There’s no denying the tremendous offensive potential of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it’s been the incredible defensive efforts displayed in recent games against the Raptors and Bucks that has Britt Robson of Sports Illustrated excited. If they can keep up the pace, it will be difficult for any team to stop them in the NBA playoffs.
In his latest NBA Power Rankings, Robson has the Thunder back at No. 2 behind the San Antonio Spurs. The Bulls and Heat follow suit and all four teams look great this time of year. But a team as dynamic as the Thunder hold the highest ceiling of all.
He writes, “With 6-foot-5 Thabo Sefolosha back beside 6-3 Russell Westbrook as the guards and 6-10 Kendrick Perkins, 6-10 Serge Ibaka and 6-9 Kevin Durant near the rim, the Thunder have a killer combination of length and speed to jump the passing lanes. Three weeks before the start of the playoffs, they are obviously having fun getting stops. If that spirit continues, the Thunder will be a superior team to the one that made last year’s conference finals.”
The Thunder are currently 42-15 on the season.
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