Houston Rockets: Week 12 NBA Power Rankings
By Yoni Pollak
An undefeated week, defeating the Jazz twice and the Pacers. Where do they stand this week among the national media’s NBA power rankings? (Power Rankings done based on action from last Monday through this Sunday’s games.)
This week’s average power ranking: 14.83
Last week’s average power ranking: 17.167 (click here to view)
ESPN (Marc Stein)
Ranked – 13 | Last Week – 15
"After an 11-game run in which he averaged just 11.4 PPG, Dwight Howard might finally be regaining a slice of prominence in the Rockets’ orbit. In his past five outings, Howard has averaged 22.0 PPG, 14.2 RPG and, perhaps more notably, 38.8 MPG. We should also note, though, that Houston is 11-4 when James Harden scores 30-plus points, compared to 8-15 when he doesn’t."
CBS Sports (Matt Moore)
Ranked – 13 | Last Week – 15
"Houston won three straight to get back to .500, but two came vs. the short-handed Jazz, the third in a wild comeback in overtime vs. Indiana. They’re still 22nd in defense. They have a balanced schedule over the next month. If they’ve turned a corner, they get a chance to show it."
NBA.com (John Schuhmann)
Ranked – 15 | Last Week – 19
"Houston (19-19)Pace: 99.4 (7) OffRtg: 103.2 (9) DefRtg: 105.1 (22) NetRtg: -1.9 (18)A three-game winning streak, in which they outscored the Jazz (x 2) and Pacers 84-58 in the fourth quarter, has the Rockets back at .500. Trevor Ariza continues to shoot better as the season goes on. He’s 20-for-43 from 3-point range over the last eight games, hitting four big threes in the last 10 minutes of Sunday’s overtime win over Indiana. Houston is 6-0 without Ty Lawson, who has one more game on his latest suspension.This week: @ MEM, vs. MIN, vs. CLE, @ LAL"
USA Today
Ranked – 16 | Last Week – 17
"OK, Montrezl Harrell, let’s see what you’ve got"
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ProBasketballTalk (Kurt Helin)
Ranked – 15 | Last Week – 19
"Three-game winning streak (two against the Jazz, but they still count the same) and Houston is back up to .500. They get Ty Lawson back from suspension this week, but the way Trevor Ariza has played of late coach Bickerstaff may want to consider his minutes distribution."
Sports Illustrated (Jeremy Woo)
Ranked – 17 | Last Week – 18
"Houston has enjoyed four streaks of three or more wins, endured four streaks of three or more losses, worked back to .500, and remained in playoff position. Might that comeback overtime win against the Pacers at home spark something bigger?"
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