NBA Power Rankings 2025-26: Thunder Dominate Again, But Which Unexpected Team Crashes the Top Five?
15. Toronto Raptors
(5-5, last week No. 20)
It’s concerning that when Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley share the court, the Raptors have a -10.5 net rating. The Raptors are picking up wins because when their pressure defense works and turns their opponents over — letting the Raptors get out and run — they are a force. It’s just that the success of that pressure defense has been very inconsistent.
16. Portland Trail Blazers
(5-4, last week No. 11)
At the top of the list of positives in Portland: This team has beaten Denver and Oklahoma City this season. The Trail Blazers’ pressure defense can be hit-and-miss — it was a miss against Luka Doncic and the Lakers last week — but it’s hitting more often than not. Portland is on the road this week, visiting Orlando, New Orleans, Houston, and Dallas.


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