The Blazers are up to #4 on the Sagarin ratings. They are behind Atlanta, Denver and Boston. In front of Suns, Lakers, Heat and Mavs. Go Blazers
I think they could remain around #4 all season. I think the Celtics and Lakers are clearly better and the Cavaliers probably are, assuming their start to the season was just a rough patch. Orlando may be better. Still, that would make Portland a top-five team in the NBA. I think Denver and San Antonio are around Portland's level, but I think Portland is slightly better than either.
Blazers are #1 in the Predictor column which is supposedly the most accurate. Code: BA 2009-2010 through games of 2009 November 13 Friday HOME ADVANTAGE= 3.89 RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 16 | ELO_CHESS | PREDICTOR 1 Atlanta Hawks = 97.51 7 2 92.04( 6) 3 1 | 3 1 | 98.31 1 | 96.77 3 2 Denver Nuggets = 96.86 7 3 92.22( 4) 2 2 | 3 3 | 97.10 4 | 96.55 4 3 Boston Celtics = 96.13 8 2 87.69( 27) 1 2 | 2 2 | 95.08 5 | 97.37 2 [COLOR="Red"][B] 4 Portland Trail Blazers = 95.54 7 3 89.77( 17) 1 3 | 3 3 | 94.03 7 | 97.54 1[/B][/COLOR] 5 Phoenix Suns = 95.28 8 2 90.18( 13) 2 1 | 2 2 | 98.16 2 | 93.36 10 6 Los Angeles Lakers = 95.03 7 2 90.47( 11) 3 2 | 4 2 | 97.40 3 | 93.29 11 7 Miami Heat = 94.52 6 2 88.20( 24) 1 2 | 2 2 | 94.81 6 | 94.16 8 8 Dallas Mavericks = 93.83 6 3 89.39( 20) 2 0 | 3 1 | 92.52 11 | 95.31 5 9 Houston Rockets = 93.29 5 4 91.53( 7) 1 3 | 2 3 | 92.33 12 | 94.28 7 10 Cleveland Cavaliers = 93.29 6 3 89.31( 21) 1 1 | 2 3 | 92.92 10 | 93.59 9
Blazers have the second best point diff to Boston, but Boston's schedule has been even easier and has had a bit more home games.
It's crazy to think that our schedule is ranked 17th out of 30... which means we could have had it a lot easier!
Yeah, we could have had four of the Wiz, Nets, Knicks, 6er’s, Clips, and Warriors, instead of the Rox, Spurs and Nugs. Go Blazers
Still #3 after close loss to Hawks. Hawks and Nugs above us, and Mavs and Celts behind us. Go Blazers
After close win of Detroit, still holding at #3 in Sagarin ratings. Hawks and Nugs above, Suns and Mavs after. Go Blazers
Fugly, shit game against the Warriors drops the team from #3 to #6 in the rankings. The Hawks, Mavs, Nugs, Lakers and Suns are above the Blazers, with the Rox and Magic nipping that their ass. It hacks me off, but looking at that list, the teams above the Blazers are better teams at this point. I'm a little surprised that the Blazers didn't fall farther than they did. Go Blazers
No change in the rankings after the win over the Wolves. Still number 6, with the same teams above and below in the same order as yesterday. Go Blazers
The team dropped a spot, to #7, while idle yesterday. Now the Hawks, Suns, Mavs, Lakers, Nugs and Magic are ranked higher than the Blazers. The Rox and Celts are close behind. Go Blazers
The team moved up one spot, to #6 with the win over the Bulls. Hawks, Suns, Mavs, Lakers, and Nugs are ranked higher. The Magic and Rox behind. Go Blazers
The Blazers moved up two spots, to #4, on a night they were idle. NICE! The Hawks, Suns and Lakers are above them, and the Nugs and Magic behind. Go Blazers
Dropped two spots to #6 after the win over the Nets. The Hawks, Suns, Mavs, Nugs and Lakers are above them, and the Magic and Celts behind. The team was had the 26th most difficult schedule. They are #2 in the league in point differential. They are on pace for 58 wins currently. Go Blazers
After two pathetic losses, the Blazers fall to #10 in the rankings. The Lakers, Suns, Magic, Hawks, Mavs, Celts, Nugs, Thunder and Cavs are all ranked higher now. The Spurs, Rox and Jazz are nipping at their ass. That's with the 26th toughest schedule. They've dropped to #9 in point differential. They are now on a pace to win 53 now. Here's hoping this is the low point. Go Blazers
