Rockets back at #1 on ESPN. Hopefully that's not a jinx: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...ngs-our-expert-panel-unveils-rankings-week-17
Definitely deserved especially with Ariza and Gordon being out. Celtics might be #2 for me. They won recently at Denver, something GS and OKC couldn't do.
My only issue with the Celtics is how many last second 1-point wins they seem to have this season. Including against the Rockets(with a couple of assists from Tony Brothers). Give them props for winning close games, but they're playing with fire and I don't know if that'll hold up come playoff time. EDIT: CBS has us ranked #1 as well. The real surprises are the Warriors dropping to #3 and the Cavs all the way down to #20! https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-power-rankings-trade-deadline-edition/ NBA.com also has us at #1. http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/2017-18-week-17#/
If the Rockets were winning 1 point games like that people would say we were flirting with disaster So . .. I feel like the Celtics are flirting with disaster Rocket River
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...ngs-our-expert-panel-unveils-rankings-week-18 Still #1 on ESPN. No surprise since it was a 4-0 week and the Warriors lost a game. We'll see if Harden or CP3 win POTW honors. EDIT: Also #1 on SI. They have the Raptors at #2 instead of the Warriors. https://www.si.com/nba/2018/02/12/nba-power-rankings-cavaliers-rockets-raptors-warriors
#1 at NBA.com http://www.nba.com/powerrankings#/ 1 Last week: 1 Houston Rockets Record: 42-13 Pace: 100.5 (9) OffRtg: 113.1 (2) DefRtg: 104.7 (9) NetRtg: +8.4 (2) The Rockets probably let the Nets and Mavs hang around too long in games last week, but the bottom line is that they've won eight straight games (and 12 of their last 13) to draw even with the Warriors in the loss column. You would think that a lineup with Luc Mbah a Moute and P.J. Tucker would be about defense, but the starting group with those two has scored 132 points in 51 minutes over the last three games. After Ryan Anderson missed the win in Miami on Wednesday, Mike D'Antoni kept the Tucker-Luc group together and brought Anderson off the bench over the weekend. The rotation is 10 players deep when healthy, but the Rockets will still reportedly sign both Joe Johnson and Brandan Wright on the buyout market. Week 18: @ MIN, vs. SAC
#1 on CBS as well. https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...-teams-expectations-after-the-trade-deadline/
still #1 at NBA.com http://www.nba.com/powerrankings#/ 1 Last week: 1 Houston Rockets Record: 44-13 Pace: 100.4 (10) OffRtg: 113.2 (2) DefRtg: 104.6 (9) NetRtg: +8.6 (2) If Trevor Ariza returns from his hamstring injury this week, does he start? In four seasons with the Rockets, Ariza has never come off the bench, but the current starting lineup -- with Luc Mbah a Moute and P.J. Tucker at the forward spots -- has outscored opponents by 20 points per 100 possessions over Houston's 10-game winning streak, and Mike D'Antoni has already moved Ryan Anderson to the second unit. Either way, if the Rockets still have the No. 1 seed in the West a month from now, they will have earned it. They will play 13 of their next 14 games against teams that are currently over .500, with 10 of those 14 games on the road. Week 19: vs. MIN, @ DEN
#1 on ESPN.com, h/t @bleedroxred79 http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/pag...-do-all-30-teams-stand-all-star-break-week-19