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NBA: Northwest Division Power Rankings: New Face On Top?

By Blake Holmes

Nov 13, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) and forward Danilo Gallinari (8) during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) and forward Danilo Gallinari (8) during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 13, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) brings the ball up the court against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) brings the ball up the court against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Oklahoma City Thunder.

I remember last week when I said that I didn’t think that the Thunder could keep up the impressive play for forever. Well, it happened quicker than I expected, as they have not looked like the team that started 6-1.

They’ve dropped three straight games, including one against the former Thunder player, Serge Ibaka and the Orlando Magic. Ibaka hit the game winning shot against his former team in his first return to Oklahoma City. One of the other games they lost was against the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that can make a case for the best in the league at the moment. I don’t believe that the Thunder are going to struggle for a while now, as they still have a ton of talent in their roster, but they did not play well in the past week.

Russell Westbrook is continuing to impress, as he is almost averaging a triple-double. At times he looks like he could win a game by himself, a true one-man show. Although I remember earlier this season saying that a one-man show can be risky to depend on. Even with the three straight losses, the Thunder are still 6-4, and Westbrook is arguably the favorite to win the MVP award at this point.

Nov 13, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) takes the floor prior to action against the Orlando Magic at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) takes the floor prior to action against the Orlando Magic at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

The Thunder should be able to find their footing and try to pick it up after this week. This week’s slate of games for OKC includes the Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, and Indiana Pacers.

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