4. Portland Trail Blazers (22-26;last week: not ranked) If the glass is half-empty, Portland looks to be one of those half-steppers. The kind that can’t run a proper rebuilding project because they dared not to be terrible this season in the wake of LaMarcus Aldridge’s departure. The squad still doesn’t play defense, Damian Lillard was snubbed out of an All-Star appearance, and they might miss out on a high end lottery pick. Five-year plans are not the focus at this point in the season, though, as the Blazers continue to confound defenses with an offense that has thrilled during the 2016 calendar year. The team has won seven of nine and four straight overall, and their ability to delight deep into a League Pass evening is much appreciated. Better yet? Lillard’s about to go off. There’s a reason he torched Kobe Bryant’s Lakers on Saturday: Mamba cost him an All-Star berth. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-b...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
@HCP bet me $100 that the Blazers wouldn't rise above 25th in the rankings this season. I win! Pay me!
