NBA Power Ranking Lists: How Pundits Rank Houston Rockets Week 21

Where National Pundits place Houston Rockets on NBA Power Ranking Lists week 21

Week 21 of the 2015-16 season is in the books and with that the new NBA Power Ranking Lists are out, so lets take a look at where the Houston Rockets were ranked.

In Week 21 the Houston Rockets had 4 games featuring the Memphis, the Clippers, Minnesota and Atlanta. They beat the decimated Grizzlies and barely eeked out a win over the Timberwolves. But losses to the Clips and Hawks meant they failed to gain any traction on the ladder.

In week 22 the Rockets play 4 games starting with a back to back versus the Thunder and Jazz then face the Raptors and Pacers. Games are dwindling with few opportunities to move up above the eighth or seventh seeds, but at this point just making the playoffs is uncertain.

Lets see where the pundits rank the Rockets in week 21:

Pundits Lists:

John Schuhmann of nba.com  Just like Curt Low of SCS article pointed out Bickerstaff’s rotations are suspect, give he isn’t playing Howard and Capela together any more. He drops the Rockets a sot this week. Full week 21 list

Matt Moore of CBS Moore points out the obvious that unless the Rockets stop splitting wins and losses they are basically the masters of their own demise. This week he drops them 3 spots. Complete list.

Marc Stein ESPN  Just like Moore Stein moves the Rockets to 12, but unlike Moore he raises them up two spots to get them to that point. He touches (like most of the pundits) on Howard’s Stick-um issue pointing to the drama continuing in H-Town.  Full List.

Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated  At season start Jeremy Woo was one of the biggest proponents of the Houston Rockets. As the season unfolded, the Rockets continued to be inconsistent it led to him loosing faith (like many) and now his list mentions them in a throw away. His full list is here.

USA Today Panels Of all the lists this one points to the fact that even experts can get things wrong. Ranking a 4-0 Raptors team 2 spots lower than a Cavaliers squad who got blown out is one thing. But ranking the Clippers and Grizzlies 6th and 10th respectively is complete nonsense, especially when he ranks the surging Hawks under the Clippers and the Hornets just one spot ahead of Memphis. Not sure who comprises the panel, but it begs the question are they even watching the games?  Here’s their full power ranking list

More from Space City Scoop

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• Houston Rockets: Evan Mobley worth a look at No. 2 in NBA Draft
• Houston Rockets: Ranking the top-five 2021 NBA draft prospects 

USA Today’s Jeff Sagarin has for the most part provided intriguing stats all year. At times I’ve questioned his stats given he tends to keep certain teams afloat even when the obvious is staring him in the face. For example the Cavaliers have rarely not found themselves third or fourth despite their defensive regression. Plus he continues to keep the Clippers among the top teams rarely dropping them below 7th. This week he holds the Rockets steady at 13th.. Here’s the full list

That wraps up the National Media NBA Power Ranking Lists for Week 21 of the season. What are your thoughts on how the pundits ranked the Rockets? Let us know in the comments section below.

Next: Rockets and Raptors Reversal of Fortune

Next: Should Rockets Tank?

Next: Bickerstaff's Puzzling Rotations

Next: 5 Players Rockets Should Target

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