Fansided

NBA Power Rankings: Who is LeBron James not mad at?

By Brandon Jefferson

Jan 23, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) before a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Damian Lillard, Terry Stotts, C.J. McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers
Jan 13, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts talks with Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) during a break in the action against the Orlando Magic at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Portland Trail Blazers 22-28

Last week: 2-1
Last rank: 19th

Damian Lillard is back and the Portland Trail Blazers have gotten their mojo back along with it. Aside from a loss to the Golden State Warriors –and in all honesty who hasn’t been losing to them lately– this team is looking more and more like the one we saw vault up the standings last season. Lillard shouldn’t get all the credit, though, CJ McCollum has been just as spectacular this season, including while Lillard was sidelined. For all his hard work, McCollum gets a shot to redeem himself in the 3-point contest instead of the vacation he was hoping to take.

Meanwhile, head coach Terry Stotts’ reconfiguration of the starting lineup has been a helpful contribution to the team. Adding Noah Vonleh and Evan Turner (the master Internet troller and tertiary playmaker) to the Lillard, McCollum, Mason Plumlee trio has both eased the burden on the dynamic backcourt duo and given Plumlee another big body to help battle on the boards. Yet, if the team needs a jolt they can just as quickly throw back in Maurice Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu and go with the small ball route.

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