[OFFICIAL] 2024-25 NBA Power rankings

https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-11

#7

HOUSTON ROCKETSLast Week:6↓
Record: 21-11

OffRtg: 112.4 (13) DefRtg: 105.9 (2) NetRtg: +6.5 (6) Pace: 99.6 (16)

The Rockets have dropped the first two games of a five-game homestand, blowing double-digit, second-half leads against the Wolves and Heat.

Three takeaways

• The Rockets still rank as the league’s third-best first-quarter team (plus-15.9 points per 100 possessions) and have seven wire-to-wire victories (three more than every team but the Grizzlies) after picking up two last week. But their weekend losses were the fifth and sixth times that they’ve trailed after the first 12 minutes and they’re 1-5 in those games.

• They still have a winning record (10-8) in games that were within five points in the last five minutes, but the Rockets scored just four points on 11 clutch possessions as they lost the two close games over the weekend. They still had a chance to win against Minnesota after blowing a 16-point lead with less than five minutes left on Friday, but Fred VanVleet missed a leaning 3 for the win after Alperen Sengun was doubled in the post. VanVleet (0-for-4), Sengun (0-for-3), Jabari Smith Jr. (0-for-3) and Jalen Green (0-for-1) are a combined 0-for-11 on shots to tie or take the lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter or overtime, with Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson both 1-for-1.

• Jalen Green continues to have the occasional big game (like 30 points in New Orleans on Thursday), but has now had an effective field goal percentage below 45% in 18 (56%) of the Rockets’ 32 games. His overall mark of 48.2% ranks 94th among 101 players with at least 300 field goal attempts, with VanVleet (47.1%) one of the seven guys behind him.

The Rockets have a couple of days off before beginning 2025 with the final three games of their five-game homestand. They were 2-10 against the Mavs over the previous three seasons, but got a wire-to-wire win in Dallas in October, with six guys scoring in double-figures. Game 2 of the season series on Wednesday.

Week 11: vs. DAL, vs. BOS, vs. LAL
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https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-12

#5

HOUSTON ROCKETSLast Week:7↑
Record: 23-12

OffRtg: 112.5 (12) DefRtg: 106.7 (3) NetRtg: +5.8 (6) Pace: 99.0 (20)

The Rockets went 2-3 on a homestand interrupted by a two-game suspension for Amen Thompson and an injury to Jabari Smith Jr.

Three takeaways

• The Rockets’ regular starting lineup has outscored opponents by 6.6 points per 100 possessions (allowing just 103.8 per 100) in its 416 minutes. But Houston has thus far been outscored by 3.3 per 100 (allowing 114.5 per 100) in 117 minutes with the other four starters on the floor without Smith.

• The starting lineup with Thompson in Smith’s place was outscored by the Lakers by 15 points in less than 20 minutes on Sunday, but bench minutes were terrific, even though none of the four reserves – Steven Adams, Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate and Cam Whitmore – have had consistent roles this season. Super-sub Tari Eason has now missed the last nine games with a leg injury and the Rockets’ bench still ranks sixth.

• With their wins over the Mavs and Lakers last week, the Rockets are tied with the Thunder for the best record (11-5) in games played between the nine Western Conference teams currently over .500.

They’ll have more opportunities for quality wins this month because the Rockets have the league’s toughest January schedule regarding cumulative opponent winning percentage (entering the month). They’re also playing 13 of their next 17 games on the road, which includes three games (two in Memphis) against the Grizzlies.

Week 12: @ WAS, @ MEM, @ ATL
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I like where we are. pretty sure we should stand pat

 

glad this came out before the Pistons game! lol

Power Rankings, Week 14: Rockets rise to No. 3; Bucks on cusp of Top 10
Plenty of surprises have marked 2024-25. Which teams will take flight in the season's final 3 months?

https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-14

We’ve reached the midpoint of a season that’s had some surprises.

If we look back at the the Week 1 Power Rankings (published the day before opening night), we see that the Houston Rockets (18th in those initial rankings), Memphis Grizzlies (17th) and LA Clippers (20th) are the teams that have most exceeded expectations. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers (eighth), Phoenix Suns (sixth) and New Orleans Pelicans (12th) have been the biggest disappointments.

Injuries have been a factor for two of those three disappointing teams and … there’s still half of a season to go!

We probably can’t expect a team to repeat the turnaround of the 2016-17 Miami Heat (11-30 in their first 41 games, 30-11 in their last 41), but we can expect some more surprises and disappointments in the next three months.

***
#3

HOUSTON ROCKETSLast Week:4↑
Record: 28-13

OffRtg: 114.3 (9) DefRtg: 107.8 (4) NetRtg: +6.5 (5) Pace: 99.3 (18)

The Rockets dropped a rest-disadvantage game in Sacramento on Thursday, but won their two more important games last week, including one that clinched a tie-breaker with the third-place Grizzlies.

Three takeaways

• With their wins over the Grizzlies and Nuggets (in Denver) last week, the Rockets have the best record (11-2) in games played between the seven Western Conference teams that are more than two games over .500, with both losses having come to the Thunder. They’ve been better offensively in those 13 games (116.7 points scored per 100 possessions) than they’ve been otherwise.

• The offense has been terrific over the last 15 days in general. Having scored 124.9 points per 100 possessions (best in the league) over their last seven games, the Rockets have climbed from 14th to ninth on offense. They’re now one of four teams in the top 10 on both ends and one of only seven that have scored more points per 100 possessions than they did last season (113.7, 20th).

• The offensive surge starts with Jalen Green, who’s averaged 31.3 points on 55/54/94 shooting splits over this seven-game stretch. But it’s also important that Fred VanVleet has seemingly found his shot. His season-long 3-point percentage (33.2%) is still the worst mark of his career, but he’s 12-for-25 (48%) from beyond the arc over his last four games.

After they host the Pistons on Monday, the Rockets will begin a stretch where they’re playing five of seven games against the Cavs (x 2), Celtics, Grizzlies and Knicks, with four of those five on the road.

Week 14: vs. DET, vs. CLE, @ CLE
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NYT/The Athletic

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/60...-rankings-thunder-cavaliers-all-star-weekend/

4. Houston Rockets (28-14)
Last ranking: 4
In the last week: W at DEN, L at SAC, W at POR, L vs DET
Offensive rating: 113.9 (10th place)
Defensive rating: 107.7 (fourth place)

All-Star Weekend rep: Alperen Şengün, reserve

The Rockets are too good not to have an All-Star, as they have a real shot at passing the Phil Jackson 40-before-20 contender theory. It will be up to the league’s head coaches to select the reserves. Jalen Green has more of an All-Star Game style of play, but I believe Şengün has the clearer pathway to earn a selection.​

 

https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-15

#2

HOUSTON ROCKETSLast Week:3↑
Record: 30-14

OffRtg: 114.4 (9) DefRtg: 108.4 (4) NetRtg: +6.1 (6) Pace: 99.2 (18)

The Rockets remain in second place in the West, having swept their two games against the best team in the East.

Three takeaways

• The two wins over the Cavs were different, though 3-point shooting (28-for-62, 45%) was critical in both, with Fred VanVleet hitting a pair of triples down the stretch on Wednesday. The Rockets blew double-digit, fourth-quarter leads in both, only to escape with wins with those VanVleet 3-pointers, a big tip-dunk from Amen Thompson on Saturday and Darius Garland missing free throws after an ill-advised foul from Tari Eason. The Rockets are 10-4 in clutch games over the last nine weeks, even though they haven’t shot particularly well from the field with the score within five in the last five minutes.

• Thompson recorded his second career triple-double (23, 14 and 10) on Saturday, also acting as the primary defender on Donovan Mitchell. The Rockets’ starting lineup (with Thompson) has been outscored by 10.3 points per 100 possessions in its 144 minutes over the 11 games since Jabari Smith Jr.’s hand injury. However, it was mostly the starters (and a little bit of Eason) on the floor down the stretch of the two games against Cleveland.

• The win in Cleveland was a rest-advantage game for the Rockets, with the Cavs having played in Philadelphia the night before. The Rockets themselves have the league’s biggest differential between their record with rest (27-9) and their record in the second games of back-to-backs (3-5).

With their postponed game in Atlanta rescheduled for Tuesday, the Rockets have four back-to-backs between now and the All-Star break. The win in Cleveland was the start of a stretch where they’re playing eight of nine on the road, currently one of eight teams with a better record on the road (15-6) than they have at home (15-7).

Week 15: @ BOS, @ ATL, @ MEM, vs. BKN
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