After playing 10 games in the first 20 days of the 2017-18 regular season, the Portland Trail Blazers got a reprieve from the schedule last week by playing just two games, both of which were at home. But that reprieve felt more like a punishment by the end of the week after the Trail Blazers lost to the Grizzlies on Tuesday and the Nets on Friday by a total of five points. There was much talk during training camp about getting off to a better start this season, but at 6-6 despite playing eight of their first 12 games at the Moda Center, it's hard to consider the first three weeks of Portland's season as anything but more of the same.
Given that, it's not at all surprising to see the Trail Blazers drop dramatically in this week's Power Rankings. In fact, when one takes into account their strength of schedule, both in terms of opponents and location, it's a bit surprising that Portland didn't drop further this week than they did...
• The panel of voters at ESPN.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 15 this week, three spots worse than last week...
I'm not sure that's especially timely analysis after the last week, but it's good information nonetheless.
ESPN.com has the Trail Blazers behind the Bucks at No. 14 and ahead of the Pelicans at No. 16.
• Jon Schuhmann of NBA.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 14 this week, eight spots worse than last week...
Outside of the play of Shabazz Napier, not a whole lot of positive takeaways from the last week. That assist rate stat is especially devastating, though it does explain why Portland has struggled offensively so far this season.
Schuhmann has the Trail Blazers behind the Knicks at No. 13 and ahead of the Pelicans at No. 15.
• David Aldridge, also of NBA.com, has the Trail Blazers at No. 15 this week, two spots worse than last week...
The Trail Blazers are going to pay the price for dropping so many winnable home games once the playoff race starts to heat up. Then again, if they're unable to get moving in the right direction soon, they likely won't have a playoff race to worry about.
Aldridge has the Trail Blazers behind the Knicks at No. 14 and since he only ranks the Top 15, we'll just have to guess as to which team Portland is in front of at No. 16.
• Kenny Ducey at SI.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 11 this week, four spots worse than last week...
I wouldn't disagree with this take regarding the Brooklyn game, but McCollum's shot versus the Grizzlies was a quality look. It just didn't fall.
Ducey has the Trail Blazers behind the Cavaliers at No. 10 and ahead of the Knicks at No. 12.
• AJ Neuharth-Keusch of USA Today has the Trail Blazers has the Trail Blazers at No. 13 this week, a seven-spot drop from last week...
Being in games late is a good thing, but you have to start winning those games eventually, especially at home. The NBA don't award playoff spots for close losses.
Neuharth-Keusch has the Trail Blazers behind the Pelicans at No. 12 and ahead of the Thunder at No. 14.
• Sean Deveny of The Sporting News has the Trail Blazers at No. 11 this week...
Deveny has the Trail Blazers behind the Grizzlies at No. 9 and ahead of the Timberwolves at No. 12.
• Gerald Bourguet of Hoops Habit has the Trail Blazers at No. 13 this week, seven spots worse than last week...
Bourguet has the Trail Blazers behind the Timberwolves at No. 12 and ahead of the Bucks at No. 13.
• Chris Barnewall at CBSSports.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 12 this week, six spots worse than last week...
Barnewall has the Trail Blazers behind the Knicks at No. 11 and ahead of the Raptors at No. 13.
• Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report, in rankings posted on November 10, has the Trail Blazers at No. 13, one spot better than last week...
Hughes has the Trail Blazers behind the Grizzlies at No. 12 and ahead of the 76ers at No. 14.
• Brady Klopfer of BBallBreakdown.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 7 in his initial rankings this season...
Klopfer has the Trail Blazers behind the Timberwolves at No. 6 and ahead of the Pistons at No. 8.