Trail Blazers Slide a Little in Power Rankings

Time to check the post Trade Deadline NBA power rankings to see how your Portland Trail Blazers fared.

Drew Garrison of SB Nation still sees the Trail Blazers as a top-five team but they dropped one spot from last week as they did in most of the other rankings.  They are now outside the top-10 on two rankings at number 11.

Golden State is now number-1 one on all seven of our listings.  About time, I'd say.

Drew Garrison of SB Nation: 1) Golden State, 2) Atlanta, 3) Memphis, 4) Cleveland, & 5) Portland.

5.  Portland Trail Blazers (36-19, Last week: 4)   Portland rounds out the top-five, but back-to-back losses out of the break leaves much to be desired. The Trail Blazers have been one of the best teams all season and the addition of Arron Afflalo added some much-needed depth, but getting blown out by the Utah Jazz before coughing up a hairball against the Grizzlies means Portland has some work to do.

Matt Dollinger of Sports Illustrated: 1) Golden State, 2) Memphis, 3) Atlanta, 4) Cleveland, & 5)  Toronto.

11.  PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS   LAST WEEK: 9   RECORD: 36-19 (1-2)
The Blazers are hoping the deadline addition of Arron Afflalo can inject some life into a reeling team. Portland is just 6-11 since Jan. 14 and ranks No. 21 in offensive efficiency over that span. Leading up to that date, the Blazers ranked No. 8 in that category.

John Schuhmann of nba.com: 1) Golden State, 2) Atlanta, 3) Memphis, 4) Cleveland, & 5) Dallas.

11.  Last week: 10   Portland (36-19)    Pace: 96.5 (13) OffRtg: 104.3 (11) DefRtg: 99.8 (3) NetRtg: +4.5 (6)
How are thumb injuries like mid-range shots? LaMarcus Aldridge leads the league in both of them. The Blazers almost got their best win without him on Sunday, but got outscored 34-15 in the fourth quarter, when they've typically been at their best. They're 6-9 against fellow West playoff teams, with five of their next six games against the group.
This week: vs. SAS, vs. OKC, @ SAC

Mark Stein of ESPN: 1) Golden State, 2) Memphis, 3) Atlanta, 4) Cleveland, & 5) Toronto.

10.  Portland   36-19   Last Week: 10   The Blazers, No. 30 in the league in bench scoring each of the last two seasons, had only moved up to No. 28 before trading for Arron Afflalo. TiVo alert: Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook square off Friday night on ESPN; both scored 40 and flirted with triple-doubles last time they dueled Dec. 23.

Mark Spears of Yahoo.com: 1) Golden State, 2) Memphis, 3) Atlanta, 4) Cleveland, & 5) Toronto.

9. Portland Trail Blazers (Record: 36-19; last week: 8): The Blazers added a much-needed veteran scoring presence in acquiring guard Arron Afflalo from Denver.

Adi Joseph of USA Today: 1) Golden State, 2) Atlanta, 3) Memphis, 4) Houston, & 5) Toronto.

6.  Portland Trail Blazers 36-19:  Arron Afflalo as a sixth man is a ridiculous luxury only afforded in the form of half-season rental.

Matt Moore of CBSsports: 1) Golden State, 2) Atlanta, 3) Memphis, 4) Cleveland, & 5) Toronto.

10.   They outplayed Memphis for 3.5 quarters Sunday night and watched Memphis traipse away with a win in their house. Been that kind of year, but Arron Afflalo should help them find a groove if the schedule ever lightens up.