Despite Lillard’s Heroics, the Blazers Slide in Latest Power Rankings
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The Trail Blazers halted a two-game slide with a memorable victory over the Bulls to finish out last week’s action. Portland now owns a 10-8 record and is right in the middle of the NBA pack. With that in mind, here is a look at how the Blazers’ position in the newest power rankings shifted from last week.
No. 11. Contributor Royce Young touched on Damian Lillard’s heroics in the segment devoted to Portland.
The unbelievable win on Saturday against the Bulls, with his pair of 3s in under nine seconds, was another chapter in the legend of Dame Time. But down multiple starters and key role players, it’s what Lillard has to do to steady the Blazers through rocky waters. He has led them in scoring over the past eight games (averaging 34.0 points during that stretch); and with four tilts remaining on a grueling, six-game trip, expect more of the same.
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The Trail Blazers’ shortened week produced a 1-1 record. Following Sunday night’s victory over the Knicks, the Blazers maintained their previous position in the latest round of NBA power rankings.
In ESPN’s rankings, the Blazers moved up one spot to
No. 11. ESPN’s Royce Young pointed to Damian Lillard’s stellar week when detailing Portland’s position on the list.
The Blazers are quietly managing their injury misfortune, and with Sunday’s game against the Knicks as the most recent example, they’re doing it with a tried and true method: Dame. Damian Lillard has dropped 35-plus points in three straight games, with a 40-point, 13-assist game a couple before that. Lillard is a supreme carrier, and that’s what he’ll need to do for the next few weeks while the Blazers wait on the return of CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic.
Jan 16, 2021
First, the caveat. There is nothing special to be gleaned about a regular season win in January, let alone one against a mediocre, short-handed opponent on the second night of a back to back. That being said, the Nets did what they were supposed to do in James Harden’s debut, dispatching the Magic 122-115 on Saturday. Harden recorded a triple-double in his first outing with Brooklyn, putting up 32 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists. The 14 assists were a single-game franchise record (albeit with nine turnovers).
Of course, all of this may not matter Sunday when Kyrie Irving is expected to return to the floor. For now, here are three thoughts on Harden’s Nets premiere.