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Power Rankings: Steady Decline Continues In Week Seven

Having lost five-straight games, you'd assume the Portland Trail Blazers would find themselves plummeting in the weekly Power Rankings, and they have taken a hit for their losing streak, which continued with a 111-104 loss to the Golden State Warriors Monday night at Oracle Arena in Oakland. But with the NBA being incredibly top heavy almost two months into the regular season, dropping multiple games in a row, while undoubtably a bad thing, doesn't seem to carry the same consequences as similar stumbles in previous seasons. Case in point: the Trail Blazers were in 4th in the West after returning to Portland after going 4-1 on a five-game trip and are now tied for 6th after losing five-straight. Again, that's hardly a good thing, but they're still right in the thick of playoff race, early as it may be.

Though that won't last if their current losing streak goes on much longer. The West might not be as deep as most assumed it would be this season, but going on extended winless stretches is going to catch up to the Trail Blazers sooner rather than later, both in the standings and the weekly rankings.

Here's how the Trail Blazers faired this week...

• The panel of voters at ESPN has the Trail Blazers at No. 14 this week, three spots worse than last week… 

ESPN has the Trail Blazes behind the Wizards at No. 13 and ahead of the Thunder at No. 15. • John Schuhmann of NBA.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 16, also three spots worse than last week...

Schuhmann has the Trail Blazers behind the Jazz at No. 15 and ahead of the Nuggets at No. 17.• David Aldridge, also of NBA.com, has the Trail Blazers at No. 15 this week, two spots worse than last week...

Aldridge has the Trail Blazers behind the Pelicans at No. 14 (Aldridge only does a top 15). • Kenny Ducey at SI.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 13, three spots worse than last week... 

Ducey has the Trail Blazers behind the Thunder at No. 12 and ahead of their next opponent, the Miami Heat, at No. 14.• The panel of voters at USA Today has the Trail Blazers at No. 11 this week, unchanged from last week... 

Only lost by seven this time!The folks at USA Today have the Trail Blazers behind the Wizards at No. 10 and ahead of the Nuggets at No. 12. • Sean Deveney of The Sporting News has the Trail Blazers at No. 12 this week...

Deveney has the Trail Blazes behind the Wizards at No. 11 and ahead of the Thunder at No. 13. • Chris Barnewall at CBSSports.com has the Trail Blazers at No. 16, a seven spot drop from last week... 

Barnewall has the Trail Blazers behind the 76ers at No. 15 and ahead of the Nuggets at No. 17. • Gerald Bourguet at Hoops Habit has the Trail Blazers at No. 14 this week, which is also a seven spot drop from last week's ranking...

Actually, that's their home record, though the takeaway is still the same. Gourguet has the Trail Blazers behind the Pistons at No. 13 and ahead of the Thunder at No. 15.• Brad Rowland at UPROXX has the Trail Blazes at No. 14, three spots worse than last week (again!)...

Rowland has the Trail Blazers behind the Heat at No. 13 and ahead of the 76ers at No. 15.