Power Rankings: Slippage In Week 8 Rankings

[SlyPokerDog]

power rankings
The Trail Blazers did finish the week 3-1, but all three wins were by a combined eight points, which has prompted the players and coaches point out that they need to be a better team defensively if they’re to keep up with the top teams in the Western Conference.
“It’s a lot of the little things,” said Terry Stotts on what the team needed to work on defensively. “For us, giving up easy points is a priority. We have to minimize the easy points, meaning transition and offensive putbacks, limiting the shots at the rim and contesting the shots at the rim that they do get, contest the shots at the perimeter, be solid on our pick and roll defense, help post players when they have a matchup one-on-one — we have to give more down to that post player — pursue penetration, not give up penetration. There’s a lot of things that we need to shore up.”
Given that, it’s not a surprise to see the Trail Blazers dip in a few of this week’s Power Rankings. Then again, they made up ground in a few of the rankings as well, proving that wins do still matter in today’s more analytical NBA landscape.
· Marc Stein of ESPN.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 2 this week, unchanged from their position last week …

Clippers at home Thursday night. Heat at home Saturday night. OKC away on New Year’s Eve. If any Blazermaniacs out there are peeved about being excluded from Christmas Day festivities, what’s left on the schedule for the rest of 2013 will take care of the national attention they crave.
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You can count me as one of those who is not at all upset that the Trail Blazers aren’t playing on Christmas, or even Christmas Eve. While those games may be great for fans, they’re hard on those of us who have to work during games.
Stein ranks the Trail Blazers behind the Thunder at No. 1 and ahead of the Pacers at No. 3.
· David Aldridge of NBA.com and TNT puts the Trail Blazers at No. 3 this week, also unchanged from last week and went short on his reasoning …

Coffee is for Damian.
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Why write 1,000 words when a video does such a better job of summing up Portland’s last week? Kudos for Aldridge for jumping on the content bandwagon.
Aldridge ranks the Blazers behind the Thunder at No. 2 and ahead of the Clippers, their opponent on Thursday, at No. 4.
Aldridge also put his “cousin,” LaMarcus Aldridge, at No. 3 on his MVP rankings this week …

Already won three Western Conference Player of the Week Awards, including last week’s.
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LaMarcus is ranked behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant in DA’s MVP rankings.
· Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports saw enough to put the Trail Blazers at No. 1 this week, one spot better than last week …

Point guard Damian Lillard is averaging 23.8 points and 5.9 assists in December. Too bad the Blazers aren’t playing on Christmas.
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Not, too GREAT the Blazers aren’t playing in Christmas, but I agree with everything else Spears is saying here.
Spears ranks the Trail Blazers ahead of the Thunder at No. 2.
· Jon Schuhmann of NBA.com ranks the Blazers at No. 2 this week, one spot worse than last week …

Pace: 97.1 (13), OffRtg: 110.5 (1), DefRtg: 104.5 (22), NetRtg: +6.0 (6)
Damian Lillard is unreal. He followed up his game-winner in Detroit with a better one in Cleveland. Then he hit this ridiculous shot to put the Blazers ahead for good in Saturday’s win over the Pelicans. He shot 19-for-36 from 3-point range last week and has been the best pull-up jump-shooter in the league this season. You just wonder when the Blazers are going to pay for their bottom-10 defense.
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I think that’s more of an “if” than a “when,” but that’s just me. Some times there’s a little too much Nostradamus out of the analytics crowd for my taste, but again, one man’s opinion here, which is no more reliable than any advanced stat.
Schuhmann put the Trail Blazers behind the Thunder at No. 1 and ahead of the Heat at No. 3.
· Matt Moore of CBSSports.com put the Trail Blazers at No. 5 this week, a three-spot drop from last week …

In the past week they’ve won by two, won by three, lost by eleven, won by three. Look, they’re still really great, but style points matter here.
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I’d be supportive of Moore’s argument if he didn’t have the Pacers, a team that lost last week at home to the Pistons, at No. 2 and the Thunder, a team that lost at home to the Raptors on Sunday, at No. 3. Let’s try to keep some logical consistency. These rankings are important!
Moore ranks the Blazers behind the Spurs at No. 4 and ahead of the Clippers at No. 6.
· Matt Dollinger of SI.com ranks the Trail Blazers at No. 2 this week, a one spot drop from last week. Dollinger gives out his gifts for each NBA team in this week’s rankings …

Five golden rings. We couldn’t leave any of Portland’s starters out, who are the only five-man group to have started every game this season. We won’t speculate whether they’ll be receiving any other rings this year, but this group deserves something shiny for powering the Blazers’ sensational start.
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Rings are a great gift for any NBA team. Unfortunately, you don’t get them in December.
Dollinger ranks the Trail Blazers behind the Thunder at No. 1 and ahead of the Heat at No. 3
· USA Today’s panel of voters put the Trail Blazers at No. 3 this week, one spot worse than last week …

Damian Lillard got tired of LaMarcus Aldridge hogging the spotlight, so he started hitting game-winners.
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USA Today’s joke consistency is impeccable. Right on target every week.
USA Today has the Trail Blazers behind the Pacers at No. 2 and ahead of the Spurs at No. 4
Jason Patt of SBNation.com puts the Trail Blazers at No. 4 this week, a one-spot drop from last week …

Damian Lillard has been doing some really cool things this year. After knocking down a game-winner two Sundays ago, the second-year man did it again in the Blazers’ next game.
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Despite that, Lillard lost out to Blake Griffin of the Clippers in the Western Conference Player of the Week voting. You’ll get ‘em next time, Dame.


http://forwardcenter.net/power-rankings-slippage-in-week-8-rankings/

 

[Strenuus]

I did see one group of people give Portland the #1 spot... no idea where the link is though.

 

[Pritchslap Madness]

If we stay in top 5 for the year I'll be happy. Teams are going to move up and down through the year. Can't expect to be #1 all year even if Blazers are # 1 in our hearts.

 

[Natebishop3]

If we stay in top 5 for the year I'll be happy. Teams are going to move up and down through the year. Can't expect to be #1 all year even if Blazers are # 1 in our hearts.

This. I don't really care about the rankings, but as long as we stay top three in the west, we will remain in the top five of the rankings. That's a good thing to see.

 

[Draco]

I hope our record is in the top3 in the west, at the end of the year. I'm fine with us getting screwed in power rankings if we get one of those seeds! Playing the 6th seed and a 2 seed Spurs team would give us a great chance of making some noise.

The west playoffs are going to be crazy this year, I wouldn't be surprised if any team won or lost in the first round.

 

[Natebishop3]

I hope our record is in the top3 in the west, at the end of the year. I'm fine with us getting screwed in power rankings if we get one of those seeds! Playing the 6th seed and a 2 seed Spurs team would give us a great chance of making some noise.

The west playoffs are going to be crazy this year, I wouldn't be surprised if any team won or lost in the first round.

It's all about matchups. I hope to god we don't get Phoenix.

 

[Draco]

It's all about matchups. I hope to god we don't get Phoenix.

I'd much rather play them than the Thunder, Spurs, Clippers, Warriors, or Rockets.

Regular season head to head records don't normally translate to the playoffs.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'd much rather play them than the Thunder, Spurs, Clippers, Warriors, or Rockets.

Regular season head to head records don't normally translate to the playoffs.

This is where we disagree. I think we could take the Warriors, Spurs, or Clips.

I think we matchup well with OKC, but the refs ride their jock so hard that it will be difficult to beat them. Same with Houston.

 

[KingSpeed]

How did Blake Griffin beat out Lillard?

 

[Strenuus]

How did Blake Griffin beat out Lillard?

Because he fouled out in OT and they needed to cheer him up.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

These ranking are about what people want to believe, not what is. Portland has the best record in the NBA. They are the best team as of today. Stein got it wrong this week, as did anyone that didn't rank Portland #1.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Spears is a walking contradiction. IF style points mattered, he wouldn't have ranked them 5th. "Look, they’re still really great, but style points matter here." He meant to say they don't matter, or he meant to say he should have ranked Portland number 1.

Dollinger had the best take, "Five golden rings. We couldn’t leave any of Portland’s starters out, who are the only five-man group to have started every game this season. We won’t speculate whether they’ll be receiving any other rings this year, but this group deserves something shiny for powering the Blazers’ sensational start."

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I did see one group of people give Portland the #1 spot... no idea where the link is though.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-power-rankings--trail-blazers-move-into-top-spot-053707788.html

 

[Strenuus]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-power-rankings--trail-blazers-move-into-top-spot-053707788.html

Ah. There it is. Thanks! Repped.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Spears is a walking contradiction. IF style points mattered, he wouldn't have ranked them 5th. "Look, they’re still really great, but style points matter here." He meant to say they don't matter, or he meant to say he should have ranked Portland number 1.

You're better than this. You know as well as I do that "style points" is generally best translated "margin of victory". The Blazers are winning, but their wins are closer (hence point differential being the lowest of the top 5 teams). Basically, he's saying that they don't win easily enough for him to truly believe that they're elite.

 

[Strenuus]

You're better than this. You know as well as I do that "style points" is generally best translated "margin of victory". The Blazers are winning, but their wins are closer (hence point differential being the lowest of the top 5 teams). Basically, he's saying that they don't win easily enough for him to truly believe that they're elite.

This. This is exactly why we aren't the "top" team in the rankings. I'm okay with it. We can be 30th in the "power rankings" if we are 1st in the actual rankings.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

You're better than this. You know as well as I do that "style points" is generally best translated "margin of victory". The Blazers are winning, but their wins are closer (hence point differential being the lowest of the top 5 teams). Basically, he's saying that they don't win easily enough for him to truly believe that they're elite.

That's obviously not the way I read it or my definition of "style". Style is what the kids call "swag" these days, like Lillard hitting the game winner in those 3 wins. That's "style". There's nothing "style-ish" about beating a team playing their 4th game in 5 nights on your home court (see Minn). I am an expert in "style" and "style points." You should see my walk-in closet.

The NBA is all about stars stepping up in big moments. The Blazers get an A++ in style.

If that's what he meant to say, "margin of victory", then he should written "they don't win easily enough", and completely omitted the "style points" comment. It doesn't mean what he thinks it means.

 

[Strenuus]

That's obviously not the way I read it or my definition of "style". Style is what the kids call "swag" these days, like Lillard hitting the game winner in those 3 wins. That's "style". There's nothing "style-ish" about beating a team playing their 4th game in 5 nights on your home court (see Minn). I am an expert in "style" and "style points." You should see my walk-in closet.

The NBA is all about stars stepping up in big moments. The Blazers get an A++ in style.

If that's what he meant to say, "margin of victory", then he should written "they don't win easily enough", and completely omitted the "style points" comment. It doesn't mean what he thinks it means.

Unfortunately, it did, since he wrote the piece, and it was in his opinion. But, really, who cares?

 

[cmeese47]

You're better than this. You know as well as I do that "style points" is generally best translated "margin of victory". The Blazers are winning, but their wins are closer (hence point differential being the lowest of the top 5 teams). Basically, he's saying that they don't win easily enough for him to truly believe that they're elite.

Exactly and although the games were 4 in 5 days the competition was less than stellar so a slight slip especially considering the margin of victory. Nothing wrong with second since that would get us to the NBA finals.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

You should see my walk-in closet.

My wife would not approve.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

The real question is... The fuck? Blake griffin? I guess they want to make sure he doesn't lose all-star votes to Lamvp? Fuck this league.

 

[Sinobas]

We should not be #1. I think the Thunder are playing the best ball now. We're so close to being on a 4 game losing streak right now, and the only thing that saved us is Damian's heroics. Now if we beat the Clips and Heat, we should undoubtedly move up to #1.

 

[Draco]

This is where we disagree. I think we could take the Warriors, Spurs, or Clips.

Out of Steph Curry, Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe the first 3 are far more of a concern than the last.

Yes I think we could beat all those teams. I just think we have better odds of beating Phoenix. Sure Bledsoe and Dragic are playing great, but in a seven game series if I had to pick an opponent Phoenix would be the least intimidating of any playoff team.

 

[julius]

We should not be #1. I think the Thunder are playing the best ball now. We're so close to being on a 4 game losing streak right now, and the only thing that saved us is Damian's heroics. Now if we beat the Clips and Heat, we should undoubtedly move up to #1.

game winners still count as wins

 

[BBert]

How did Blake Griffin beat out Lillard?

He has a Kia commercial.

 

[Strenuus]

We should not be #1. I think the Thunder are playing the best ball now. We're so close to being on a 4 game losing streak right now, and the only thing that saved us is Damian's heroics. Now if we beat the Clips and Heat, we should undoubtedly move up to #1.

The thunder did just stink it up against the Raptors at home. (I mean, really, 20% in the 4th quarter?). But, I do know what you're saying.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

My wife would not approve.

It was a figure of speech. If I were being literal, she would be invited, not you.