tlongII
12-06-2013, 12:12 PM
http://nypost.com/2013/12/05/nba-power-rankings-blazers-built-for-present-and-future/
http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/lillard.jpg?w=720&h=480&crop=1
Damien Lillard and the Blazers move to the top of the Post's Power Rankings after beating the Pacers and Thunder at home.
When the season began, there were six teams that were expected to make up the clear-cut top tier in the cutthroat Western Conference: the Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, Clippers, Warriors and Grizzlies.
Don’t tell that to the Trail Blazers.
Through the first few weeks of the season, there may not be a bigger surprise in the league – except for maybe the matching tire fires in Brooklyn and Manhattan – than the way Portland has ripped through the opening part of its schedule. Behind brilliant play from LaMarcus Aldridge, an innovative offense and newfound depth, playoff basketball seems destined to be headed back to Rip City.
Portland had one of the most underrated offseasons in the league thanks to savvy additions by general manager Neil Olshey to build a much deeper bench than they had last season – which wound up being the thing that kept Portland out of the playoffs.
By picking up Thomas Robinson — a top-five pick the year before — off the scrap heap in a Houston salary dump, signing Mo Williams, Earl Watson, Dorell Wright and trading for Robin Lopez, suddenly the Blazers go a legitimate nine guys deep in their rotation — and that’s before adding rookie C.J. McCollum, who still is recovering from a foot injury.
Portland already has won games over the Spurs, Warriors, Pacers and Thunder – the latter two coming in their last two games – and Aldridge has been playing at a borderline MVP level. With a young supporting cast of Damian Lillard, Wes Matthews and Nicolas Batum plus the deeper bench, Portland can compete not just this year, but should get better moving forward, as well.
Who knows exactly where the Blazers will end up by season’s end? But one thing is for certain: the Blazers are back, and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
(Last week’s rankings in parentheses)
1. Trail Blazers (3): The wins Portland picked up over Indiana on Monday and the Thunder on Wednesday probably form the best pair of wins in consecutive games for any team in the NBA this season, and give the Blazers wins in 13 of their last 14.
http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/lillard.jpg?w=720&h=480&crop=1
Damien Lillard and the Blazers move to the top of the Post's Power Rankings after beating the Pacers and Thunder at home.
When the season began, there were six teams that were expected to make up the clear-cut top tier in the cutthroat Western Conference: the Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, Clippers, Warriors and Grizzlies.
Don’t tell that to the Trail Blazers.
Through the first few weeks of the season, there may not be a bigger surprise in the league – except for maybe the matching tire fires in Brooklyn and Manhattan – than the way Portland has ripped through the opening part of its schedule. Behind brilliant play from LaMarcus Aldridge, an innovative offense and newfound depth, playoff basketball seems destined to be headed back to Rip City.
Portland had one of the most underrated offseasons in the league thanks to savvy additions by general manager Neil Olshey to build a much deeper bench than they had last season – which wound up being the thing that kept Portland out of the playoffs.
By picking up Thomas Robinson — a top-five pick the year before — off the scrap heap in a Houston salary dump, signing Mo Williams, Earl Watson, Dorell Wright and trading for Robin Lopez, suddenly the Blazers go a legitimate nine guys deep in their rotation — and that’s before adding rookie C.J. McCollum, who still is recovering from a foot injury.
Portland already has won games over the Spurs, Warriors, Pacers and Thunder – the latter two coming in their last two games – and Aldridge has been playing at a borderline MVP level. With a young supporting cast of Damian Lillard, Wes Matthews and Nicolas Batum plus the deeper bench, Portland can compete not just this year, but should get better moving forward, as well.
Who knows exactly where the Blazers will end up by season’s end? But one thing is for certain: the Blazers are back, and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
(Last week’s rankings in parentheses)
1. Trail Blazers (3): The wins Portland picked up over Indiana on Monday and the Thunder on Wednesday probably form the best pair of wins in consecutive games for any team in the NBA this season, and give the Blazers wins in 13 of their last 14.