Before every NBA season over the last few years, ESPN's Zach Lowe, one of the more astute observers covering the league, goes about ranking all 30 teams in terms of their watchability in what he calls "League Pass Rankings." Lowe assigns teams scores in five categories -- zeitgeist, highlight production, style, league pass minutia and unintended comedy -- with those scores determining a point total and thus, each team's ranking. The scores are subjective, but at least the approach is scientific.
And this year, your Portland Trail Blazers come in at No. 8 on Lowe's rankings, one spot better than last season...
The Trail Blazers also get good marks from Lowe for the TV broadcast crew of Kevin Calabro and Lamar Hurd. Lowe, who by virtue of his occupation watches local team broadcasts regularly, calls Calabro a "NBA legend on play-by-play" and Hurd a budding "industry star."
The Trail Blazers come in ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 9 and behind the Cavaliers at No. 7.