Blazers Drop Again In Week 20 NBA Power Rankings

The Portland Trail Blazers are 43-24 on the season after a 1-3 week that included a win over the New Orleans Pelicans and losses to the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors.

Here's how the Blazers stack up in the various NBA power rankings following week 20 of the 2013-14 season. Last week, the Blazers ranked from No. 6 to No. 12. This week, Portland placed from No. 6 to No. 16, dropping again in a majority of the various rankings.

Playoff forecasts are also included below.

No. 14 (Last week: 12): Marc Stein, ESPN.com

The Blazers, after Sunday's blown-lead crusher at home against Golden State, undeniably have the look of a team more likely to finish sixth in the West than they are to move back up into the top four. They're 12-15 since that 31-9 start and have slipped from first to fourth in offensive efficiency.

No. 8 (Last week: 8): Marc Spears, Yahoo! Sports

The Blazers desperately need LaMarcus Aldridge back. The All-Star has missed the past two games with a lower back contusion.

No. 11 (Last week: 9): Matt Dollinger, SI.com

The Blazers, who are 19-19 since a 24-5 start, have lost five of their last six. The absence of LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed the past two games with a bruised back, is obviously partially to blame, but Portland's recent woes go a lot deeper than just injuries. The revamped bench has regressed; Wesley Matthews is mired in an ugly shooting slump; and the Blazers are simply being outclassed by their Western rivals, losing to the Warriors, Spurs, Grizzlies, Rockets and Mavericks in a 10-day span.

No. 13 (Last week: 11): John Schuhmann, NBA.com

We can confirm now that the Blazers' initial post-break defensive improvement was schedule-aided. After a rough trip and a heartbreaker against the Warriors on Sunday, they're 0-6 against fellow West playoff teams since the All-Star break, having allowed 111.2 points per 100 possessions in the six games. They're back on the road this week, but play just four more games against the West's top nine.

No. 9 (Last week: 8): David Aldridge, NBA.com

Blazers' slide has left them just 1 ½ games ahead of the Warriors for No. 5 in the West. You don't want to be sixth in the West. Sixth means playing the Clippers, who are third in the conference. If L.A. keeps winning, it could mean Oklahoma City slides down to No. 3. You don't want that, either.

No. 16 (Last week: 9): Matt Moore, CBSSports.com

They're starting to resemble Apollo 13, and they don't have the fuel to get home.

No. 12 (Last week: 12): Kurt Helin, ProBasketballTalk

Stat that should worry Portland fans: They have lost their last [12] games against teams that would make the playoffs in the West (hat tip to John Schuhmann of NBA.com for that). Soft schedule this week (Bucks, Wizards, Bobcats) they need to pick up some wins.

No. 13 (Last week: 10): Jason Patt, SB Nation

It feels kind of weird to have a 43-win team this low, but the Blazers are just 10-13 in their last 23 games and LaMarcus Aldridge is hurting. That's what I would call trending down.

No. 7 (Last week: 8): USA Today Sports

Filling in for injured LaMarcus Aldridge while still gunning for the No. 4 seed in the West.

No. 6 (Last week: No. 6): Hollinger Power Rankings

Hollinger Statistical Rankings...

• Offensive Efficiency: No. 4 (Last week: No. 4)
• Defensive Efficiency: No. 20 (Last week: Tied-No. 17)
• Rebound Rate: Tied-No. 5 (Last week: Tied-No. 4)
• Pace: No. 10 (Last week: Tied-No. 9)

Hollinger Playoff Odds...

• Projected record: 58/24, No. 6 seed (Last week: 54/28, No. 5)
• 99.3 percent chance to make the playoffs  (Last week: 99.9 percent)
• 7.7 percent chance to make the Finals (Last week: 8.8 percent)
• 4.7 percent chance to win the title (Last week: 5.2 percent)

Basketball-Reference Projections...

• Projected record: 53-29, No. 5 seed (Last week: 54-28, No. 5)
• 100 percent chance to make the playoffs (Last week: 100 percent)
• 8.9 percent chance to make the Finals (Last week: 9 percent)
• 4.3 percent chance to win the title (Last week: 4.2 percent)

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