NBA Power Rankings: Rockets Falling After Slow Start?

The Houston Rockets lost two of their first three games. Where are they in the latest power rankings?

Jeremy Brener | Oct 29, 2024

Oct 26, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) shoots in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images / Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

In this story:

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets aren't exactly off to the fastest start in the NBA this season.

After falling to the Charlotte Hornets in the first game of the year, the team split the back-to-back by beating the Memphis Grizzlies and losing to the San Antonio Spurs.

That's why NBA.com writer John Schuhmann put the Rockets at No. 22 in his latest power rankings, four spots lower than the previous edition.

"The Rockets got a good (and comfortable) win over the Grizzlies on Friday, but that was sandwiched by losses to the Hornets (in which they led by 18 points) and Spurs," Schuhmann writes. "The Rockets will play in San Antonio again on Monday before finishing their three-game trip in Dallas. The Mavs were responsible for three of the 17 times the Rockets allowed more than 125 points per 100 possessions last season."

The only teams to land lower than the Rockets in the power rankings were the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.

The Rockets have a difficult schedule to start the season, but if they can settle in without falling too far off the cliff, they should be able to recover nicely going into the next phase of the year.

The Rockets are back in action on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Want to join the discussion? Like Rockets on SI Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Rockets news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

Published Oct 29, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.