The easiest schedule does not mean as much when you consider that the 6th hardest schedule and the 4th easiest have a differential of like 0.25 difficulty....... Or a difference of 0.39 difficulty which is really not that much. If health is guaranteed, yes, that is a factor.
20. Houston Rockets 2023-24 record: 23-27 Previous ranking: 19 Next games: @ TOR (Feb. 9), @ ATL (Feb. 10), vs. NYK (Feb. 12) No. 4 overall pick Amen Thompson -- the highest selection in the 2023 draft who didn't make the cut for the Rising Stars Game -- has been a significant contributor recently. Thompson, who missed an extended stretch with a sprained ankle, has averaged 9.9 points on 55% shooting, 7.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 21.2 minutes in the past nine games. His teammate, No. 20 overall pick Cam Whitmore, can make a claim as the most glaring Rising Stars snub in the rookie class. He ranks sixth among rookies with 11.8 points per game on 59.1% true shooting. -- MacMahon
22. Houston Rockets 2023-24 record: 24-29 Previous ranking: 20 Next games: @ MEM (Feb. 14), @ NO (Feb. 22), vs. PHX (Feb. 23), vs. OKC (Feb. 25), @ OKC (Feb. 27) No. 4 overall pick Amen Thompson has averaged 10.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals in the past four games filling in as the starter for injured point guard Fred VanVleet. The 6-foot-7 Thompson had 8 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a huge win Monday over the Knicks. The last rookie to have at least that many rebounds, assists and steals in a game: Magic Johnson in March 1980. -- MacMahon
#19 HOUSTON ROCKETSLast Week:20↑ Record: 32-35 OffRtg: 112.7 (24) DefRtg: 112.1 (8) NetRtg: +0.6 (18) Pace: 99.6 (14) The Rockets are still alive for a Play-In Tournament spot, because (after a 3-9 February) they’re 7-1 in March, including 3-0 since Alperen Sengun’s injury. see, these guys get it
The NBA will get the Kings out of the race and put in Lebron or Curry for the 8th seed. And of course the NBA didn't want us this good this soon.
I just read in another thread there is Turkish speculation that Alpi will be a Golden State Warrior soon
Guess the oddsmakers and power-rankers aren’t too high on the incoming dynamic duo of Shepgün https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ion-our-post-finals-look-all-30-teams-2024-25 20. Houston Rockets 2023-24 record: 41-41 2023-24 final result: Missed postseason 2024 draft picks: No. 3 (via BKN) and No. 44 (via GS) Houston has put together a talented young core over the last few drafts and spent big in free agency on veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks last summer to make the leap back to respectability -- the Rockets were .500 this season, the best record they've had since 2020. If the right situation arises, GM Rafael Stone has the assets to take a big swing in the trade market thanks to the return from the James Harden trade. Houston has the No. 3 pick in this year's draft and Brooklyn's 2026 first-rounder, as well as swap rights in 2025 and 2027. -- MacMahon BR 18. Houston Rockets (+13000) If the Houston Rockets weren't in the perpetually loaded Western Conference, it would be tempting to forecast a much bigger leap for them. They soared past their over-under this season by nine wins, and Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson are all under the age of 23. In terms of young cores, this team is balanced, explosive and loaded with talent. It may still take a few years of development for everything to come together, but we've already seen the Rockets make conservative expectations look foolish. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5571737/2024/06/18/2025-nba-title-odds-celtics-nuggets/ 2025 NBA Title odds Celtics +310 Nuggets +750 Mavericks +950 Thunder +950 Bucks +1000 Timberwolves +1000 Knicks +1600 76ers +1600 Clippers +1600 Warriors +2500 Lakers +2500 Suns +2500 Heat +3500 Grizzlies +4000 Cavaliers +5000 Pacers +5000 Magic +5000 Pelicans +5000 Kings +5000 Hawks +10000 Rockets +10000 Spurs +10000 Bulls +15000 Raptors +25000 Jazz +25000 Nets +50000 Hornets +50000 Pistons +50000 Wizards +50000 Trail Blazers +50000 All odds from BetMGM.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5625293/2024/07/16/nba-power-rankings-offseason-celtics-mavericks/ 19. Houston Rockets Additions/re-signs: Reed Sheppard, AJ Griffin, Aaron Holiday Subtractions: None Did they get better? Not really, but I’m not sure the Rockets needed to get better this offseason. They could still pull off a big trade with their resources. I’m not a big believer in Reed Sheppard, and I mostly think he’s a backup guard in the NBA. But this team is so loaded with talent and showed how dangerous it can be last season. Jalen Green turned the corner late in the season. Alperen Şengün is a star. The Rockets are for real by just sticking to the status quo. Tier 1 - The Contenders 1. Boston Celtics 2. Oklahoma City Thunder 3. Dallas Mavericks 4. Minnesota Timberwolves 5. Denver Nuggets Tier 2 - Brink of Contention 6. New York Knicks 7. New Orleans Pelicans 8. Philadelphia 76ers 9. Milwaukee Bucks Tier 3 - Playoff Teams 10. Indiana Pacers 11. Orlando Magic 12. Phoenix Suns 13. Golden State Warriors 14. Sacramento Kings 15. Cleveland Cavaliers Tier 4 - Play-In Tournament Teams Or Better 16. Los Angeles Lakers 17. LA Clippers 18. Memphis Grizzlies 19. Houston Rockets 20. Miami Heat Tier 5 - Are they just filling out Play-In criteria 21. San Antonio Spurs 22. Atlanta Hawks 23. Toronto Raptors Tier 6 - Cooper Flagg positioning 24. Utah Jazz 25. Chicago Bulls 26. Detroit Pistons 27. Portland Trail Blazers 28. Charlotte Hornets 29. Brooklyn Nets 30. Washington Wizards
I see us better than sacramento, gsw or cavs. I will be surprised if we fall behind the tier 3 teams.
GSW yes, Sacramento added a ton of talent so I'm not sure about that I think they are gonna make a comeback.
What is wrong with the league right now when the Rockets have the 9th best offensive rating. The entire league is stinking it up offensively lol. Watching this team play the first three games, no way I could believe we are top ten in offensive and defensive rating. That's crazy. That Grizzles game probably inflated a lot of these rankings as that was a proper blowout.
