About A Month In To The Season, Where Do The Blazers Rank?

By 750 THE GAME STAFF,

The 2023-24 Portland Trail Blazers were not expected to be very good this season. The Vegas line had their win total anywhere from 27.5-28.5 wins. One of the worst in the Western Conference.

We are about a month into the NBA season and the Trail Blazers record is close to the bottom of the league.

ESPN just released their NBA power rankings, and to nobody’s surprise the Trail Blazers ranked close to the bottom.

26. Portland Trail Blazers

Previous ranking: 25

Writes ESPN:

“Anfernee Simons (thumb), Scoot Henderson (ankle), Robert Williams III (knee) and Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) are all sidelined. The Trail Blazers offense ranks last in the league. Fourth-year guard Skylar Mays, on a two-way contract just two days ago, is now leading it. It’s a race back to the bottom for the rebuilding Blazers.”

The Trail Blazers are 3-8 on the season, but it’s not all bad in Portland. The Blazers actually boast the NBA’s 11th best defensive rating in the league. Compare that to the past five seasons of 28, 29, 29, 27, and 16. The Trail Blazers defense has been above average and almost in the top 10 which is what you look at when you look at championship teams.

On the opposite end the Trail Blazers are last in the league in offensive rating. You can argue that with all of the injuries that it was expected the Blazers have a bad offense. But maybe not this bad.

Overall, the Blazers season is going as expected. A lot more losses then wins. But it’s the defense and how the team has played hard that gives you hope that the future can be better when they get some better offensive weapons.

@750TheGame