Blazers Hold Steady In Week 15 NBA Power Rankings

The Portland Trail Blazers are 36-15 on the season after a 2-2 week that included wins over the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves and losses to the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers.

Here's how the Blazers stack up in the various NBA power rankings following week 15 of the 2013-14 season. Last week, the Blazers ranked from No. 3 to No. 10. This week, Portland placed from No. 4 to No. 10, and there was minor movement both up and down in the various rankings.

No. 6 (Last week: 5): Marc Stein, ESPN.com

The Blazers haven't finished the season as the league's No. 1 offense since the committee's senior year of high school in 1986-87 ... led by Kiki Vandeweghe and Clyde Drexler. A 5-6 record in the past 11 games doesn't seem quite as significant as the fact that the Blazers nearly swept Indiana.

No. 6 (Last week: 3): Marc Spears, Yahoo! Sports

Prior to taking part in five All-Star events, first-time All-Star Damian Lillard has to face the Thunder on Tuesday and the Clippers on Wednesday.

No. 7 (Last week: 7): Matt Dollinger, SI.com

A Heat-Thunder series would likely win the popular vote for most-desired Finals matchup. But Pacers-Blazers shouldn't be far behind after the teams split two of this season's best games.

No. 10 (Last week: 9): Matt Moore, CBSSports.com

Damian Lillard will be inescapable for All-Star Weekend, which isn't a bad thing at all.

No. 7 (Last week: 8): Kurt Helin, ProBasketballTalk

They are 5-5 in their last 10 and that includes losses to the Thunder, Warriors, Grizzlies and Pacers (although they did go to OT with Indy on the road). Read into that what you wish. The tough schedule continues this week with the Thunder then the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back.

No. 8 (Last week: 10): John Schuhmann, NBA.com

Before breaking out against the undermanned Wolves on Saturday, the Blazers were going through, by far, their worst offensive stretch of the season. It was inevitable given their reliance on jump shots and you would hope it would get them to buckle down defensively. But Wednesday's win in New York was really the only game in which they've been able to put together two halves of strong D.

No. 4 (Last week: 3): David Aldridge, NBA.com

Bench issues creeping up again after reserves' production drops significantly.

No. 6 (Last week: 6): Jason Patt, SB Nation

Since moving a season-high 22 games over .500 a few weeks ago, the Blazers have gone just 5-6. A big reason is a really tough schedule, but the struggles may not bode well for the postseason. Or perhaps it's just a lull.

No. 6 (Last week: 5): USA Today Sports

Damian Lillard has never missed a game for them. Why skip an All-Star contest?

No. 5 (Last week: 8): Hollinger Power Rankings

Hollinger Statistical Rankings...

• Offensive Efficiency: No. 2 (Last week: No. 1)
• Defensive Efficiency: Tied-No. 21 (Last week: No. Tied-No. 21)
• Rebound Rate: No. 3 (Last week: Tied-No. 3)
• Pace: Tied-No. 8 (Last week: No. Tied-No. 8)

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-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter