Portland Trail Blazers rank 12th in Sports Illustrated’s preseason power rankings

Sports Illustrated recently published its preseason power rankings in which the Portland Trail Blazers ranked 12th.

Oh, preseason power rankings. Lists that come out that don’t really mean much, considering we haven’t seen any team use its actual rotations in actual games that mean something. But, at least in Sports Illustrated’s rankings, the Portland Trail Blazers got some much-deserved (and much-needed) love.

Among many other team-rankings coming out in the late summer, the Blazers were often viewed with a much too harsh eye of skepticism. In FiveThirtyEight’s, they ranked 16th. In ESPN’s, they ranked tenth – in the west.

But SI’s number 12 spot seems much more appropriate for a team that won 49 games last year, claimed the West’s third seed, and who’s best player in Damian Lillard had the best season of his career.

While Portland’s disappointing sweep to the New Orleans Pelicans left a bad taste in everybody’s mouth, this new season should be the mouthwash to reorient people’s opinions on Rip City.

The team took a major step last year defensively, jumping from 19th in defensive rating in 2016-17 to eighth last year. And while big man Ed Davis, who is now gone to the Brooklyn Nets, had a hand in this improvement, much of the Blazers defensive core is still intact.

Jusuf Nurkic should continue recording more than one block per game as a premier rim protector. Zach Collins has added strength and projects to take a leap on that end of the floor, especially after a good showing in Summer League. Al-Farouq Aminu is an absolute terror. And Dame and CJ McCollum should only build upon the improvements they made defensively last year.

Plus, the team achieved their position last season while ranking 16th in three-pointers made and dead last in assists.

All signs point to these numbers increasing this upcoming season. During Media Day, both GM Neil Olshey and Head Coach Terry Stotts were excited about the knockdown shooters they added in Seth Curry and Nik Stauskas. And Stotts made a point to discuss how the team is going to emphasize ball movement this year.

And from the evidence gathered in their first preseason game against the Toronto Raptors, these changes should come to fruition:

Yes, McCollum missed the shot. But I’ll bet money that as a career 40.8 percent three-point, he’ll hit that shot from an open corner more times than not.

Better shooters and movement will make Portland’s offense all the more potent – especially if Lillard comes back even better this year.

As Khadrice Rollins writes:

"“It will be easy to dismiss this team’s accomplishments because of last postseason, but just understand that they’re trying. Okay, Jennifer?”"

On paper, the Blazers aren’t in the top-three of teams in the league this year. But they’re certainly in the top half, and SI does them justice with their placement. As the season gets rolling though, even their number could look too conservative.