http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerranking Rockets are 9th. Celtics are number 1, followed by Los Angeles, and then the Jazz. Hard to believe we can be ranked 9th in the NBA and playing as well as we have and still not be in the playoffs.
Over the last month, we're better than the Lakers, Spurs and Raptors. Of course, these things always take away from the Rocks, so I'm not upset.
And by stats I hope you mean the "won-loss" record, because the Raptor's record does indeed distort their true level of play.
9th? Yuss!!! Thanks Hollinger you're the bestest! seriously, who cares? he doesn't know we're gonna be the champs yet
Yeah, that Toronto ranking makes me question the usefulness of this. They've been blowing out teams of late. But his rankings don't know that the teams they've been blowing out are bad teams, while they've been losing to the good teams they've faced recently.
I questioned the same thing in another thread, and somebody called me stupid. Statistics have much less use in basketball. Raptors have a lot of good shooters but their D is quite iffy. Facing weaker foes or catching good teams taking a nap they look great. When their shots don't fall for a while they've got nothing.
This is true, but when you take into consideration that they are going to be playing more of those bad teams in the future it increases the chances that they are going to be doing well against those "teams they should beat" And if I recall correctly, they beat Boston a week or so ago. Though they did lose to the Clippers... how I have no idea!
Actually, blowing out bad teams is a sign of a good team, and why Rockets fans are a bit leery of our team - who haven't been blowing out teams - even though they've been on a winning streak. SA had the same tendency last year to blow away bad teams but iffy against quality competition, and Hollinger ranked them #1 despite the Mavs having a 67 win season. I'm not saying the Raptors are the Spurs, but similar logic applies here.
My Rockets are 2nd in the NBA Live power rankings, second to Lakers. Although I have the best record and and currently on a 10 game winning streak. Still no love.
I think the programmers used the following codes, function compare{ if team1=Lakers and team2=Rockets then team1_rank>team2_rank void condition (all) }
Go Houston Rockets! Marty Burns and the SI.com favored us! We are No.4 on their Power Rankings! We earned it and We should be inspired to continue winning! Here's the link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/marty_burns/02/11/nba.power.rankings/index.html R-jay---aka pisaybased
Charley Rosen gave his grade for our team. Try to evaluate his opinion. I guess we really have something to prove HOUSTON: C- After failing to meet expectations early in the season, the Rockets have taken off as of late. The reasons for their improvement are many: With Steve Francis down for the count, and Mike James on the bench, the crowd at point guard (and the resulting instability) has been resolved. The progress of Luis Scola (at least on offense), and the players' increasing familiarity (and comfort) with Rick Adelman's fresh-air offense. All they lack is the willingness of Tracy McGrady to drive the ball to the hole. Look for them to be the one team that nobody wants to face in the playoffs. Here is the link: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7797808/Handing-out-NBA's-midterm-grades R-jay---aka pisaybased
His comment after the ranking doesn't jibe with the ranking itself. He says we should be one of the best teams in the league, but that we are "average at best." Teams that are average when they are at their best are not ranked 9th, Hollinger. That would put us ranked like 15, at the highest. This guy is a nimrod.
