Nov 18 Power Rankings: Lucky 7s

[Reep]

CNNSI: 7
ESPN: 7

Sweet. Maybe Mags was right.

In a perfect world, the team will develop against the weaker teams they are playing now and be able to show some real defense when the schedule gets tougher.

CNNSI:

Offseason additions Mo Williams, Dorell Wright and Thomas Robinson are lifting a Blazers bench that averaged only 18.5 points per game last season. Portland beat Toronto in overtime Sunday to record its first six-game winning streak since February 2011.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nb...wer-rankings-spurs-knicks-nets/#ixzz2l1iGZK83

ESPN:

Beating the Spurs early on, as they often do at home, failed to cause much of a stir, but I'd say that the Blazers and their fortified bench have everyone's attention now after six straight wins and four of them outside of Portland from the gang that closed out 2012-13 on a 4-19 slide in road games.

But best of all was the headline picture:

 

[Mediocre Man]

CNNSI: 7
ESPN: 7

Sweet. Maybe Mags was right.

In a perfect world, the team will develop against the weaker teams they are playing now and be able to show some real defense when the schedule gets tougher.

That would be awesome. December is a rough one

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't want to take anything away from the hot start because I think they have played with a remarkable amount of poise and cohesiveness (especially on offense) but ... ah nevermind, it'll keep.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I don't think we've had a hot start, I just think that we've beaten the teams we're suppose to beat. Hopefully it'll continue. But yes, when the schedule toughens up I hope we'll just above .500 in those games. Some will panic and wonder why, but as long as we stay away from a .500 OVERALL record which we definitely should, I'll be quite content.

go blazers.

 

[e_blazer]

I doubt anybody is making plans for the championship parade just yet.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

ProBasketballTalk's rankings have us at #4 - after the Heat but before the Warriors.

4. Trail Blazers (8-2, LW 9). Winners of six in a row, they are doing it with the third best offense in the NBA — they are hitting their shots and being a force on the offensive glass. But they may be leaning a little too heavily on their starters right now.

You can see their rankings at http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....des-into-top-slot/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

Based on record, that is probably a fair ranking. Based on what I actually believe I think it is overly optimistic as to how good Portland actually is.

Gramps...

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Hollinger's computer rankings have us at #8.

sbnation has us at #6

The Blazers capped off a perfect 4-0 week with an overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors. Portland has won six games in a row to move to second in the West, although I need to see a little more before putting them in the top five.

nba.com has us #6

Portland (8-2)
Pace: 96.3 (17), OffRtg: 107.2 (3), DefRtg: 102.8 (17), NetRtg: +4.4 (7)
The Blazers have won six straight games, have the second-best record in the West and are the only team to beat the Spurs. Five guys in the rotation have shot better than 50 percent during the streak and their offense has looked rather Spurs-esque at times. They've also held the six opponents under a point per possession. This week's coast-to-coast schedule will be a test of their depth.
This week: @ BKN, @ MIL, vs. CHI, @ GSW

 

[Mediocre Man]

I doubt anybody is making plans for the championship parade just yet.

With comments like this, I would have sworn you were one of the newbs on the site