Blazers Slip In Week 16 NBA Power Rankings

The Portland Trail Blazers are 36-17 on the season after an 0-2 week that included losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers before the All-Star Break.

Here's how the Blazers stack up in the various NBA power rankings following week 16 of the 2013-14 season. Last week, the Blazers ranked from No. 4 to No. 10. In new rankings published this week, Portland placed from No. 7 to No. 12, although a number of the rankings weren't updated because of the All-Star break.

No. 7 (Last week: 6): Marc Stein, ESPN.com

After a remarkable and fortuitous beginning, including an 11-game win streak, Portland is no longer a lock for a top-four seed. The Blazers would have loved the sound of No. 5 in the West back in training camp but they raised the bar on themselves. (Andrew R Tonry, TrueHoop Network)

No. 7 (Last week: 6): Marc Spears, Yahoo! Sports

Kudos to Damian Lillard for completing all five events during NBA All-Star weekend without showing any fatigue. To be young.

No. 9 (Last week: 7): Matt Dollinger, SI.com

The Blazers' body of work warrants a top-10 ranking, but their sluggish performance over the last month is tough to ignore. Portland is 5-8 in its last 13 games, a stretch during which its formidable offense has been just league average. If the Blazers aren't elite offensively, their ceiling is a lot lower.

No. 12 (Last week: 10): Matt Moore, CBSSports.com

"No, we're not panicking. Why do you ask?"

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

Lost to the Clippers and Thunder last week. However, in a sign of how things are turning in Portland, several All-Stars reportedly told LaMarcus Aldridge they would love to come play with him and Damian Lillard in Portland.

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

Over the last month, the Blazers played eight of their 15 games against the top nine teams in NetRtg (six on the road). Over the next two months, they'll play eight of their 29 games against the top nine (three on the road). And with only four back-to-backs remaining, they have the easiest schedule in the West. That should keep them from falling any further than fifth place in the conference.

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

No update this week because of the All-Star break.

No. 7 (Last week: 6): Jason Patt, SB Nation

The Blazers have started to show some real chinks in their armor, losing six of nine heading into the break. With the Clippers and Rockets surging, Portland has dropped to fifth in the West. On a more positive note, Damian Lillard teamed up with Trey Burke to win the Skills Competition at All-Star Weekend.

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

No update this week because of the All-Star break.

No. 9 (Last week: 5): Hollinger Power Rankings

Hollinger Statistical Rankings...

• Offensive Efficiency: No. 3 (Last week: No. 2)
• Defensive Efficiency: Tied-No. 23 (Last week: No. Tied-No. 21)
• Rebound Rate: No. 4 (Last week: No. 3)
• Pace: Tied-No. 8 (Last week: No. Tied-No. 8)

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