NBA Power rankings roundup: Where do all the experts rank the Rockets this week?

The Houston Rockets are better than you thought they'd be.

Unless you're a borderline delusional optimist, or clairvoyant. Otherwise, the Rockets have exceeded your expectations. We're roughly a quarter of the way through the 2024-25 season, and it's fair to call the Rockets one of the best teams in the NBA.

The Rockets are one of the league's toughest teams

At 17-8, they hold the second seed in the Western Conference. The Rockets have forged an identity through defensive intensity. Their 105.1 Defensive Ranking trails only the Thunder across the NBA.

That defensive prowess was on full display against the Warriors in Houston's last NBA Cup game. Down the stretch, Golden State couldn't buy a bucket to save their lives. The Rockets' gutsy 91-90 win was the season's signature game to date.

Did it bolster their position among the experts' power rankings?

Where are the Rockets in league-wide power rankings?

ESPN: Ranked 6th

It's worth noting that ESPN's last power rankings were released before that trademark Warriors win.

Would it have changed much? That's hard to say. ESPN rightfully points out the Rockets' medicore 16th Offensive Rating. It's doubtul that a 91 point performance against the Warriors would have changed their position.

So, Houston dropped two spots from fourth in ESPN's power rankings. They also highlighted the team's poor backcourt efficiency, and identified shooting as their biggest weakness in general.

Thanks for preaching to the choir, ESPN.

NBA.com: Ranked 7th

Again, NBA.com is ranking the 16-8 Rockets. It's worth keeping an eye on league-wide power rankings. If the Rockets can build off of their win against the Warriors, they could claw their way back into the top-5.

For now, NBA.com provides some useful insight into how the team has performed. Here's some useful lineup data:

"The Rockets have allowed just 84.6 points per 100 possessions in 181 total minutes with Thompson, Dillon Brooks and Alperen Sengun all on the floor. That’s the best on-court defensive mark among 856 three-man combos that have played a least 100 minutes together"

Thompson's stardom is inevitable. He makes the Rockets better by every measure when he's on the floor. It's only a matter of time before he's permanently inserted into the starting lineup.

The Rockets could continue to rise as a result.

CBS Sports: Ranked 5th

Here's an up-to-date ranking. Unsurprisingly, the Rockets are in the top five. CBS Sports describes this year's success quite succinctly.

"There's no disguising the offensive troubles, but the Rockets are proving that they can get wins in any way necessary"

Isn't that precisely how the season has gone? The Rockets don't play the beautiful game. They bludgeon opponents with relentless defense and aggressive rebounding. If you think your team is tough, the Rockets are set on proving that they're tougher.

That toughness has carired them to the NBA's top-5 according to CBS Sports.

Yahoo Sports: Ranked 4th

Let's take a victory lap. Then, let's take a moment to celebrate in rest. We deserve it. After three years of shameless tanking and horrendous basketball, we deserve it. Yahoo Sports has the Rockets 4th in their latest power rankings.

Fourth? The Houston Rockets? Are you feeling a sense of imposter syndrome? Snap out of it.

The Rockets are real. Their cadre of defensive wings are not going anywhere. Alperen Sengun is only finding his form after a rough offensive start to 2024-25. This organization is armed with enough assets to improve, and they may not even have to use them. The Rockets are genuinely among the best team's in the NBA:

Nobody expected that.