Week 4 NBA Power Ranking – Big shifts on the ladder while OKC Thunder clings to middle rung

Portland Trail Blazers

Offense: (108.4) – 13th
Defense: ( 109.3) – 19th
Net: (minus -0.9) – 16th

Record: 5-8
Games Week 4: (1-2) Won vs. Spurs, lost to Raptors, Spurs
Games Week 5 (4 games): Mon, Nov. 18 vs. Rockets | Tues, Nov. 19 vs. Pelicans | Thurs, Nov. 21 at Bucks |  Sat, Nov 23 at Cavaliers

Things could get intense this week for Portland who continues to struggle without a feasible power forward option. Desperate times call for desperate measures and that equated to Portland ending week four with news they had signed Carmelo Anthony.

Look, I’m sure Melo can still score and he definitely deserved a better exit than how the Rockets handled his situation but if the Blazers can’t figure out a way to stop teams from constantly attacking him on defense then things aren’t going to improve much. Nor is Whiteside impressing which highlights the fact Eric Spoelstra and Pat Riley had a reason to continually be shopping Hassan and couldn’t finish games with him on the court.

Just like the Rockets initially missed Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute the same can be said about Maurice Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu.

They’ll be in tough this week at least in two outings (Rockets/Bucks) and neither the Cavs or Pels will roll over feeling sorry for them.