Disagree with this ranking but it's all very close in the West, except the Lakers who are an unknown commodity outside of their top three players. I would rank it: 1. Clippers 2. Rockets 3. Jazz 4. Denver 5. GSW 6. Lakers 7. Blazers 8. Spurs Mavs should be ranked higher and will be on the bubble
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ning-week-thoughts-all-30-teams?sf222370563=1 6. Houston Rockets Record: 1-1 Week 1 ranking: 6 Russell Westbrook (26 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists per game) lived up to high expectations as the Rockets split their first two games. James Harden hasn't played up to his standards so far this season, making only 3 of 26 3-point attempts. "He's just lost his rhythm a little bit," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Nothing to worry about. There's no way it's going to last this way. He's fine." -- MacMahon This week: OKC, @WAS, @BKN, @MIA https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...dictable-start-struggling-warriors-at-bottom/ 12. Rockets Well, we thought Russell Westbrook would be the one who might struggle to adjust, but turns out it's James Harden? Russ took over in the fourth quarter of the opener to keep the Rockets close, then exploded for his first (certainly not last) triple-double of the season in a win over the Pelicans. Westbrook has provided exactly what the Rockets hoped -- frenetic energy in transition and 40 percent 3-point shooting. Harden on the other hand has been dreadful (10-42 FG, 3-26 3-pointers), which bodes well for Houston once he comes back to the norm. https://www.si.com/nba/2019/10/28/nba-power-rankings-clippers-warriors-lakers 5. Houston Rockets – Russell Westbrook has fit right in through two games with Houston, including a triple-double in Saturday’s win over the Pelicans. Would we ever dare hear MVP chants for Brodie in the Toyota Center?
Looking good - on the rise: 26. Houston Rockets 2021-22 record: 7-16 Previous ranking: 30 Raise your hand if you expected the Rockets to have the NBA's longest active winning streak right now. Houston has reeled off six wins in a row, a run that came on the heels of a 15-game losing streak, the league's longest this season. Eric Gordon, one of the last links to the Rockets' recently deconstructed playoff team, has been outstanding during the streak, averaging 16.3 points, .493/.457/.833 shooting splits and 4.2 assists per game. -- MacMahon
Folks it's power ranking Tuesday 28. Houston Rockets 2022-23 record: 22-60 Result: Missed postseason 2024 title odds: +9000 Tilman Fertitta has declared that "Phase 2" of the Rockets' rebuild began with the hiring of coach Ime Udoka, and the billionaire team owner expects Houston to be competitive next season. The long-rumored return of James Harden would help in that regard, but would bringing back "The Beard" stunt the development of Jalen Green? That's a concern Green expressed on Paul George's podcast. -- MacMahon https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...-way-too-early-edition-our-first-look-2023-24 Fyi the Rockets title odds are a mere +9000 That's way better than Detroit +60000 or even San Antonio+15000 or Brooklyn+12500 The Harden effect - it's real
