma City plays ridiculously fast and wants to score in transition every chance possible. With an athletic, young lineup, it’s the perfect recipe to success.

“We’re still at the stage of the season where a couple of games can skew a team’s numbers. And the Thunder had a couple of those games last week, beating the Spurs and Blazers by a total of 79 points,” John Schuhmann wrote on the NBA’s website. “They’ve won seven of their last eight, with the league’s No. 1 defense over that stretch, climbing into second place in the Western Conference.”

As the NBA noted, the Thunder didn’t get their 10th win until Game No. 23 last season. At double digit wins already, this team is poised to make a run in the loaded Western Conference.

Oklahoma City will have two “prove it” games next week, squaring off against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Philadelphia 76ers, both featuring dominant big men. The one knock against the Thunder so far has been rebounding, and that’ll be put to the test against both the Wolves and the Sixers who have elite front front courts.

Part of Oklahoma City’s success has been found in offensive efficiency. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, the Thunder’s top three scoring options, are all shooting above 50% from the floor and averaging over 17 points per game. The trio is off to an unbelievable start and taking the right shots has been key.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been the catalyst behind the Thunder’s success, as he’s in the midst of another MVP-caliber season. Through 14 games, he’s averaging 29.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists while adding 2.5 steals per game on the other end. SGA is sitting at 53.5% from the floor, 36% from the 3-point line and 95.7% from the free throw line, too.

Oklahoma City is also receiving massive help from the bench unit, namely Isaiah Joe. The sharp shooter is averaging 10.3 points per game on 50% from downtown, taking 5.6 3-point attempts per night. He’s making a case for the best long range shooter in the NBA.

It’s all coming together for the Thunder early on, and it’s a sight to see. If Oklahoma City manages solid outings against the Wolves and the Sixers, their top-five ranking could climb even higher. Only time will tell, but it has been a terrific start so far.

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