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NBA Power Rankings: Potent Bucks, Thunder jump to the top, Zion Williamson and Pelicans enter top five – CBS Sports
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In this Thanksgiving Week edition of the NBA Power Rankings, we’re giving thanks for the rule changes, analytic advancements and skill development that have allowed basketball teams to put up ungodly point totals on a regular basis. There are some defensive stalwarts out there, but for the most part, the best teams in the league are putting up a boatload of points — and it’s an extremely entertaining product.
Two such teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder, have ridden their offensive assaults all the way to the top of the rankings, with Milwaukee taking the No. 1 spot this week. Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are running roughshod on the NBA, and the result was four wins this week for Milwaukee, scoring at least 128 points in each.
Without the name recognition of the Bucks’ stars, the Thunder were just as impressive this week, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rookie Chet Holmgren led an eye-popping offensive rating and undefeated record that landed OKC in the No. 2 slot.
On the downslide are the Houston Rockets, this week’s biggest fallers after losing all three games following a hot start. Houston’s mirror image are the New Orleans Pelicans, who rose 16 spots to No. 5 after some extremely impressive wins over quality opponents.
There’s surely someone out there who loves defensive battles, but this week is all about the offense at the top. Enjoy, and happy Ranksgiving! (You can all give thanks that I’m not at your dinner table to slay you with my wide array of puns).
*Please keep in mind that our NBA Power Rankings are based on weekly performance (Tuesday to Monday), not the whole season.
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