https://theathletic.com/4035277/2023/01/02/nba-power-rankings-week-12/ 29. Houston Rockets (previously 29th) | 10-26 | -6.6 net rating Weekly slate: Win at Bulls, Loss at Celtics, Loss at Mavs, Loss to Knicks New Year’s resolution: Get a big second half to the season for rookies Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason. It would be great to see the Houston Rockets develop them in-season to have a big finish to their rookie campaigns. Build confidence for next season. https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2022-23-week-12 #30↓ HOUSTON ROCKETS Record: 10-26 OffRtg: 108.9 (29) DefRtg: 115.6 (28) NetRtg: -6.6 (27) Pace: 99.8 (17) It’s been noted in this space before that the Rockets are breaking their own record for transition points allowed, but it bears repeating given the events of the last week: Last season, the Rockets allowed 25.0 transition points per game, the highest opponent mark in 18 seasons of Synergy tracking. And this season, they’ve allowed 26.1 transition points per game, ranking last in opponent transition frequency (19.5% of possessions) and 28th in opponent points per transition possession (1.20). Turnovers remain an issue; the Rockets rank last in turnover rate for the second straight season, and this season’s rate (17.2 per 100 possessions) would be the highest for any team in the last seven years. But they’ve actually averaged fewer live-ball turnovers per game (8.8) than they did last season (9.5), and their turnovers were relatively low (13.5 per 100) over their first three post-Christmas games. But their opponents averaged 30.3 transition points over the three games, with the Mavs’ 36 on Thursday being 21 more than their season average to date. It would be one thing if the Rockets were playing up and down like last season’s Hornets. But Houston also ranks last in the percentage of offensive possessions (13.2%) that have been in transition. This was the second youngest team on opening night and Jalen Green is one of the fastest guys in the league, but the Rockets don’t bother to run themselves. They’ve registered more fast break points than their opponents just six times in their 36 games, and they’ve been outscored on the break in each of their last eight. Wins and losses aren’t very important to this team, but habits probably should be. The above doesn’t even get into the Rockets’ lack of ball or player movement on offense, and Eric Gordon was pretty blunt in his assessment (“There’s no improvement.”) after the Rockets’ 20-point loss to the shorthanded Knicks on Saturday. It’s time for resolutions, and no team needs to turn over a new leaf more than this one. Week 12: vs. DAL, @ NOP, vs. UTA, vs. MIN
https://theathletic.com/4051278/2023/01/09/nba-power-rankings-week-13/ 30. Houston Rockets (previously 29th) | 10-30 | -7.0 net rating Weekly slate: Loss to Mavs, Loss at Pelicans, Loss to Jazz, Loss to Wolves 2021-22 win total: 20 Preseason over/under: 23.5 What’s it looking like? The Houston Rockets are currently on pace to fall short of this 23.5 over/under. They had a similar record at this point last season, so there’s no guarantee they’ll have a big second-half surge. However, Stephen Silas should be able to focus this young squad a little better than last season. I think they eclipse it. Confidence on the over: 6/10 https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2022-23-week-13 Plus-Minus Players of the Week Right Way: Kyle Anderson (MIN) was a plus-54 in four games last week. Wrong Way: Kevin Porter Jr. (HOU) was a minus-64 in four games last week. #30. HOUSTON ROCKETS Record: 10-30 OffRtg: 108.8 (29) DefRtg: 115.8 (28) NetRtg: -7.0 (28) Pace: 99.7 (17) The Rockets have lost seven straight and 12 of their last 13 games. Offense continues to get more efficient league-wide as the season goes on and six of the 13 games have come against teams that rank in the bottom 10 defensively but the Rockets have scored just 107.5 points per 100 possessions over the 1-12 stretch. Alperen Sengun continues to score pretty efficiently, but he’s had some turnover issues (eight over the last two games) and three guys have taken a lot more shots than him. Two of them – Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. – have shot pretty poorly, with Green having shot no better than 33% from the field over his last five games. If it weren’t for second chances (the Rockets lead the league in offensive rebounding percentage), this offense would be in really rough shape. The Rockets rank 27th in field goal percentage in the paint (54.3%), 29th in mid-range field goal percentage (35.4%) and 28th in 3-point percentage (33.0%), the only team in the bottom five in all three. The good news is that Jae’Sean Tate made his season debut on Thursday after missing the Rockets’ first 38 games. He had a fabulous fast-break lob to Kenyon Martin Jr. on Sunday, he’ll make this team a little more fun to watch, and maybe he can eventually infiltrate a starting lineup that has now been outscored by 11.8 points per 100 possessions in its 419 minutes. (Lineups this bad usually don’t last this long.) The two Western Conference opponents that the Rockets have yet to face are the Kings and the Lakers. They’ll face them both on the four-game trip that begins Wednesday in Sacramento. Week 13: @ SAC, @ SAC, @ LAC
https://theathletic.com/4070996/2023/01/16/nba-power-rankings-week-14/ 30. Houston Rockets (previously 30th) | 10-32 | -8.0 net rating Weekly slate: Loss at Kings, Loss at Kings, Loss at Clippers First-quarter grade: C+ | Ranked 28th Halfway grade: D- We’re not seeing a ton of progress as we hit the halfway point of this Rockets season, and I’m hoping that changes in the next couple months. They don’t need to win a bunch of games, necessarily, but I’d like to see some consistent growth and development from the young guys as they have more and more competitive losses. Prediction update: Jalen Green will average 23.0 points per game. … Green averages 21.5 points per game. He needs to average about 24.7 per game the rest of the season to get to this prediction. I think it’s doable, but I don’t feel confident. https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2022-23-week-14 #30. HOUSTON ROCKETS Record: 10-33 OffRtg: 108.7 (30) DefRtg: 116.7 (28) NetRtg: -8.0 (29) Pace: 99.8 (17) The Rockets’ losing streak has hit double-digits, though it’s still shy of their two longest losing streaks of last season (15 and 12 games). Alperen Sengun recorded his first career triple-double (10, 10 and 10) on Wednesday, and Jabari Smith Jr. scored a career-high 27 points (with Kevin Porter Jr. out of the lineup) two nights later. But the Rockets have taken over the basement in offensive efficiency (bumping the Hornets out of there), having been held under a point per possession in three of their last eight games. They also have the 30th-ranked defense in 2023 after allowing more than 134 points per 100 possessions in a two-game series in Sacramento last week. The Kings had 73 transition points, 39 (made) 3-pointers, 60 free throw attempts and just 23 turnovers over the two games. The Rockets have been playing a pretty tough schedule, with eight of the 10 losses on the streak having come against teams that currently have winning records. The schedule is easier over the next few weeks, with nine of their next 10 games against teams that are currently at or below .500. They’ll host the Hornets (the first meeting of the season between the two conferences’ last-place teams) on Wednesday, when the 30th spot in offensive efficiency will be on the line. Week 14: @ LAL, vs. CHA, @ MIN
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...alling-short-blazers-wolves-swung-and-missed/ 30. The Rockets are starting to forget what a win looks like, losers of 13 straight and five games this week. The injury to Kevin Porter Jr. hasn't helped, but that's no excuse for a 125.5 defensive rating over the five games. https://theathletic.com/4095020/2023/01/23/nba-power-rankings-week-15/ 30. Houston Rockets (previously 30th) | 10-36 | -8.0 net rating Weekly slate: Loss at Lakers, Loss to Hornets, Loss at Wolves Anybody deserving of All-Star Game? None. Jalen Green could get there someday, but nothing from this team’s season screams, “All-Star consideration.” Anybody deserving of the Saturday night festivities? Green was in the dunk contest last season and didn’t make it out of the first round. This year we’re getting K.J. Martin into the dunk contest mix. His dad, Kenyon Martin, once sat down in a chair for Josh Smith to jump over. Eric Gordon has been in the 3-point contest twice and won it once, and I don’t expect him or any other Rocket to get into the mix. https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2022-23-week-15 #30. HOUSTON ROCKETS Record: 10-36 OffRtg: 109.1 (30) DefRtg: 117.1 (28) NetRtg: -8.0 (29) Pace: 100.0 (17) The Rockets have had some opportunities. They were down two with the ball with less than two minutes left in L.A. (in what was their most efficient offensive game of the season) on Monday. They had a fourth-quarter lead against Charlotte on Wednesday when Jalen Green tied his career high with 41 points. And they had a 12-point, third-quarter lead in Minnesota on Saturday when they were a plus-16 in the paint. Six of their 10 January games have been within five points in the last five minutes. But their losing streak is now at 13 games, with the Rockets ranking 29th offensively and 30th defensively over the course of the streak. Green’s 41-point game (in which he shot 16-for-24) was followed by a game in which he shot 3-for-13 with six turnovers. Overall, the Rockets committed 27 more turnovers than their opponents (51-24) over their three games last week, with very winnable games against the Hornets and Wolves being the sixth and seventh times they’ve had a double-digit differential. Alperen Sengun (averaging 18.2 points on 62% shooting in January) continues to do good things offensively, and the Rockets have had success when he’s set a screen for Eric Gordon. They’ve scored 1.21 points per chance with that ball-screen combination, the best mark among 135 combinations with at least 150 ball-screens, according to Second Spectrum tracking. (Kevin Porter Jr. and Jabari Smith Jr. have the worst mark.) The Rockets are two losses from matching their 15-game losing streak from last season (longest for any team in ’21-22). They’ve been much better, statistically at home (minus-4.6 points per 100 possessions) than they’ve been on the road (minus-10.9), and they have a three-game homestand this week. Then they’ll visit the last-place team in the other conference. Week 15: vs. MIN, vs. WAS, vs. CLE, @ DET
https://theathletic.com/4116211/2023/01/30/nba-power-rankings-week-16/ 28. Houston Rockets (previously 30th) | 12-38 | -7.7 net rating Weekly slate: Win over Wolves, Loss to Wizards, Loss to Cavs, Win at Pistons Buyers or sellers? Sellers. The Rockets have won just twice in the last 21 games. They have no interest in trying to acquire players to help them win this season. They also have such a young roster that they don’t have many vets to send out. Players to dangle: Kevin Porter Jr. and Eric Gordon. Porter is an interesting trade idea because his deal isn’t guaranteed past next season, despite having four more years after this season. It’s a poison pill contract, so matching salaries coming in gets tricky. He hasn’t quite progressed, but he gives a team cap flexibility and a talent to develop. Gordon is the exact type of wing option a contending team should want to add. I just don’t know if he gets you a first at this point. https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...ics-clippers-getting-hot-knicks-enter-top-10/ 28. Houston Rockets A two-win week is always reason to celebrate for the Rockets, whose improbable victory over the Pistons on Saturday came without Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Alperen Sengun as an animated John Lucas coached from the sideline. Sengun continues to be the offensive engine, averaging 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and eight assists on 63 percent shooting in three games this week. https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2022-23-week-16 #28↑ HOUSTON ROCKETS Record: 12-38 OffRtg: 109.0 (30) DefRtg: 116.7 (28) NetRtg: -7.7 (29) Pace: 100.0 (16) The Rockets put an end to their 13-game losing streak and actually won two games last week, losing double-digit leads in both, but then edging the Wolves and Pistons. They have the league’s worst 3-point differential (making 3.2 fewer 3s per game than their opponents) and have been outscored by an average of 21.6 points from 3-point range over their last five games. But they’re a plus-20.4 per game in the paint over that same stretch. Alperen Sengun has averaged 14.7 points in the paint per 36 minutes, 11th most in the league and up from 10.4 per 36 last season. The Rockets also have the highest offensive rebounding percentage (34.1%) for any team in the last seven seasons. Their tendency to crash the glass is one reason why they have the worst transition defense in 19 seasons on Synergy tracking, but it’s also why they beat the Pistons on Saturday. They outscored Detroit, 21-4, on second chance points, with the final two (a Kenyon Martin Jr. tip-in of a missed Jae’Sean Tate put-back) giving them the lead with 31 seconds left. That win came without both Jalen Green (who had an efficient 42 points in their win over the Wolves earlier in the week) and Kevin Porter Jr. The Rockets have seen a slight increase in ball movement without Porter, averaging 318 passes per 24 minutes of possession over their last nine games, up from 310 per 24 over their first 41, though that number is still a little below the league average (322 per 24). The Rockets have won their last three meetings with the Thunder, including a game in late November in which OKC scored less than a point per possession. They’ll meet three more times in the next three weeks. Week 16: vs. OKC, vs. TOR, @ OKC
can't believe they all moved us up to 28. That's a pity move if ever there was one. We'll be back at #30 next week
https://theathletic.com/4137744/2023/02/06/nba-power-rankings-week-17-bucks-warriors/ 27. Houston Rockets (previously 28th) | 13-40 | -7.8 net rating Weekly slate: Win over Thunder, Loss to Raptors, Loss at Thunder Role player to highlight: Alperen Şengün | 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists | 57.3/31.3/73.6 shooting splits I’m cheating here because Şengün isn’t exactly a role player. He’s a core member of the future of this Rockets team, but I wanted to highlight how he’s played in his second season. His in-between game has become deadly, and it forces defenses to make tough decisions. He destroys scrambling defenses in the middle of the key. He’s really good at scoring at the rim, but so much is happening for him in the 3-10 foot range. It sets up passing opportunities, which then set up defenses worrying about the pass. It’s a symbiotic relationship of offensive decisions, and he has such a bright future because of it. Long-term outlook? Signed through 2024 with a $5.4 million team option for 2024-25 season. He’s one of their key core guys. They’ll have him there for a decade-plus if they can. Why did they move up? Impressive win over the Thunder sets them apart in this group this week, even with OKC getting revenge. https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...e-irving-deal-kicks-off-trade-deadline-chaos/ 27. Rockets — The Rockets kept up their valiant effort with a win over the Thunder and a close loss to the Raptors, both without the services of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green. Then, on Saturday in Green's return, they gave up 153 points in a 32-point loss to the very same Thunder. Go figure. Rookie Tari Eason had 12 offensive rebounds in the win over OKC, tying an NBA record. As always, Eric Gordon is the Rocket most likely to be traded, though it seems like that will never actually happen. https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2022-23-week-17 #27↑ HOUSTON ROCKETS Record: 13-40 OffRtg: 109.3 (29) DefRtg: 117.1 (28) NetRtg: -7.8 (29) Pace: 100.1 (16) The Rockets lead the league in the percentage of their minutes (58%) that have come from rookies or second-year players, and that would be the fifth highest rate for any team in the last 20 years. One of the rookies getting regular burn is Tari Eason, who had one of his best games of the season (20 points and 13 rebounds) in a win against the Thunder on Wednesday. Eason ranks fifth among players shorter than 6-foot-10 in offensive rebounding percentage (10.8%), 12 of those 13 rebounds* against OKC were on the offensive glass, and one of the biggest plays of the game was a relentless sequence that resulted in an and-one. * It was the first time in 29 years that a player had more than 10 offensive rebounds in less than 20 minutes. The last instance was Popeye Jones (12 in 17 minutes) in March of 1994. Now, the question is if the Rockets want to keep one of the only veterans who’s been playing regularly or if they’ll finally trade Eric Gordon, who’s averaged 25.7 points over his last three games. Gordon’s 2023-24 salary is non-guaranteed, so there’s not much risk for a potential buyer, but trading for a $19.6 million contract is easier said than done. Second-year player Jalen Green returned from a three-game absence on Saturday and shot 4-for-15 in a loss to the Thunder, who had the most efficient offensive performance (153 points on 103 possessions) for any team in any game this season. Before that, the most efficient game against the Rockets came from the Kings, who will be in Houston for a two-game series this week. Week 17: vs. SAC, vs. SAC, @ MIA
https://theathletic.com/4159127/2023/02/13/nba-power-rankings-week-18/ 28. Houston Rockets (previously 27th) | 13-43 | -7.9 net rating Weekly slate: Loss to Kings, Loss to Kings, Loss at Heat Did the trade deadline serve them well? The Rockets did well for themselves. They made two moves with one netting them Justin Holiday (likely buyout candidate) and Frank Kaminsky with a couple of second-round picks and all they had to give up with Bruno Fernando and Garrison Mathews. The other move gave them the opportunity to waive Danny Green and John Wall by giving up Eric Gordon. They also received the ability to swap the Milwaukee pick owed to them this summer for the Clippers pick. That Clippers pick could end up being 10 spots higher in the draft. Trade Deadline Rating (1-10): 7.5 What’s next? We need to see the Rockets clean up some of these dumb mistakes. They blew a game to Miami by allowing a lob at the rim on an inbound. We’ve seen Stephen Silas perturbed to no end with the defensive mistakes they’re making. We don’t need to see them win games, necessarily. But this development needs to yield more than just “these guys sure can score some buckets, sometimes!” https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...tions-bucks-stay-no-1-but-celtics-cavs-close/ 28. Rockets: The Rockets suffered one of the more egregious losses you'll ever see, as a foul was called on Eric Gordon (now a Clipper ... did that get him traded?) as Kings guard De'Aaron Fox attempted a desperation 3-pointer as time expired. The replay showed minimal contact, but Houston had already used its challenge. They've now dropped five straight, but that's obviously not a bad thing with Victor Wembanyama as a potential prize. https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2022-23-week-18 #28↓ HOUSTON ROCKETS Record: 13-43 OffRtg: 109.6 (29) DefRtg: 117.5 (28) NetRtg: -7.9 (29) Pace: 100.0 (16) The Rockets finally found a new (and old) home for Eric Gordon, and in exchange, they’ll likely move up in this year’s draft with their second first-round pick (that of the Bucks). Gordon’s last five games with Houston (the first five games of February) were the Rockets’ best five-game stretch of offense (117.7 points scored per 100 possessions), with seven guys averaging double-figures. They remain a team that scores with free throws and second chances, but they did shoot 50% or better in four straight games, having done so just seven times prior to Feb. 1. Among 118 players with at least 50 field goal attempts in February, Kenyon Martin (71.7%) ranks third in effective field goal percentage. The Jalen Green experience remains a roller coaster. He’s had three 40-point games in the last month, but has followed those up with games in which he shot 3-for-13, 6-for-19 and 5-for-19. He tied the Rockets’ game in Miami on Friday with a pretty incredible left-handed finish, but was then in the middle of the ensuing breakdown that allowed the Heat to get the game-winning lob. The Rockets have lost 13 of their last 16 games that were within five points in the last five minutes, having scored just 84 points on 93 clutch possessions (90.3 per 100) over that stretch. The Rockets’ first five games of February were also their worst five-game stretch of defense (128.9 allowed per 100), in part because their loss in Oklahoma City nine days ago was the worst defensive game for any team this season. They’re back in OKC on Wednesday to close out their pre-break schedule. Week 18: @ PHI, @ OKC
