NBA Western Power Rankings Week 5: Thunder thrive, Grizzlies rise

Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) is greeted by teammates before an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

7th: Los Angeles Clippers (28 points)

By Jose Salviati

Record: 10-8

Record last week: 3-1

The Clippers didn’t exactly set the world on fire this week despite their 3-1 record. Wins over the Nuggets, Pelicans and Timberwolves were nice, but a home loss to the Jazz hurt. The Clippers had won 13 in a row against the Jazz (owners of the least applicable team name in the entire NBA). Gordon Hayward had never won against the Clippers in Los Angeles and he played like he wanted it more than anyone in a Clipper jersey. Losses at home to teams you should beat knock a team down further than beating teams at home that should beat move you up.

Through their struggles Doc Rivers continues to preach patience. He recently proclaimed he is seeing hints of the type of flow in their game that he wants to see. From my perspective, however,things continue to look disjointed. The small forward position has become a revolving door of in-season tryouts. Luc Mbah a Moute being the latest to give the position a try after Lance Stephenson, Paul Pierce and Wesley Johnson. The bench continues to struggle to find a rhythm and DeAndre Jordan’s free-throw shooting appears to be getting worse. While the small forward position and bench may find a way out of their funk, its unlikely Jordan’s free-throw shooting will improve.

Next: Utah Jazz