NBA Western Power Rankings Week 5: Thunder thrive, Grizzlies rise
By Tom West
Nov 25, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (3) celebrate after a play agains the Brooklyn Nets during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
3rd: Oklahoma City Thunder (39 points)
By Jeff Nisius
Record: 11-7
Record last week: 3-0
Russell Westbrook has proven to be unstoppable and now Kevin Durant is back in the lineup. With a healthy Durant, the Thunder won three in a row with him and four in a row overall. They also sport the fifth-best differential in the NBA and are second in the league in scoring and field-goal percentage. The train is back on the track and the Thunder look like the team they were two years ago, but with even more firepower thanks to Enes Kanter’s talents on the block.
A big game on Thursday night in Miami should set the tone for what could be a very important December. The Thunder will play two games against the Jazz, and play in Cleveland, Memphis, Los Angeles against the Clippers and home against the Bulls. If the team can improve the defense, the Thunder are going to be a formidable opponent for the rest of the season. Until then, teams will continue to abuse Kanter in the paint and Dion Waiters, D.J. Augustin and company on the perimeter.
Next: San Antonio Spurs