Big reshuffle of NBA strength rankings: The undefeated Thunder lead the way, and the dark horse Trail Blazers soar 8 spots!

The release of the latest NBA official strength rankings brought a silent earthquake. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder are firmly at the top of the list with a brilliant record of seven consecutive victories at the beginning of the season, becoming the only undefeated team in the league.

The Denver Nuggets followed closely, while the Los Angeles Lakers broke into the top three from sixth place last week, forming a new pattern in the top five of the list with the Rockets and Bucks.

Thunder: The remaining team has won seven consecutive games and has a deep heritage as the defending champion.

The Thunder's start to the season has been breathtaking. After experiencing two consecutive double overtime struggles at the beginning, they still won seven consecutive victories, becoming the third team in history to win seven consecutive games in the beginning of two consecutive seasons.

What is even more amazing is that the Thunder still showed strong dominance even though second-in-command Jaylen Williams did not play in any games and Holmgren missed 3 games due to injury.

Alexander performed at an MVP level, averaging 33.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game, while shooting 52.6% from the field. He has become the Thunder's most reliable offensive engine.

The Thunder's team basketball is also excellent. Jaylin Williams' stable output on the outside, Hartenstein's solid performance in the paint, and Wallace's defensive toughness jointly built the Thunder's team foundation that is difficult to beat.

Lakers: Doncic retired due to injury, and Reeves took over at the critical moment.

The Lakers jumped from sixth to third this week. Behind this is a story about rebirth in adversity. When the team's core Doncic missed three games due to injury, many people believed that the Lakers' record would plummet.

However, Austin Reeves stood up at this time and performed the most brilliant performance of his career. Against the Kings, he scored a career-high 51 points; against the Trail Blazers, he contributed another 41 points; against the Timberwolves, he even hit the first buzzer-beater of his career.

In addition to Reeves's explosion, Laravia's stable output and Smart's tough defense also contributed greatly to the Lakers' three consecutive victories.

What is even more exciting is that LeBron James has not yet appeared. Once he returns, the Lakers, who have already shown depth and resilience, will be even more terrifying.

Rockets: The Red Tornado has bottomed out after a losing streak at the beginning.

The Rockets' rise in the strength rankings is one of the biggest surprises this week, jumping from 11th to fourth. The improvement is eye-catching.

The Rockets, who suffered two consecutive losses at the beginning of the season, did not fall into panic. They quickly adjusted and then won a wave of three consecutive victories. In these three games, they defeated their opponents by 73 points, showing terrifying offensive firepower and defensive toughness.

The key adjustment is that the coach puts Okogie into the starting lineup. This change makes the team's ball movement become smoother and the defensive intensity also increases to a higher level.

Although VanVleet was absent due to injury, the tacit understanding gradually formed between Durant and Shen Jing allowed the Rockets' offensive system to maintain efficient operation. Amen Thompson's cumulative plus-minus value reached +77 in the past week, the highest in the league, demonstrating his huge influence on the court.

Trail Blazers: Defense first, dark horse rises

The most eye-catching dark horse on this week's strength list is the Portland Trail Blazers. They soared 8 places from 22nd to 14th.

The Trail Blazers have won three consecutive games, with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses, ranking fourth in the Western Conference. What's even more surprising is that they successively defeated powerful teams such as the Warriors, Lakers and Nuggets, and performed with ease.

The Blazers' success is built on solid defense. Their defensive efficiency was as high as 110.1, ranking fifth in the league, and even forced the defending champion Nuggets to make 4 turnovers at critical moments, and finally completed the reversal.

New aid Holiday has provided important support for the team's offense. His average possession time per game ranks first in the team, and his usage rate is also significantly higher than when he was with the Celtics.

Warriors: Difficult struggles in the Devil's schedule

The Warriors fell from second to sixth this week and encountered certain setbacks.

The Warriors are facing a devilish schedule of 12 games and 10 away games, which is a huge test for any team. In front of the Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo, they were defeated by the explosion of the team's old player Rollins; then in front of the Pacers, who were full of injuries, they allowed opponent teenagers Quinton Jackson and Aaron Nesmith to score career highs.

Curry's occasional misfire is also one of the reasons why the Warriors suffered two consecutive losses. With their opponents strengthening perimeter defense, the Warriors need more players to step up and share the offensive pressure.

The future schedule is still difficult for the Warriors. They need to adjust their status as soon as possible and find a way to win without an absolute home court advantage.

Bottom of the East and West: The struggles of the Pelicans and Magic

At the other end of the power list, the New Orleans Pelicans and Orlando Magic have become the most disappointing teams.

The Pelicans currently have 0 wins and 6 losses, averaging only 104 points per game. Their field goal percentage and three-point shooting percentage are the lowest in the league, and they are in trouble on both offense and defense. Although Zion Williamson has completed losing weight, the team's performance has been ups and downs, ranging from narrow defeats with a single-digit point difference to 30+ defeats.

The Magic suffered four consecutive losses and their ranking fell from 13th to 19th. They reached a 7-for-1 deal with the Grizzlies this summer, sending away Pope, Cole Anthony and multiple draft picks, acquiring Bane, and forming a luxurious Big Four lineup on paper.

However, there are serious problems with the suitability of this lineup. When four players play at the same time, they lose points. The Magic's three-point shooting is particularly bad, averaging only 8.8 three-pointers per game, the fewest in the league, and shooting only 31.2%.

Every update of the NBA power rankings is a barometer of the evolution of the league.. The Thunder's undefeated status, the Lakers' rise against the tide, the Rockets' bottoming out, and the Blazers' sudden rise all together outline the competitive context of the new season.

In the long regular season, the temporary ranking is only a temporary weather vane. The real strong ones only begin to show their fangs in April. But this week's changes in the strength list undoubtedly sent a signal to the entire league: the competition in the Western Conference is more fierce than expected.

For the Thunder, staying healthy is the key to defending their title; for the Lakers, James' return will determine their upper limit; for the Rockets and Trail Blazers, maintaining stability is the litmus test for dark horses.

The NBA’s strength map is quietly redrawn every week. The only thing that remains unchanged is the fierce competition and endless possibilities on the road to the O'Brien Cup.

Mini-game recommendations:Battalion Commander