NBA Power Rankings 18: A new top team as the playoffs approach

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Previous: 14th. Portland Trail Blazers. 18. team. 34. . 32-27

Last Week: Lost to Charlotte Hornets 109-101, Lost to LA Clippers 113-112, Lost to Denver Nuggets 106-105, Lost to Memphis Grizzlies 130-128

This Week: 4/25 vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 4/27 at Indiana Pacers, 4/28 at Memphis Grizzlies, 4/30 at Brooklyn Nets

The struggles continue for the Portland Trail Blazers as losers of four in a row and nine of their last 15 games. Damian Lillard has been struggling with injuries, leading to him also struggling with on-court effectiveness. Over the last week, he has shot just 37.8 percent from the floor and 23.8 percent from distance. For a team that needs Lillard to remain in Dame Time mode at all times, this is disastrous.

The seat that Terry Stotts is sitting on is getting increasingly hotter. There have been reports that while he is going to obviously be given the chance to coach the rest of this season, the future beyond that point is murky. The Blazers have made the postseason in each season Stotts has been at the helm but eventually a change of voice is needed to get the team over the hump. Many questions have been asked about his rotations of late and the defensive effort overall, the latter of which should not necessarily fall on the coach.

Truth be told, the defensive personnel for this team is lacking. Derrick Jones Jr. was brought in as the nominal go-to defensive stopper. The backcourt for the Blazers is offensively elite but defensively less than average. With the knowledge that the Blazers have needed to rely on second-year prospect Nassir Little for much for their defensive impact, it is hard to blame a coach for the lack of defensive ability.