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NBA Bubble Power Rankings Preview: Looking at week one

By Corey Rausch

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers is fouled by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 112-103 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers is fouled by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 112-103 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Previous: 13th. Utah Jazz. 13. team. 118. . 41-23

The Utah Jazz truly feel like they have entered the realm where no news is good news. They have two games in this first scoring period and both will be pivotal. We already discussed that they will be facing the Pelicans on Re-Opening Night. Two days later they will play an important seeding game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The teams have split the season series so far and the Jazz currently have a one-game lead in the standings over OKC. Every win is immensely important. The first meeting was the first game of the year for the Jazz so little can truly be taken from that. The second meeting was in December so plenty has changed since then too.

Both the Jazz and the Thunder are looking to make the most of their opportunities. They have lofty goals and the roster to meet them. Utah currently just happens to be missing a few members.

In positive news, the Jazz have added a patch to their jerseys for the return of the season honoring the legendary coach Jerry Sloan, commemorating the number of victories he had (1,223) across his Hall-of-Fame career.

. 29-37. Previous: 14th. Portland Trail Blazers. 12. team. 34

The hype may be starting to get carried away when it comes to the Portland Trail Blazers. Many a talking head have started to intimate that they think the Blazers have a chance to take out the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. As positive as I am on the Blazers this seems a little out of whack to me.

That being said, they should be rounding into form as the favorite to lock down the eighth seed when the season resumes. They take the first step towards that in their first game against the Grizzlies. With an easier remaining schedule than Memphis, Portland can truly ramp up the pressure with a head-to-head victory head to head.

Portland would have been in this place all year given health. Yes, they miss the small forwards from last season and will miss Trevor Ariza without a doubt. But the addition of their two missing big men to compliment Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is daunting.

Arguably more loaded than the team that made the Western Conference Finals last season, the Grizzlies need to be worried.