ESPN dropped EG *36* spots from last year. Did I not remember correctly that he clamped Mitchell in the playoffs?
Oh man, S.I., I would expect a list this bad from ESPN, but you've actually managed to one-up them in terribleness here.
12. Russell Westbrook Houston Rockets | PG Previous rank: 7 Projected RPM wins: 6.9 One big question: It's the question as old as time: Will he change? Does he want to change? Can he if he does? In a new situation with the Rockets, if there was ever a time for some personal growth for Westbrook, it's now. People close to Westbrook say he has a refreshed mindset and is excited about the challenge of adapting to fit alongside James Harden. The chemistry will be there between the two, but sometimes a square peg and a round hole can be best friends and still not fit. Westbrook will assuredly make an effort, but can a trimmed down version of him still be the dominant player he has always been? -- Young https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/27691281/nba-rankings-debate-which-stars-crash-top-10 Which of these players has the most to prove this season? Andrew Lopez: Russell Westbrook. It's weird to think that a guy who averaged a triple-double each of the past three seasons has something to prove. But after a trade to Houston -- which cost the Rockets Chris Paul, two first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, and two pick swap possibilities in 2021 and 2025 -- Westbrook has to show that he was worth that haul. He has reunited with buddy James Harden, but will it be enough to get Houston over the top and into the NBA Finals? Royce Young: Westbrook isn't a top-10 player anymore, apparently. This is not necessarily a disagreement, but not giving him the label of "top 10" feels a bit jarring, especially considering he's riding a three-season streak of averaging a triple-double. Westbrook had a "down" year last season in the way only he can -- massively productive across the board but with bad shooting and low efficiency. So in a new situation with the Rockets and with age becoming a looming threat, he'll have some motivation this season. As if he needs any more. Tim Bontemps: Irving and Westbrook. The two star point guards both famously changed teams this summer. For Irving, signing with Brooklyn will give him a chance to show that what happened in Boston last season wasn't his doing. For Westbrook, being traded to Houston and again playing alongside Harden will allow him to prove either that he can adjust his game to fit around others or that he never will do it.
Lol I just saw this. Harden at 5 is ridiculous. Only one I would listen to being above Harden is Kawhi.
4. James Harden Houston Rockets | SG Previous rank: 3 Projected RPM wins: 15.7 One big question: Can Harden be the best player in the world when it matters most? Yes, there will be a regular-season spotlight on how Harden and old buddy Russell Westbrook mesh. But Harden is at the point where he can't really prove anything until late spring. It's way too harsh to label Harden a playoff choker (postseason averages of 28.2 points and 7.0 assists as a Rocket), but the only way he can hush critics is to carry Houston to a title. -- Tim MacMahon
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...-zion-williamson-only-rookie-to-make-the-cut/ 70. P.J. Tucker, Houston Rockets On a team that is average at best on the defensive end of the floor, Tucker is arguably the anchor that holds everyone accountable. He posted the second-highest Plus-Minus on defense for the Rockets last season, and was second in defensive win shares behind James Harden. Kevin Durant has called Tucker the best 1-on-1 defender in the league, and it's for good reason. -- Jasmyn Wimbish 69. Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets Gordon is a bucket-getter, and he's one of the main reasons why the Rockets have been so deadly on the offensive end over the past few seasons. Gordon has averaged 16 points per game for his career, and is a 37 percent shooter from long range, which makes him a perfect weapon for Mike D'Antoni's pace-and-space-based offense. Considering the fact that opposing defenses will be forced to focus a lot of their energy on the dynamic duo of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Gordon could be in line for a huge season in Houston. -- Michael Kaskey-Blomain 56. Clint Capela, Houston Rockets Two summers ago, Capela signed a five-year $90 million deal. This offseason, he was at the center at several trade rumors. It wasn't because of his play as he posted career averages for the third year in a row, but a traditional center like Capela in an offense that lives and dies by the 3-ball isn't always the best fit. He's one of the best rim-running bigs in the league, but his free-throw shooting makes him a target late in close games. He doesn't have a lot of versatility on offense, but he makes up for it with his intensity and defense. If some of the shooting ability on this Rockets roster can rub off on Capela just a tiny bit, the next step for him could be an All-Star appearance. -- Jasmyn Wimbish 19. Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets Throughout Russell Westbrook's 11 years in Oklahoma City, watching him meant feeling the tension between what he wants to do and what he should do if the goal is to optimize his efficiency. Now, on a team defined by its total devotion to optimization, something has to give. We could see the best version of Westbrook, a synthesis of his aggressive style and the Rockets' pragmatism, in which case this ranking will look silly. We could also see a mess that vindicates those who have questioned this experiment, in which case putting him in the top 20 will seem wildly optimistic. -- James Herbert 6. James Harden, Houston Rockets Harden's prolific isolation scoring is unlike anything we've seen in NBA history and therefore leads to endless debate about whether it's good for the team dynamic and if it's effective in the postseason. What's not debatable, however, is that nobody in the league can stop Harden from getting buckets. Add in his tremendous passing ability, and you have one of the top two guards in the NBA. -- Colin Ward-Henninger
