You may have noticed (though probably not) that there was no New Year's edition of Power Rankings last week. Between a lot of the regular rankers taking the week off because of the holiday and the Trail Blazers playing a road back-to-back, it just didn't make much sense to put together what few rankings were available. Hopefully the absence didn't ruin your first week of the new year.
But now that things have settled down, let's get right back it. After going 3-1 last week, the Trail Blazers find themselves generally just above average in terms of their ranking at the midway point of the NBA season. And considering they currently are tied with the Bucks and Pistons for the 11th-best record in the league at 21-18, it's hard to argue they should be much higher, or much lower for that matter.
Onto this week's rankings...
• The panel of voters at ESPN has the Trail Blazers at No. 12 this week, one spot better than last week...
ESPN has the Trail Blazers behind the Nuggets at No. 11 and ahead of the Pistons at No. 13.
• John Schuhmann at NBA.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 14 this week, a two spot improvement from last week...
Schuhmann has the Trail Blazers behind the Nuggets at No. 13 and ahead of the Pelicans at No. 15.
• David Aldridge, also of NBA.com, has the Trail Blazers at No. 13 this week, unchanged from last week...
Aldridge has the Trail Blazers behind the Nuggets at No. 12 and ahead of the Heat at No. 14.
• Kenny Ducey of SI.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 11 this week, up three spots from last week...
Ducey has the Trail Blazers behind the Bucks at No. 10 and ahead of the Thunder at No. 12.
• Chris Barnewall at CBSSports.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 10 this week, four spots better than last week...
Barnewall has the Trail Blazers behind the Thunder at No. 9 and ahead of the Bucks at No. 11.
• The panel of voters at USA Today has the Trail Blazers at No. 14 this week, a two spot drop despite going 3-1 last week...
USA Today has the Trail Blazers behind the Pistons at No. 13 and ahead of the 76ers at No. 15.
• Gerald Bourguet of Hoops Habit has the Trail Blazers at No. 12 this week, one spot better than last week...
Bourguet has the Trail Blazers behind the Nuggets at No. 11 and ahead of the Pacers at No. 13.