it's that time again NBA Power Rankings, summer edition: Knicks, Nuggets are contenders; Celtics, Pacers slide https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/65...kings-knicks-lakers-celtics-thunder-clippers/ we're number one in Tier 2 Tier 2: In a Good Place 6. Houston Rockets Last ranking: 9 Free agency: PG Fred VanVleet (re-signed), PG Aaron Holiday (re-signed), C Steven Adams (re-signed), PF Jeff Green (re-signed), PF Jae’Sean Tate (re-signed) Additions: SF Dorian Finney-Smith, C Clint Capela (trade), PF Kevin Durant (trade), SF Josh Okogie Departures: C Jock Landale, SG Nate Williams (waived), SG Jalen Green (trade), SF Cam Whitmore (trade), SF Dillon Brooks (trade) Midsummer summary: The first big move that the Rockets made was getting Durant in exchange for Brooks and Green. The second big move was to backfill Brooks’ defense by getting Finney-Smith from the conference rival Lakers. This defense should be at least as good as it was last season. And Houston tripled down on depth at center by getting Capela back to replace Landale. The Rockets are counting on a leap from 2024 lottery pick Reed Sheppard, as Houston is going to need some shooting and ballhandling even when Durant is available. And for all of Green’s weaknesses, he only missed 21 games in four seasons, including none the last two years. Durant will be 37 in September and has missed an average of 22 games per season the last four years. more at the link
https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/...ffseason-rockets-nuggets-chase-thunder-at-top NBC put us 2nd. A “true title contender”. Seems a tad optimistic.
The Athletic writer forecasting the T-Wolves ahead of the Rockets and Nuggets is just plain nuts. The NBC writer should add the Knicks to his list of title-contenders.
and so it begins https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2025-26-week-1 #7 Houston RocketsLast Week:4↓ Preseason record: 4-0 OffRtg: 123.1 (1) DefRtg: 113.7 (22) NetRtg: +9.6 (5) Pace: 105.9 (8) The Rockets have seen dramatic improvement in each of the last two seasons. Kevin Durant is here to help them take another step forward, but the loss of Fred VanVleet for the season leaves a big hole in the backcourt. Preseason takeaways Both Reed Sheppard and Steven Adams got starts alongside the full-time group of Amen Thompson, Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun. In total, Sengun played 41 (57%) of his 72 minutes alongside either Adams or Clint Capela, and (not unexpectedly) the Rockets had some ridiculous offensive rebounding numbers with the double-big lineups. With big lineups come mismatches. In the Rockets’ preseason win over the Pelicans, we saw Smith take advantage of a matchup with Jordan Poole inside. But we also saw him struggle when he was asked to dribble. Something to watch in Week 1: Ball-handling. The Rockets will have some incredible transition sequences where they turn defense into offense. But if they’re not running, having Thompson, Durant, Smith or Sengun handling the ball could certainly be an issue against the Thunder, whose 10.2 steals per 100 possessions last season were the most for any team in the last 12 years. The Rockets are playing just four games in the first 11 days of the season and, after visiting Oklahoma City on ring night, they’ll play their next four against the Eastern Conference. They were 21-9 (tied for second best among West teams) against the East last season. Week 1: @ OKC, vs. DET
Have a look at what the jackasses at The Athletic reckon: Teams above: 1. OKC 2. LAC 3. GSW 4. NYK 5. ATL 6. DEN 7. ORL 8. LAL 9. CLE Feels like every year these power rankings descend further into trolling and clickbait designed to get a reaction rather than a genuine prediction. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/67...r-rankings-2025-2026-knicks-thunder-clippers/
I guess the whole basketball writers bought into the warriors being the true second seed after we lost to them. Now they are penciled into the top of the west. I even heard about how they would have beat the Timberwolf’s if Steph didn’t get hurt.
LAC isn't Kawhi gonna get suspended after that investigation? Rox literally beat Hawks with Reed Sheppard and 3rd team stringers.
Just like last year and the year before, we have to go out and prove it. I'm fine with it because then I can laugh at these rankings at the end of the season. Personally, I think we're going to be the #2 seed and close to #1 despite not having FVV unless we suffer another major injury. I have us winning 55 games and OKC at like 59 games. I think teams will take OKC a lot more serious this year since they have a target on their backs. I just hope Denver somehow ends up being the 4th seed because I want them in the same bracket as OKC.
well that's a downer https://nypost.com/2025/10/21/sport...w-trade-rumors-coaching-hot-seat-predictions/ 3. This team will be worse than expected BONDY: The Rockets. They weren’t title contenders — despite the hype — even before Fred VanVleet’s season-ending injury. Now they have no point guard and will miss Dillon Brooks’ defensive presence. Kevin Durant is 37 and won a grand total of two playoff series since leaving the Warriors. LEWIS: The 76ers. While the Kings are more likely to underachieve, the 76ers are more likely to utterly implode compared to expectations. Ten percent of the league GMs picked them for fourth in the East and BetMGM set their over/under win total at 42.5, but with Joel Embiid having played just 19 games last season and 39 the year before, this could go sideways. VACCARO: The Rockets. And yes, losing Fred VanVleet hurts to start. But at some point Kevin Durant is going to decline, too. Maybe this year. more at the link
gonna be an ugly week I fear The Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6753888/2025/10/27/nba-power-rankings-knicks-warriors-lakers/ Tier 3: The Bubble 15. Houston Rockets (0-2) Last ranking: 10 In the last week: L at OKC, L vs DET Offensive rating: 109.3 (24th place) Defensive rating: 113.7 (12th place) The Big Question: Size is cool, but is there enough skill here? When Ime Udoka took over the Rockets head coaching position, he brought Fred VanVleet with him. Among the biggest issues with the Rockets during the Stephen Silas/post-James Harden era was the sheer number of turnovers: 15.9 per game over three seasons, the most in the NBA to go with the most losses. Udoka and VanVleet turned that number around in their first two seasons together, down to 13.3 per game, ranking 10th. Now, one way the Rockets minimized turnovers is by passing fewer times than any other team last season. But the possession battle is important to the Rockets. In two close losses, the assist-turnover ratio is glaring: 23:25 at Oklahoma City, 15:14 at home against the Pistons. That includes a 4:7 assist-turnover ratio in clutch time. Getting this offense to click while running it through Alperen Şengün, Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson is going to take time.
nba.com https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2025-26-week-2 #11 Houston RocketsLast Week:7↓ Record: 0-2 OffRtg: 109.3 (24) DefRtg: 113.7 (12) NetRtg: -4.4 (22) Pace: 96.5 (30) The Rockets played the champs even for 58 minutes on opening night, but they’re 0-2, having lost another nail-biter to the Pistons on Friday. Three takeaways The Rockets scored just 34 points on 39 clutch offensive possessions (87 per 100) over the two losses. Kevin Durant shot 3-for-4 with the score within five points in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or OT, but missed a critical free throw with less than 10 seconds left in the fourth on Tuesday and ranks just fourth on the team in clutch usage rate. It didn’t take long for viewers to realize why Reed Sheppard didn’t play last season. And the second-year guard hasn’t provided enough on offense – 6-for-22 shooting, with as many turnovers (5) as assists – to make up for his defensive deficiencies. Having lost their two games by a total of five points, the Rockets are minus-13 (minus-20.6 per 100) in Sheppard’s 48 minutes. Not surprisingly, the Rockets lead the league in offensive rebounding percentage (41.6%). Alperen Sengun has played 58 (67%) of his 87 minutes alongside either Steven Adams or Clint Capela. Coming up: The Rockets are one of three teams with a league-low seven rest-advantage games this season, but the first two of the seven (vs. Brooklyn, at Boston) are this week. Ime Udoka got his first win against his previous team on Amen Thompson’s game-winning runner in January. Week 2: vs. BKN, @ TOR, @ BOS
