Another good news/bad news week for the Portland Trail Blazers, which has been the case for roughly the last month as we approach the new year. Back-to-back road losses to the Rockets and Grizzlies, in which the Trail Blazers held double-digit first half leads, were disappointing, though those losses were followed up with one of Portland's best performances of the season, a 128-122 victory versus the Toronto Raptors at the Moda Center.
And while they don't get credit on this week's edition of Power Rankings for besting the Clippers Monday night for their first road win in nearly a month, if they're able to get at least two out of their next three, which are all at home against teams near them in the Western Conference standings, they might sneak back into the Top 10 by this time next week.