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NBA Power Rankings: Playoff Edition

By Brad Rowland

Detailed view chairs with a playoff logo before a game between the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Detailed view chairs with a playoff logo before a game between the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

34. <p>Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are so much fun.</p> <p>The duo above represents everything that is entertaining about this Blazers team, and if Portland is going to make things difficult on the opposition in the playoffs, it will probably be because Lillard and McCollum are going nova at the best possible time. However, Portland does have an Achilles heel on the defensive end, and that actually reflects on its star backcourt.</p> <p>Neither Lillard nor McCollum could be described as even an average defender, and Portland pays the price for that. The team is allowing 105.6 points per 100 possessions on the season, and that figure ranks 20th in the NBA. On a grand scale, that isn’t fully disastrous, but in the playoffs, every weakness is magnified and it feels safe to assume that applies to the Blazers defense.</p> <p>With that said, Terry Stotts has done a tremendous job with a team that was projected to win 20-25 games this season, and every role player they acquired has excelled in this game. Casual fans should enjoy this team from an aesthetic perspective and their offense is a ton of fun. I just would not expect that to translate into full-blown playoff success in 2016.</p>. (44-38). Previous: . Portland Trail Blazers. 12. team

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