ESPN Power Rankings

by sergioFTW on Dec 17, 2007 8:49 AM PST

The Blazers win streak, mostly against playoff teams, is getting us some much deserved respect. With this mornings newest Power Rankings by Stein at ESPN, the Blazers come in at #10. 10!, in the whole NBA. Last week we were 20, and the week before I think we were around 25. That's some serious moving up. It's always fun to watch the national media figure out something we've known for awhile. ;)

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking

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That's cool.

And if you like hollinger stats, the Blazer's playoff odds have Greatly increased.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

The Rose Garden is our House.

by JTDuck22 on Dec 17, 2007 8:56 AM PST reply actions

Oh my goodness

I remember the last time I looked at that, it said we had a .1 or .4 percent chance at the playoffs. Amazing. Now that percentage has shifted over to champs.

by robrun2 on Dec 17, 2007 10:30 AM PST up reply actions

Worse season projection

30 wins? Wonder what it was 8 games ago...

This early in the season stats jump around too much.

by jorga on Dec 17, 2007 10:47 AM PST up reply actions

Did you see the lottery odds?

I was told not to get my hopes up. I need some guidance here.

Randee of the Redwoods '08

by tominhawaii on Dec 17, 2007 4:45 PM PST up reply actions

Let's not get too excited about that

I remember after Portland's 4 game streak, everyone in the media going crazy, back tracking their preseason statements and proclaiming that the Blazers will more than likely be a playoff team. Then, we couldn't buy a bucket in the next 9 of 10 games.

Hopefully our guys will blow off the rankings and the media hype and continue to focus on Basketball. As exciting as it is to see some success, it doesn't mean anything untill the end of the year when the success can be measured against the end result.

The true test of the caliber of this team will be if they lose a game, but can bounce back and string together another great run. If we can manage that, then the Power Rankings mean something. But until then, ESPN, and the rest of the media (Minus Quick be because he keeps it real), are nothing more than bandwagoneers with the biggest audiences.

But ya gotta love the attention anyway. It feels like a good time to be a blazer fan and a great time to be a basketball fan.

Booyah! Go Blazers.

Was Damon really a bad Blazer, or did he get the short end of the stick?

by rpxxxiv on Dec 17, 2007 9:07 AM PST reply actions

Well said

I agree 100%.

I do think that if we can manage to win four of the next five games, that will also be saying quite a bit considering who we're playing.

A wink is the same as a nod to a bat!

by ratbastird on Dec 17, 2007 9:32 AM PST up reply actions

They're learning to regain leads

so I'd like to think they'll recover equally well from a loss.

What has struck me lately is that in nearly every player interview the word "fun" has been used. Yes, it's fun when you are winning but I really think it goes deeper than just that particular game. They're having fun growing up together. They're like kids in the summertime.

by jorga on Dec 17, 2007 10:00 AM PST up reply actions

wow

That's too high. Stein is easily distracted by shiny things and win streaks.

I'd put us in the 15-18 range. We're 16th in the Hollinger Power Rankings.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerranking

Still, its nice that someone is noticing what a great week the Blazers had.

by jksnake99 on Dec 17, 2007 9:10 AM PST reply actions

In his defense, it might be a good number.

I mean, we now have a .500 record, and we keep winning games that we're not supposed to win. Why shouldn't we be #10?

I want to be realistic and not set my expectations too high about how this season turns out, but who would want to play us right now? We are stroking it. If you look at the teams 11-20, who is better than us right now?

If anything, I think it shows how bad most teams are right now outside of a select few.

Can you smell what the Pritch is cooking?

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Dec 17, 2007 10:49 AM PST up reply actions

Over a quarter of the season gone,

hardest schedule in the Association so far. Injuries to Aldridge and Jones, guys with regular minutes, the youngest team in the NBA. You'd think that we would do better in the second half of the season than the first. Everybody is trying to win right now, come March and about a quarter of the NBA will be resting players and thinking about draft picks.

by EnglandDan on Dec 17, 2007 4:00 PM PST up reply actions

As for Holliger...

I love his stuff, but I don't know if he includes heart and chemistry in his scientific formula. The Blazers just look like they want to win more.

Can you smell what the Pritch is cooking?

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Dec 17, 2007 10:59 AM PST up reply actions

NBA.com

Has us at 14 (a jump of 5). I think that is more realistic than 10, although 10 is pretty sweet, given that everyone outside of BE was lining up to anoint us 2008 Lottery Contenders(TM).

by DonkeyShins on Dec 17, 2007 11:14 AM PST up reply actions

Linkatude

Sorry. Latest NBA.com rankings are at: http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/index.html

by DonkeyShins on Dec 17, 2007 11:15 AM PST up reply actions

You neglected to mention

that they annointed us the "Groovy Team of the Week".

Sort of takes us back to the Walton era doesn't it?!

by jorga on Dec 17, 2007 11:36 AM PST up reply actions

Groovy

I think they meant it as more of a postmodern 'Evil Dead 2' reference than in the 1970s sense, but I'll take it either way. :-)

Actually, I think a clip of Bruce Campbell as Ash (since he's an Oregonian and all) saying 'Groovy.' would be a great soundbite to use at the Rose Quarter whenever the Blazers do something especially nifty.

by DonkeyShins on Dec 17, 2007 12:04 PM PST up reply actions