Take away 3 bad quarters (2nd half vs CHA, 2nd quarter vs SA) and we would be 7-1. Could have beat GS too
Take away 3 bad quarters (2nd half vs CHA, 2nd quarter vs SA) and we would be 7-1. Could have beat GS too
Winning a playoff series with a squad this young would make this team way ahead of schedule. I mean it would be awesome but we have to put in perspective how rare it is for a team with these many players 22 or under with this much usage share of the team making g playoff runs. Or else we will end the season disappointed even if there is a large amount of progress.
From CBS Sports NBA power rankings: 6 Rockets - The Rockets have won three of four, and the loss came in overtime after a monumental 31-point comeback against the Warriors. The offensive attack is spread, with seven players averaging double-figure points this season, and the defense has been excellent. They've earned their spot just outside the top five. Last week 11
True, and they did pretty well on those "best roster in 5 years" future power rankings, too. Kept me hopeful during the lean years LOL.
6-8 range is fair right now. Lots of basketball left to play- I’m seeing some good ball being played by our squad. Lots of these veteran teams have yet to wake up so I think the competition will be tougher in a few weeks. Hopefully we can continue to build on the great team ball we’re playing and keep up.
https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-4 #12 HOUSTON ROCKETSLast Week:16↑ Record: 6-4 OffRtg: 113.4 (12) DefRtg: 109.0 (7) NetRtg: +4.4 (8) Pace: 97.8 (26) The Rockets are staying afloat in the deep Western Conference, winning with the same defense that made them the league’s most-improved team a year ago. Three takeaways The Rockets ranked 10th defensively last season and have seen the league’s 10th-biggest drop in points allowed per 100 possessions. They couldn’t stop the Thunder on Friday, but otherwise allowed just 101.7 per 100 possessions as they went 3-1 last week. Houston ranks third in opponent field goal percentage in the paint (53.2%), having held the Knicks to just 19-for-50 in the paint on Monday. The Rockets’ starters have played the fourth most minutes of any lineup in the league (150), but Amen Thompson and Tari Eason have sometimes been on the floor as seven of the Rockets’ 10 games have been within five points in the last five minutes. Thompson (who was guarding Jalen Brunson down the stretch) might have had the biggest play in their win over the Knicks when he rolled to the rim, faked a kick-out pass and put the Rockets up five with a dunk. Eason then made the biggest play on Sunday, saving a loose ball and finding Dillon Brooks under the basket with a little less than two minutes left. The team has outscored its opponents by 12 points per 100 possessions in 171 total minutes with both Eason and Thompson on the floor together. (It was plus 20.3 in just 72 minutes last season.) The Rockets’ win in Detroit on Sunday was the start of a stretch of six straight games against teams that rank in the bottom 12 offensively, and they return to Houston for a three-game homestand that includes two big games against the Clippers. Their visit to Chicago on Sunday is the start of their first stretch of five games in seven days. Week 4: vs. WAS, vs. LAC, vs. LAC*, @ CHI
The Athletic https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5916890/2024/11/12/nba-power-rankings-cavaliers-warriors-lakers/ 7. Houston Rockets (7-4) Last ranking: 10 In the last week: W vs. Spurs, L at Thunder, W at Pistons, W vs. Wizards Offensive rating: 112.6 (16th) Defensive rating: 107.2 (third) Say Something Nice: The defense is stifling. The Rockets couldn’t do much with Gilgeous-Alexander Friday night, but other than that, coach Ime Udoka has the fourth-youngest team in the league playing stellar defense. Houston is unapologetically physical, it prioritizes taking away the 3-point line, and Alperen Şengün’s rim protection has improved to begin the season.
10. Houston Rockets 2024-25 record: 7-4 Previous ranking: 14 Next games: vs. LAC (Nov. 13), vs. LAC (Nov. 15), @ CHI (Nov. 17), @ MIL (Nov. 18) Fred VanVleet pointed out Amen Thompson as a summer standout at Rockets media day in September, saying "he actually looks bigger, faster, stronger, more confident, more under control" heading into Year 2. Now, Thompson will take a more prominent role with VanVleet nursing a sore hamstring. He was already Houston's first option off the bench, scoring in double figures in four of his previous six outings going into Monday's matchup. Thompson averages the most minutes (24.1) among Houston's reserves and is expected to receive even more time due to his blossoming play. -- Wright https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...kings-most-important-role-player-all-30-teams
https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2024-25-week-5 #5 HOUSTON ROCKETSLast Week:12↑ Record: 10-4 OffRtg: 114.1 (11) DefRtg: 105.4 (3) NetRtg: +8.7 (5) Pace: 99.8 (11) After a 1-2 start to the season, the Rockets have won nine of their last 11 games, with the only losses coming to the two top teams in the Western Conference (Golden State and Oklahoma City). Three takeaways The Rockets have allowed a paltry 98.1 points per 100 possessions over their five-game winning streak, with their opponents shooting just 46.7% in the paint (second lowest opponent mark over that stretch). On Sunday, they outscored the Bulls by 40 points in the paint (80-40) and opponents have now shot just 58-for-105 (55.2%) at the rim when Alperen Sengun has been there, down from 61.1% last season. The context, of course, is that the last five opponents currently rank no higher than 18th offensively and also shot just 30.2% from 3-point range. That takes their season-long opponent’s 3-point percentage to just 34.6%, lower than their league-best mark of 34.8% last season. Though the Rockets rank last in ball movement (290 passes per 24 minutes of possession), the offense has been balanced, with seven guys averaging between 12 and 21 points per game over the winning streak. Their win in Chicago on Sunday began the Rockets’ first stretch of five games in seven days. They’ll be at a rest disadvantage in Milwaukee on Monday, having lost their only other rest-disadvantage game (Oct. 26 in San Antonio). Week 5: @ MIL, vs. IND, vs. POR*, vs. POR
