SI Power Rankings

[e_blazer]

Nice!

4. Portland Trail Blazers (37–26)
Last Week: 9
Meanwhile, the Blazers have won six in a row and entered Week 21 with the fifth-best record in the league. This is a surprising development for a team that struggled for much of the early season. And shockingly, Portland’s success stems more from its No. 7 defense then its No. 16 offense. That’s right, the Blazers are scoring on par with the Hornets and Celtics but defending only 0.8 points per possession worse than the Warriors. Portland’s net rating would indicate the team has room to improve, but the Blazers are peaking at the right time.
http://amp.si.com/nba/2018/03/05/nb...warriors-cavaliers-lebron-james-stephen-curry

 

[kjironman1]

I think that is a bit high but they got it right moving them up a bit.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I don't know if this is necessarily the right time for them to be peaking. Don't we want them playing their best ball a month and two from now?

 

[42N8Bounce]

I think that is a bit high but they got it right moving them up a bit.

I think they got it 3 spots too low!
(Part of our win streak was against GS. We gotta be better than them, right?)

 

[Wizard Mentor]

ESPN has us #5:
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...ngs-our-expert-panel-unveils-rankings-week-21

Look out for the Trail Blazers, who have won their past six games. The biggest reason? Their defense: Portland has allowed 98.1 points per 100 possessions during the winning streak, best in the NBA over that span. -- Matt Williams

 

[handiman]

I don't know if this is necessarily the right time for them to be peaking. Don't we want them playing their best ball a month and two from now?

With the #3-9 jumble in the West, you sort of have to peak now if you want to be playing in a month or two. Just gotta hope that peak can be held long enough to matter.

 

[e_blazer]

I don't know if this is necessarily the right time for them to be peaking. Don't we want them playing their best ball a month and two from now?

I liked SI’s line that said the Blazers’ net rating says they have room to improve. I agree. I don’t think we’ve seen the Blazers’ best ball yet this season.

 

[illmatic99]

It's no coincidence that our defense tanked in Jan when our offense picked up. We have been better, but don't have the talent to be elite at both ends of the floor at the same time. On the same train of thought, our #1 defense after the AS break has come with a drop in our offensive rating (#19 after the break).

 

[kjironman1]

I think they got it 3 spots too low!
(Part of our win streak was against GS. We gotta be better than them, right?)

And i had such high hopes for you.......

 

[Mediocre Man]

That much closer to a title. If someone would make us 1, we could stop playing

 

[Jon]

nba.com

 

[42N8Bounce]

And i had such high hopes for you.......

Kingspeed's optimism is rubbing off on me.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Fuck we suck at tanking.

 

[e_blazer]

That much closer to a title. If someone would make us 1, we could stop playing

I knew it was only a matter of time.

 

[kjironman1]

Fuck we suck at tanking.

Well.... There is always next year. C'mon Stotts make it happen.

 

[stampedehero]

Nice!

4. Portland Trail Blazers (37–26)
Last Week: 9
Meanwhile, the Blazers have won six in a row and entered Week 21 with the fifth-best record in the league. This is a surprising development for a team that struggled for much of the early season. And shockingly, Portland’s success stems more from its No. 7 defense then its No. 16 offense. That’s right, the Blazers are scoring on par with the Hornets and Celtics but defending only 0.8 points per possession worse than the Warriors. Portland’s net rating would indicate the team has room to improve, but the Blazers are peaking at the right time.
http://amp.si.com/nba/2018/03/05/nb...warriors-cavaliers-lebron-james-stephen-curry

The definitive game that exhibits all you say was the Wolves game!.

 

[Boob-No-More]

That much closer to a title. If someone would make us 1, we could stop playing

Nice attempt at a thread crap. Perhaps you didn't notice this is a discussion board where people discuss opinions. Power rankings are just the opinions of someone who gets paid for their opinions. They don't impact actual on court performance one iota, but neither does a single word that has ever been written on this forum.

So, what exactly is your point? That the Blazers don't deserve their current ranking? That the rankings are meaningless and don't deserve discussion? That both the team and Zach Collins are better than you thought they'd be at this point in the season? That you hate to see others enjoy the team's success?

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

Nice attempt at a thread crap. Perhaps you didn't notice this is a discussion board where people discuss opinions. Power rankings are just the opinions of someone who gets paid for their opinions. They don't impact actual on court performance one iota, but neither does a single word that has ever been written on this forum.

So, what exactly is your point? That the Blazers don't deserve their current ranking? That the rankings are meaningless and don't deserve discussion? That both the team and Zach Collins are better than you thought they'd be at this point in the season? That you hate to see others enjoy the team's success?

BNM

Damn BNM.... that's quite a lot of subtext for a short sarcastic comment that he made.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Well.... There is always next year. C'mon Stotts make it happen.

Olshey's trying.

 

[THE HCP]

Now this is for the week right? Not the whole season?

 

[e_blazer]

Now this is for the week right? Not the whole season?

These things are beauty contests designed to get clicks from fans. I think that the general notion is to show where they think various teams rank overall based on their record and recent performance.

 

[THE HCP]

If it's recent performance, that makes sense.

 

[e_blazer]

If it's recent performance, that makes sense.

Either way, it makes sense. The Blazers currently have the 5th best record in the entire league so their being ranked 4th or 5th isn't exactly a stretch.

Of course, if they crap in their bed this week, they could fall to 10th or 11th pretty easily.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Nice attempt at a thread crap. Perhaps you didn't notice this is a discussion board where people discuss opinions. Power rankings are just the opinions of someone who gets paid for their opinions. They don't impact actual on court performance one iota, but neither does a single word that has ever been written on this forum.

So, what exactly is your point? That the Blazers don't deserve their current ranking? That the rankings are meaningless and don't deserve discussion? That both the team and Zach Collins are better than you thought they'd be at this point in the season? That you hate to see others enjoy the team's success?

BNM

Point is that they don't mean shit.

I think I predicted 45 wins? They are on pace for 48.5 right now with the schedule getting harder.

Also, Collins is doing what I thought he would.
4/3/1/.5
.401/.338/.571

 

[Mediocre Man]

Damn BNM.... that's quite a lot of subtext for a short sarcastic comment that he made.

He stalks me. It's embarrassing

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He stalks me. It's embarrassing

Price you pay for posting so provocatively. He just can't help himself.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Price you pay for posting so provocatively. He just can't help himself.

My posts are up here

#metoo

 

[kjironman1]

Olshey's trying.

Olshey keeps trying to tank but Dame says "Hell No!"

 

[jlprk]

Nice attempt at a thread crap. Perhaps you didn't notice this is a discussion board where people discuss opinions. Power rankings are just the opinions of someone who gets paid for their opinions. They don't impact actual on court performance one iota, but neither does a single word that has ever been written on this forum.

So, what exactly is your point? That the Blazers don't deserve their current ranking? That the rankings are meaningless and don't deserve discussion? That both the team and Zach Collins are better than you thought they'd be at this point in the season? That you hate to see others enjoy the team's success?

What a whiny post. Put your big boy pants on.

Return to your arrogant, cherry-picking stats multiple personality. One time you were rudely stomping on people, I complained, and you told me to put my big boy pants on. Been waiting a couple of years to say it to you...

 

[kjironman1]

What a whiner. Put your big boy pants on.

Return to your arrogant, cherry-picking stats multiple personality. One time you were rudely stomping on people, I complained, and you told me to put my big boy pants on. Been waiting a couple of years to say it to you...

If it's been a couple years i figure he probably has earned the right to whine a little bit.

I said a "LITTLE BIT!"