Houston Rockets: Week 13 NBA Power Rankings
By Yoni Pollak
Another good week by the Houston Rockets, defeating the Grizzlies, Timberwolves and Lakers, while losing to the Cavaliers. 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: 12.5
Last week’s average power ranking: 14.83 (click here to view)
ESPN (Marc Stein)
Ranked – 10 | Last Week – 13
"The Rockets have been playing at a noticeably slower pace during their 6-1 uptick, but we know you’d probably prefer to hear something about James Harden. So here goes: For all the areas his numbers have suffered compared to last season, as detailed by our ESPN Insider gang, this one jumped off the page: Harden averages 8.1 more PPG in wins (31.5) than he does in losses (23.4)."
CBS Sports (Matt Moore)
Ranked – 8 | Last Week – 13
"The Rockets have won six of seven. The problem is that any examination of their stats or how they look when you watch them that goes beyond the superficial reveals a whole host of problems. The Rockets are a car salesman. Even if you think you’re getting a good deal, you’re getting worked over somewhere."
NBA.com (John Schuhmann)
Ranked – 14 | Last Week – 15
"Houston (22-20)Pace: 99.1 (8) OffRtg: 103.3 (9) DefRtg: 104.6 (21) NetRtg: -1.3 (17)Dwight Howard was a bystander in the Rockets’ offense for the first month and a half of the season. But he’s averaged 18.9 points and 13.4 rebounds over the last nine games and Houston has won six of their last seven. Thanks to Sunday’s blowout of the Lakers, the Rockets should be relatively fresh for Monday’s test against the Clippers, who they’ve beat five straight times going back to Game 5 of last year’s conference semis.This week: @ LAC, vs. DET, vs. MIL, vs. DAL"
USA Today
Ranked – 15 | Last Week – 16
"Welcome to the 1,000-point club James Harden"
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ProBasketballTalk (Kurt Helin)
Ranked – 13 | Last Week – 15
"They have won six of seven, using a more efficient but slower paced offense. They also have done it against teams they should beat (although the OT win against the Pacers and beating Memphis were good wins). Good measuring stick on Martin Luther King day against the Clippers on the road."
Sports Illustrated (Jeremy Woo)
Ranked – 15 | Last Week – 17
"I was high on the Rocketscoming in. Like, really high. I was wrong. But their recent six-game winning streak offered a little hope and the West’s surprisingly substandard competition has helped mitigate Houston’s struggles. A huge second half fromJames Harden, and who knows?"
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