NBA Power Rankings: OKC Thunder and peers jockey for position

Another strong week from the Rockets as the attempt to keep climbing up the ladder. Suddenly everyone is back on the Houston bandwagon reminding of a hamstring that hamstrung their shot at the title last season.

I’m not in this camp and still feel this team is missing the key defensive ingredients necessary. Chris Paul definitely looks stronger since returning from injury but once the whistles stop sending Harden to the line in the postseason how successful will this offense be? But— will the whistles stop?

More than any other team in the NBA I find myself screaming at the screen when the Rockets play and get calls for being in the shooting motion. Particularly when I witness almost every single team in the Association actually BE in shooting motion but not get that call.

Repeatedly Harden and now his cohorts (CP3, Gordon, Green) are all diving into their defender simply throwing their bodies at them. It has me anxiously awaiting the postseason to see which opponent coach will finally be brave enough to reach for his wallet and call out this discrepancy. Because — trust me it’s a real thing.

Schedule particulars:

Tankathon rank for schedule strength of remaining games: 18th

Games Remaining: 8 | Home: 4 | Road: 4

• Versus top 10 offenses: two
• Versus top 10 defenses: three
• Games facing teams over .500: four
• Last 10 games: 8-2
• Streak: Won two
• Back to back sets: one

Key Stats:

Offensive Rating: 2nd (114.2)
Defensive Rating: 21st (110.8)
Net Differential: 9th (+3.4)

Record: 3rd in WC
Home: 27-10 | Road: 20-17 | Back to back sets: 11
Versus the East: 18-8 | Versus the West:  27-19

Week 23, 3-1:  Wins @Hawks, Spurs, @Pelicans lost @Grizzlies,
On tap for week 24: @Bucks, Nuggets, Kings