NBA Power Rankings Week 2: The rise of the Atlanta Hawks
By Corey Rausch
. 3-2. Previous: 10th. Portland Trail Blazers. 7. team. 34
Last Week: Beat Los Angeles Lakers 115-107, Lost to LA Clippers 128-105, Beat the Golden State Warriors 123-98
This Week: 1/3/2021 at Golden State Warriors, 1/5/2021 vs. Chicago Bulls, 1/7/2021 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 1/9/2021 at Sacramento Kings
The Portland Trail Blazers seem to have only figured out one side of the ball so far. As expected, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are explosive scorers and there are few teams who can keep up with them alone.
The defense is a whole other issue. Derrick Jones Jr. has been a noticeable positive on that side of the court so far, which should tell you all you need to know. The rest of the roster needs to be at least passable for them to eventually have a chance at title contention. Robert Covington has the potential to right some of those wrongs but has not been a picture of consistency in this short season.
A win against the reigning champions does plenty good, however. Just ask the LA Clippers, who saw a noticeable bump last week after a similar victory. The Los Angeles Lakers look nigh unbeatable on most nights so the fact that the Blazers were able to upend them semi-comfortably is noteworthy.
On a sour note, the continued Zach Collins injury saga is such a bummer. The potential is clear for the young big man but following another surgery (this time a revision on a previous stress fracture) his days in Rip City may be numbered. He is out indefinitely and only appeared in 11 games a season ago.