The Rockets are currenty the sixth-best team in the league according to NBA.com
NBA.com has released its updated Power Rankings for December 9 through December 16. NBA.com has Houston ranked sixth, one spot higher than the week prior. Houston has a 111.3 OffRtg (18th in the league), a 105.3 (second in the league), a plus-six net rating (seventh best in the league), and a fourteenth-place rank in pace (99.5).
Houston was fortunate to have Jalen Green at the line with 3.5 seconds left down one versus Golden State on Wednesday, but they also deserve credit for their defense on the subsequent inbounds play. Houston switched backscreens three times in a row with ease, and Jabari Smith Jr. did a good job of blocking Brandin Podziemski’s attempt at the buzzer. After giving up just 47 points on 52 clutch possessions in the final five minutes of their last five games, Houston has won four.
However, shooting is still an issue. Houston tanks in the bottom 10 in field goal percentage in the paint percentage in the paint (53.6%, 25th), mid-range field-goal percentage (38.5%, 22nd), and 3-point percentage (32.2%, 28th). Houston shot worse than expected based on the quality of their shots for the 18th and 19th time according to according to Second Spectrum tracking. This total (19) leads the league.
Thankfully it’s not all bad, Houston still leads the league in shooting opportunity differential (plus 5.8 per game), and managed to secure 15 more offensive rebounds than the Oklahoma City Thunder who are the best team and the west and have the best turnover differential in NBA history.
Houston also has a relatively light schedule to wrap up the year facing the New Orleans Pelicans twice, (December 19 and 26) the Toronto Raptors,(December 22) the Charlotte Hornets,(December 23) the Minnesota Timberwolves, (December 27) and then the Miami Heat (December 29).
The Rockets sit behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies in the rankings. You can see the full Power Rankings here.