NBA Playoff Picture: My Friends, It Is Done - No Playoffs For These Rockets

The Rockets didn't get much help from other teams during this late-season playoff charge, but taking the season as a whole into account, they rarely helped themselves.

Last night they needed the Sacramento Kings to do to the Memphis Grizzlies what they did to Houston a few days before - beat them in their own building. That didn't happen. The Grizzlies took care of business 101-96 Friday night and clinched their first playoff trip since the 2005-2006 season, officially eliminating the Rockets.

Houston, who certainly gave fans a lot to cheer about in the second half of the season, didn't get a whole lot of breaks down the stretch. Fans and observers heaped a fair amount of praise on the team for their strong run post-all star break, and deservedly so. However, let's not forget how many games this team let slip in the first half of the season. 

The Rockets lost their first five games of the season, and 10 of their first 13. Yes, they lost Yao Ming yet again - but they were "prepared" for it this season. Of course, I mean that in the way the team wants you to think they mean it. The reality is that no team can be fully-prepared to lose their only superstar, even when you can set your watch to their next injury. That's why the Rockets, as by now I'm sure we all agree, need to part ways with Yao - but that's for another entry.

Even with as close to the edge as Houston was playing the last few weeks, there were opportunities. The Rockets surprised with outstanding performances against Boston and San Antonio, but still dropped games to teams like Sacramento and the L.A. Clippers. 

You never want to overreact to a hot streak at the end of an NBA season, and we can only hope the front office feels the same way. The Rockets are still a long way away, they don't have a superstar player, the Yao Ming situation is up in the air, and there's also that small matter of their outstanding coach's future in Houston.

It could make for an interesting offseason... or a very painful one.

NBA Playoff Picture: Rockets Playoff Hopes Require Perfection

The Rockets saw a promising first quarter lead slip away in New Orleans, as the Hornets officially punched their ticket to the NBA Playoffs right in front of them. New Orleans did not officially mathematically eliminate the Rockets, but the odds are now...well, microscopic. If the Rockets win their three remaining games (Clippers, Mavericks, Timberwolves), and the Grizzlies lose their remaining four (versus Sacramento, New Orleans, Portland, and the Clippers), then the teams would finish in a tie for eighth place, and Houston would reach the playoffs based on the head-to-head tiebreaker, as they took two of three from Memphis this season. 

For all intents and purposes though, the Rockets season is done. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle got some post-game quotes and they weren't sunshine and roses:

"We just got to remember the sounds of their team making the playoffs and how happy they were," Kevin Martin said. "We could hear them from our locker room. That's all we have to keep in mind throughout the summer."

...

"I'm not going to lie; it's not like it's a big surprise," forward Luis Scola said. "We could kind of see this coming. We were behind the whole season, sometimes six or 10 games behind. We got closer at the end of the year and it looked like we were going to get there. It was a very long shot. We were the whole year behind. You can't expect to play for four months one type of basketball and for two months another type of basketball. We had to play that type of basketball the whole year long.

The Rockets are agonizingly close to contention, and a whole summer of Kyle Lowry, starting point guard,  very well could have put them over the top in the race. Now they'll face another summer of uncertainty. Daryl Morey will have a lot of decisions to make this offseason on the direction of the club, most of them likely involving acquiring a big man.

NBA Playoff Picture: Houston Rockets Need Plenty Of Help To Qualify For Postseason

The Houston Rockets’ 104-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings last night severely damaged their playoff chances. With four games to play, the Rockets (41-37) sit three games behind the Memphis Grizzlies (44-34) for the West’s eighth and final playoff seed. Even if the Rockets win all their remaining games, they won’t be assured a postseason appearance; they’ll need help from Memphis and the New Orleans Hornets (44-33). For the Rockets to return to the playoffs, Memphis must lose three of its next four games, while the Hornets would need to lose each of its next five.

Houston owns the tiebreaker against Memphis, as it won the season series, 3-1. However, if the Rockets and Hornets finish with identical records, New Orleans wins the tiebreaker by virtue of its superior division record.

Houston and New Orleans face off tonight in a must-win for the Rockets. Indeed, every game is a must-win for them now.

Tom Martin of The Dream Shake, SB Nation’s Rockets blog, is resigned to Houston finishing out of the postseason. In his Rockets/Kings recap, he writes, “Suppose it was a good run – a great run, even – but this wasn’t exactly the ending I expected. It is an ending, by the way.”

NBA Playoff Picture: Houston Rockets Face Long Odds To Top Grizzlies, Hornets

The Houston Rockets are the West’s only team currently outside the playoff picture that still has a chance to fight its way in. At 41-36, they stand three games behind the 44-33 New Orleans Hornets and Memphis Grizzles with five games to play. They no longer control their destiny when it comes to making the postseason. Here are some scenarios:

• If Houston goes 5-0 the rest of the way, the Grizzlies or Hornets must go 2-3 for the Rockets to top them in the standings.

• If Houston closes the season 4-1, the Grizzles or Hornets must go 1-4, and the Rockets’ lone loss can’t be to the Hornets. If it were, then New Orleans would own the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning the Grizzlies would have to foul up for the Rockets to have a chance.

• If Houston only manages a 3-2 record in its final five games, the Grizzlies must lose out for the Rockets to get in. The teams would finish with identical records, but the Rockets would own the head-to-head tiebreaker. Because the Rockets play the Hornets in one of their final five games, they cannot catch them if they finish 3-2.

• Any finish worse than 3-2 will eliminate Houston from the playoffs.

The battle for a postseason spot continues tonight when the Rockets welcome the Sacramento Kings to Toyota Center. The 22-54 Kings are among the league’s worst teams, but have won 6 of their last 10 games, so they could be a tough out.

Tomorrow night’s road meeting with the Hornets is far more pivotal, as it’s practically a must-win for Houston if it wants to catch them. As outlined above, if the Rockets lose this game, they will need the streaking Grizzlies—winners of four straight and eight of their last 10—to collapse.

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets Playoff Bound in Imaginationland

I come here not to bury our Rockets, but to praise them. Playoff hopes remain on life support, but what a run this has been.  Kyle Lowry is playing like a man possessed, Patrick Patterson continues to impress, and the Chuck Wagon just keeps rolling along. Full credit as well to Memphis and New Orleans for upping their game when the Rockets started knocking on the door.

The rankings this week read like obituaries and it’s reflected by the Rocket’s position in the various polls. Which is to say, it’s practically the same as last week. It appears our friends doing rankings already have one eye on the playoffs. Take solace Rockets fans, in fantasyland, the Rockets are a playoff team!

SB Nation: 12 (11)

12. Houston Rockets (41-36, Prev: 11) — Houston’s playoff hopes are tied to an implosion from the Hornets, which is to say Houston’s playoff hopes are likely dead. But it’s been a helluva run for the Rockets, and if this is the final season for Rick Adelman, it’s been a helluva run for him.

ESPN: 13 (12)

They’re on pace to finish with a better record than three East playoff teams. They’re the NBA’s No. 4 team since the All-Star break at 15-5. And they’re on fumes, playoff-wise, because the West-less Hornets refuse to crumble.

Pro Basketball Talk: 12 (13)

They are 8-2 in their last 10 but just can’t get over the hump and into the playoffs out West. If this was the East, they’d be the six seed.

Hollinger Ratings: 10 (10)

This gives the Rockets a respectable average of 11.75 but they stay number one in our hearts. What if…?

NBA Playoff Picture: Rockets Face Critical Week In Quest for Playoff Spot

To borrow a phrase from English soccer commentators, it’s “squeaky bum” time for the Rockets in their quest to snag the eighth and final spot in the playoffs. Every game from here on out qualifies as “must win” and with a packed schedule this week, the playoff picture should be much clearer this time next week.

In practical terms, our rooting interests remain pro-Rocket but have shifted to an anti-Hornets stance. The Grizzlies just keep winning, and with a much more favorable schedule than New Orleans from here on out, our chances of slipping past them don’t look good. Here’s what on tap this week:

Houston Rockets

Tonight: Hawks at Rockets
I feel comfortable labeling Atlanta as overrated. That doesn’t make them less dangerous, but the set-up favors the Rockets. Our form is sparkling, the game is at home, and Atlanta is woeful against over .500 teams. If this squad is serious about the playoffs, there’s no margin for error.

Tuesday: Kings at Rockets
Our second game in three days pits us against a lively Kings team strengthened by the return of Tyreke Evans. Another winnable game so long as the Rockets stay focused. For those of an offensive persuasion, this should be a fun one.

Wednesday: Rockets at Hornets
Insert hyperbolic statement of choice here. If the Rockets make the playoffs, they certainly earned it. Our third game in four days – and the business end of a back-to-back – sees us traveling to New Orleans. Simply put, losing is not an option.

Saturday: Clippers at Rockets
The Blake Griffin Ducktacular Traveling Circus rounds out the Rockets week, and presents the third winnable home game. Not an ideal schedule, but all things considered a manageable week. Take care of business and we might find ourselves on the cusp of a playoff birth come Sunday.

New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets face Indiana, Houston, and Phoenix at home this week before an absolutely massive (for the Rockets) trip to Memphis next Sunday. Sans David West, the Pacers and Psycho T could cause some problems. Wednesday is self-explanatory, and the Friday match-up against the Suns should at least be interesting (so long as Phoenix still believes it has a chance). Sunday could decide the Rocket’s season.

Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis has an easy week with only the Clippers and Kings coming to town before Sunday’s home game against New Orleans. The Grizzlies have notched some big wins recently and are playing solid basketball without the injured Rudy Gay. Barring a serious meltdown, the Rockets aren’t catching this squad so come Sunday we’re all Grizzlies fans.

Everything to play for this week. See you all on the other side!

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets' Surge Up The Rankings Stagnates

Did you know the Rockets used to play in the Eastern conference? It’s true. If this were the late 1970s, your Houston Rockets would be the sixth seed in the East and staring at a first round match-up against the Miami Heat.

Speaking of the Heat, they handed the Rockets only their fourth loss since the all-star break by the exact same score line as the match-up in Houston. Going one and one on the week and getting no help from the Grizzlies or Hornets (way to keep winning, guys), the power rankings rather accurately reflect the Rockets current predicament. Playing well but on the outside looking in.

SB Nation: 11 (10)

11. Houston Rockets (38-35, Prev: 10) — Houston faces long odds to get into the postseason despite having a better record than two East playoff teams and a better scoring margin than four East playoff teams (and, to be fair, two West playoff teams). It’s been an unlucky season on the court for an unlucky franchise: Houston has the point differential of a 41-32 team, but has lost more than half of its close games.

ESPN: 12 (12)

What does the league’s No. 3 record (12-4) since the All-Star break get you? In the Rockets’ case, it likely still leaves them needing an 8-1 finish and a Hornets fold after losing D-West just to get into the tournament.

Pro Basketball talk: 13 (13)

13. Rockets (38-35, LW #13). They are 7-3 in their last season and playing with a real push for the playoffs, but nobody in the west is coming back to them at all. They are 2.5 games back of Memphis, which has an easy schedule from here on out.

Hollinger Ratings: 10 (10)

Sounds about right and the numbers back it up. Only a one-spot drop in the SB Nation rankings this week creates a sequential 13-12-11-10. An omen that things are lining up for your Rockets? Probably not, but the team holds strong with an average of 11.5. Not quite top ten, but everyone knows 11 is louder better than ten.

NBA Playoff Picture: Rockets Need Grizzlies To Flinch In Their Ongoing Playoff Staredown

As of Sunday morning, the Houston Rockets are but a game-and-a-half out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. With every big win by the Rockets, the Grizzlies seem to have a big one of their own to maintain their tenuous hold on that last spot. Here's what's in store for this week's race for the last spot in the Western Conference Playoffs:

Houston Rockets

Tonight: Rockets at Heat.
A tough matchup with the Miami Heat. The Rockets weren't expected to beat Boston, but they thrashed the Celtics 93-77 at Toyota Center. This of course is a road game, and the Rockets will have to dig deep to keep pace. 

Tuesday: Rockets at Nets.
Should be an easy win for Houston, as the Nets are one of the worst teams in the league. Houston has no business making the playoffs if they can't win this one with ease.

Wednesday: Rockets at 76ers.
Philly isn't going to go any higher than number six in the East, but they could absolutely drop lower if they have a late-season letdown. They'll be looking to build playoff momentum and have a very respectable 23-11 home record. 

Friday: Spurs at Rockets.
The Rockets return home after an East road swing on Friday. Their reward? Another date with the Spurs, who they will face in the first round if they're able to overtake Memphis. The Rockets have played San Antonio tough all season long, but don't have a win to show for it in three games. Two of those three losses were by a total of five points.

Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have a tough slate this week, with a pair of home games hosting the Spurs and the Warriors, and a road date with the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets are in a pitched battle with Portland for the sixth seed in the West, so they won't be giving an inch. 

If the Grizzlies drop two of these three games and Houston pulls out three of their four this week, the Rockets could be in good shape to take that final spot IF and only IF they then win the games they should win to finish the year.

Prediction for the week: While in this space a few weeks back I proclaimed the Rockets' run to be a case of Fool's Gold, I fully admit how wrong I was. Even if they don't make the postseason, this run has been legitimate, especially after that thrashing of Boston. A win over Miami on the road would certainly go a long way, but I think this week's slate of games will see Houston go 2-2. The Heat and 76ers take the good guys down, but Houston pounds New Jersey and finally gets a win over San Antonio on Friday. I want to be wrong about that Philadelphia game. I really do.

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets Enjoying Late Season Playoff And Power Ranking Push

The Rockets find their playoff hopes alive and well after a late season surge, and the run of good form hasn’t gone unnoticed. A week of winning, accented by a thorough beat down of 1986 Finals nemesis the Boston Celtics, saw the Rockets make solid jumps in most rankings. This surge up the rankings helps the Rockets resume for an at-large bid has no meaningful impact on their season whatsoever, but hey it’s nice to read the encouraging words.

SB Nation: 10 (12)

10. Houston Rockets (37-34, Prev: 12) — The Rockets are tired, but given how well they’ve been playing, a one-game week might not be the respite the team wants. Kyle Lowry, in particular, has been incredible since the Rockets traded Aaron Brooks. In his last 10 games, Lowry is averaging 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds per game.

ESPN: 12 (15)

These are the days that longtime Rockets fans, remembering how their team actually used to play out of the East, see them stuck at No. 9 after winning 11 of 14 and must wonder what it would take to switch back.

Pro Basketball Talk: 13 (17)

13. Rockets (37-34, LW #17). They’ve won four in a row and moved into the ninth seed in the West, 1.5 games out of the playoffs. They are 7-3 in their last 10 ad have a legitimate chance of catching Memphis or anyone else that falters in the West.

Hollinger Ratings: 10 (10)

A quick bit of number crunching shows the Rockets picking up a respectable 2.25 places, landing them with a 11.25 ranking. The team picked up places in the three wordiest rankings. Only Hollinger gave them no additional love. Thanks, numbers and math. With only two games this week, including a tough trip to Miami on Sunday, the Rockets will have limited chances to impress the voters.

NBA Playoff Picture: Rockets Surge Forward, Become Legitimate Playoff Contender

A funny thing happened on the way to the Rockets being counted out by everyone after losing a heartbreaker to the Spurs: They started winning games. Luis Scola was hurt, and Chase Budinger went down in the last game as well, but that hasn’t stopped the Rockets in the slightest as they went on to win four in a row, including a blowout of the Boston Celtics.

That has elevated their standings quite a bit this week. The Hollinger Playoff Odds system now gives the Rockets a 39.7% chance to eke their way past the Grizzlies or Hornets and into the playoffs. The Western Conference standings look like this:

5) Denver Nuggets 41-29 -
6) Portland Trail Blazers 40-30 -
7) New Orleans Hornets 40-31 -
8) Memphis Grizzlies 38-32 -
9) Houston Rockets 37-34 1.5
10) Phoenix Suns 35-33 2
11) Utah Jazz 36-34 2

The Rockets will be doing more scoreboard watching than playing this week, as they’ll only play two games: hosting Golden State on Wednesday, and traveling to Miami on Sunday. The Hornets will be on a three-game road trip as they play at Utah on Thursday, at Phoenix on Friday, and against the Lakers on Sunday. The Grizzlies will host Utah today, go on the road to face the Celtics and Bulls, and wrap up the week on Sunday against the Spurs.

This could very well be a pivotal week for the Rockets. Both teams in front of them play some brutal games on the road, and none of them are playing teams outside of the playoff race.

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets Gain Respect For Hanging Tough

While the Rockets continue to seem stuck in the mud, that hasn’t stopped their climb over .500 earlier last week from making an impression in the power rankings. They climbed in a number of polls this week, which, again, would be great if the NBA Playoffs operated based on outside sources rather than those pesky “wins” and “losses.” Houston is stuck at three games back behind the Grizzlies for the final playoff spot in the West, and the Jazz and Suns are also still ahead of the Rockets. Nevertheless, at least they’re making friends in the Power Rankings:

SB Nation: 12 (14)

12. Houston Rockets (34-34, Prev: #14) — This isn’t Rick Adelman’s best coaching job — the 2005-06 Sacramento Kings hold that honor — but it’s up there. So many critics have repeatedly bleated that Kevin Martin can’t be the best player on a good team. Guess what? Kevin Martin’s the best player on a .500 team fighting to make the playoffs. Haters stand down.

ESPN: 15 (16)

If the Rockets ultimately miss the playoffs, as seems likely now, here’s one key culprit: They have nine losses after leading in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter or OT, behind only Detroit and Minnesota (10).

Pro Basketball Talk: 17 (17)

Three games out of the last playoff spot in the West, but nobody above them is faltering. They are going to have to get very hot to have a shot.

Hollinger Ratings: 10 (12)

After last week’s average ranking of 14.75, the Rockets improved all the way up to 13.5 this week. As is part for the course with Houston this year, they have been weighted up by the Hollinger Ratings, while PBT continues to give them the lowest ranking.

NBA Playoff Picture: Rockets Running Out Of Time

With just about a month remaining in the season, things are pretty well settled at the top of the Western Conference. The San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Oklahoma City Thunder will almost undoubtedly be your top four seeds, the only possible changes will come in the ordering of them.

But the bottom of the Western Conference continues to be surprisingly competitive. It helped that both the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz dealt away stars, because they were both looking pretty set until they made those moves. Here’s how the last four playoff spots shape up right now:

5) Denver 39-27
6) New Orleans Hornets 39-29
7) Portland Trail Blazers 37-29
8) Memphis Grizzlies 36-31
9) Phoenix Suns 33-31 (1.5 back)
10) Utah Jazz 34-33 (2 back)
11) Houston Rockets 33-34 (3 back)

Being three games back in the loss column with fifteen to play isn’t dead, but it’s pretty close to it. The Rockets are currently given a 29.0% chance to make the playoffs per John Hollinger’s statistics, and those stats are really kind to the Rockets. Houston will face the Suns tonight with an opportunity to gain ground on a team in front of them. Phoenix will likely be without Steve Nash tonight as well, forcing ex-Rocket Aaron Brooks into the starting lineup.

While it wouldn’t mathematically eliminate the Rockets, losing this game and boosting the Suns’ chances would be catastrophic for any chance they have of making the playoffs this season.

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets Over .500, But Progress Slow In Rankings

The Rockets finally got over .500 last night against the Kings, but it sure hasn’t changed much in the big picture. Wins by the Grizzlies and Trail Blazers kept the team from moving up much in the Western Conference playoff picture, and the power rankers were similarly non-plussed about their exploits.

SB Nation: 14 (13)

The best-case scenario in Houston is that Hasheem Thabeet finds a magic potion that allows him to become the second coming of Dikembe, because the Rockets desperately need defensive help in the middle.

ESPN: 16 (17)

With Kevin Martin clicking, their D tightening and a home-heavy schedule? You have to like the Rockets’ chances of cracking the top eight better than fading Utah’s, even if they still haven’t spent a day over .500 yet.

Pro Basketball Talk: 17 (18)

Another scrappy team that is just going to have a hard time catching any of the more talented scrappy teams ahead of them in the playoff chase.

Hollinger: 12 (12)

Add it all up, and the Rockets made it all the way up to 14.75, a grand improvement of 0.25 points of ranking difference. This despite playing their best basketball of the season lately. Tonight should be a statement game for the Rockets as they play the Suns, who are directly ahead of them in the West’s playoff race. If they want some respect, they better go out and earn it.

NBA Power Rankings: Recent Win Streak Elevates Rockets

The Rockets have come out of the All-Star break on a four-game win streak, serving notice to the Western Conference that hey, they aren’t technically eliminated yet. They’re just three games out of the playoff picture, and after they get past this game in Portland tonight, they’ll have three more games against weak opponents before they face off against the Suns. What do our power rankers think?

SB Nation: 13 (13)

The Rockets are crawling back into the playoff race, but the loss of Shane Battier won’t help a porous defense. Kyle Lowry needs to prove that he’s worthy of the starting point guard spot, and that he can fit with Kevin Martin.

ESPN: 17 (19)

We’ll get back to the Kev Martin show and Scola’s injury scare soon enough. In the meantime … telephone call for Hakeem Olajuwon. The big man who needs your tutoring more than any other — Thabeet — is now a Rocket.

Pro Basketball Talk: 18 (21)

Goodbye Shane Battier. Goodbye Aaron Brooks. Hello Hasheem Thabeet. Clearly the Rockets are looking to rebuild… then they go win four in a row. They remain a scrappy team that is just hard to play against.

Hollinger: 12

Do the quick math and you’ll get an average ranking of No. 15 for the Rockets, who continue to be as neat and complex as a team that can’t play defense to save it’s life can ever be. If only they were in the Eastern Conference…wait, I say that every year.

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets Still Winning People Over With Their Play

The Rockets are, in many ways, the people's champions of the NBA. They aren't going to be contending for a championship this year, but they play hard every day and they can beat anyone in the NBA on a given night. There is also the sympathy aspect, because lord knows that if they were healthy they would be much more competitive than they are now. I'll explain what that means after we take a look.

SB Nation: 13 (13)

It's a shame that this weird, lovable Rockets team likely won't make the playoffs. If Yao Ming were playing even 25 minutes a game, Houston would be right in the mix with the Jazz, Blazers, Nuggets and Grizzlies. Alas ...

ESPN: 18 (18)

Walking off the floor with time still left on the clock is about as far away from MIP standards as Aaron Brooks could have strayed, but the Rockets insist they won't surrender Brooks in a trade unless it's part of a megadeal.

Hollinger: 14 (12)

Pro Basketball Talk: 21 (22)

They want to move Aaron Brooks, and to pick up the scoring slack there is… Chuck Hayes? He’s been a scoring machine lately.

I think they have such a big difference in some of the polls because the services are measuring two different things. How competitive a team can be in the regular season, and how much of a shot they have to compete for a championship. There is no other way to justify the discrepancy in some of these rankings. But they certainly seemed to have won some of the organizers over.

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets Don't Gain, Or Lose, Any Ground

The Rockets had a big win last night, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are a better team today than they were at this time yesterday. In fact, if you look at the Power Rankings across the NBA, the Rockets are pretty much in the exact same spot they were last week. They are playing pretty good basketball, but not really good enough to impress the people in charge of organizing these lists. Here they are.

SB Nation 13 (LW 13):

No pending free agent has had a worse season than Aaron Brooks, who followed up an injury with a bad decision to sulk off the court after Rick Adelman pulled him in the fourth quarter Saturday against Memphis. Brooks is just passionate and felt cheated he wasn't on the court in crunch time. But teams would prefer that players know their place. It certainly can't help him come July.

ESPN 18 (19):

The good news? Houston finally won a game in OT on the sixth try and had to beat the scorching Grizz to do so. The bad news? No more Grizz games left this season, with Kev Martin averaging 31.3 points against them.

Hollinger 12 (12):

Pro Basketball Talk 22 (21):

Kevin Martin is putting up a lot of points, but he’s shooting just 40.1 percent in the last 10. The best player on this team of late has been Luis Scola.

As a whole, the average rankings stayed the same at 16.25. Which is the exact same as it was last week even though the Rockets went 3-0. Maybe more 35+ point efforts from Kevin Martin will help bring some attention to the kind of basketball the Rockets re playing.

NBA Power Rankings, Week 13: Rockets Fit Squarely In The Middle Of The Pack

The Rockets continue to flounder a little bit, particularly against their conference opponents, and it is really hurting them in the various Internet Power Rankings. And yet, they continue to rank much higher than another team might if they were at five games under .500. It's almost as if they know that the Rockets are supposed to be better than this, they are just waiting for the team to catch on. So without further adieu, here is where they stand.

SB Nation: 13 (LW 14)

Quite possibly the best five-game-under-.500 team in history, the Rockets continue to lose a good share of the close ones. Houston is 4-10 in games decided by five or fewer points. Studies suggest those games are toss-ups; logic, then, suggests that the Rockets are playing against a loaded coin.

ESPN: 19 (17)

The standings say Houston still has some measure of hope for sneaking into a West playoff spot. The Rockets' 12-18 record against their conference rivals -- 2-9 since the calendar flipped to 2011 -- says otherwise.

Hollinger: 12 (12)

Pro Basketball Talk: 21 (20)

They are four games out of the final playoff spot in the West. The only way they are making that ground up is if Carmelo Anthony falls to them.

The average rankings actually jumped to 16.25 this week with the SB Nation and Hollinger rankings climb outweighing the losses in the other two. But 16.25 only qualifies for the playoffs if we're rounding down, and with all the good teams int he West, that isn't happening. They're close to playoff contention, but close just isn't going to cut it in this Conference.

NBA Power Rankings, Week 12

The good news? The Rockets have treaded so much water lately that continuing to trade water doesn’t make them look any worse in this week’s rankings. The bad news? How about no playoffs? Does that make you feel good? That’s looking like the more and more likely scenario. Here’s what the Power Rankers have to say for themselves:

Pro Basketball Talk: 20 (LW: 20)

Picked up wins in Boston and Atlanta this week, this is a team that can do that — on a hot shooting night they can beat anybody. But defense is what makes a team consistent and the Rockets don’t do a lot of defense.

ESPN: 17 (17)

Road wins of the highest quality, in Boston and Atlanta, only somewhat ease the Rockets’ dismay with themselves, after falling to 0-4 in overtime games and a recent four-game skid in which they led by at least nine in all four.

Hollinger Ratings: 15 (18)

SB Nation: 16 (16)

How snakebitten are the Rockets? Forget the injuries. Houston has actually outscored opponents this season … but sits four games under .500 due to a string of close losses.

Add it all together, and the average of these polls, which last week was 17.75, is now 17. The recent span of close results has continued to make the Rockets look good via Hollinger’s ratings. If they could just win a few of them here and there, perhaps by having a defensive presence in the middle, they’d be playoff bound.

NBA Power Rankings, Week 11

It’s been an ugly, ugly, week.

The good news is that the power rankers have been slow to completely drop the Rockets after an awful start to 2011. The bad news? The Rockets continue a brutal schedule for the rest of the week, and if they don’t go on a bit of a run here, could be staring at seven or eight games under .500 by the start of next week. Here’s what our rankers have to say:

Pro Basketball Talk: 20 (LW: 15)

They have lost five in a row, and this week the schedule is Boston, Oklahoma City, then New Orleans and Atlanta back-to-back. Rough.

ESPN: 17 (14)

The reward for scraping all the way back to .500 after that 0-5 start? Nine games out of 10 against teams with winning records … with Houston off to an 0-5 start in 2011 and four more toughies on this week’s schedule.

Hollinger Ratings 18 (16)

SB Nation: 16 (14)

The Rockets became even more wounded when Kevin Martin went down with a wrist injury. Houston is always active at the trade deadline, but will the team have anyone healthy enough to trade?

The average of these polls, which last week was 15, is now 17.75. Looks like the Hollinger Ratings picked up on something last week, as they were forecasting doom and gloom during the Rockets winning streak.

NBA Power Rankings, Week 10

Fading in Portland did not do the Rockets any favors this week, nor did losing to the Nuggets last night. The perception which will start this week, and will continue next week unless the Rockets turn it around fast, will be that they just can’t hang with the real powers of the West. Lets see what our rankers think!

Pro Basketball Talk: 15 (LW: 15)

After playing well of late on Sunday the Rockets lost to the Blazers and looked like a team that needed a star to take over for them. Daryl Morey would love to get in the Carmelo Anthony talks for that reason.

ESPN: 14 (14)

Some of their turnaround is schedule-related, but it’s happened before with the Rockets and happened again this season: They do tend to play better once they know for sure Yao isn’t coming back. Cruel as it sounds.

Hollinger Ratings: 16 (11)

The average of those, which last week was 13.3, is now 15. The Hollinger Ratings are really taking a toll on the overall average, and they continue to see the Rockets return to .500 as a mirage.

SB Nation’s own poll used to separate teams into Eastern and Western Conferences, but they have now started to encompass all of basketball. The Rockets are currently rated 14th in that and will be included fully in the rankings next week. They were ninth in the West last week.

NBA Power Rankings, Week 9

Five straight wins have a way of bumping your status in the eyes of the public. Lo and behold, your Houston Rockets, back in mediocrities good graces in the eyes of the public. They face their first big test tonight with the Miami Heat in town, and here are what our power rankers think of them at this point:

Pro Basketball Talk: 15 (LW: 17)

Four straight wins. All against pretty soft competition but the fact is they are beating the teams they are supposed to.

ESPN: 14 (18)

All-Star long shots with sick stats? Make room in your club, Kevin Love and Monta Ellis, for Kevin Martin, whom Elias says is on pace to become the first player to lead the league in total FTs and 3s made in a season. Ever.

Hollinger 11 (9)

The average of those three, which last week was 14.6, is now 13.3. The Hollinger system’s number actually went down as the Rockets played weaker competition, but the Rockets went up by winning in the eyes of the human raters.

SB Nation’s own poll separates teams into Eastern and Western Conferences, so I can’t count it against these other three all-NBA polls, but the Rockets have moved up to ninth after last week, they were tenth the week before.

NBA Power Rankings, Week 8

A 3-1 week, although one admittedly fueled by wins over the weaker stepsisters of the NBA, haven’t been getting a ton of love from the power rankers. With only incremental gains this week as outside minds try to decide how this team will operate without Yao Ming. The Rockets have one more game this week, tonight against the Clippers, before they take off until Christmas is over. Here’s the impression that they’ve left on the power rankers we trust:

Pro Basketball Talk: 17 (LW: 18)

They went 3-1 last week. Now they can forget about trying to integrate Yao and just go out and run. This is a fun team to watch when they just let it go.

ESPN: 18 (19)

You figured the Rockets, deep down, were expecting the devastatingly bad news about Yao’s potentially career-ending setback. Not the vibe we’re getting, though. They really did think he’d be back sometime this season.

Hollinger: 9 (11)

The average of those three, which last week was 16, is now 14.6. The Hollinger system continues to be bullish on the Rockets chances, while the human raters see that they aren’t in the playoffs and continue to punish them for it.

SB Nation’s own poll separates teams into Eastern and Western Conferences, so I can’t count it against these other three all-NBA polls, but like with the other two human polls, the Rockets aren’t getting any respect until they crack the Top 8 in the West again. Right now, they’re ranked 10th. Just like last week.

NBA Power Rankings, Week 7

The Rockets appear to have turned the corner recently, with a solid mark over their last 10 and more consistent play out of both the bench and Kyle Lowry. Have the Power Rankings aficionados adjusted to this?

We track four main Power Rankings: The Hollinger rankings, the Pro Basketball Talk rankings, the ESPN.com rankings, and SB Nation’s rankings. Here’s how the Rockets did in these compared to last week:

Rockets (9-14). The Rockets are 6-4 in their last 10, but how do they adjust when Aaron Brooks and Yao Ming return?

ESPN: 19 (17)

It’s obviously not going to get you noticed in a league with those aforementioned four teams having won at least eight in a row. The Rockets, though, are creeping back toward normalcy at 9-9 since their 0-5 start.

Hollinger: 11 (14)

The average of those three, which last week was at 17, is now at…16. It looks like the human voters are lingering a bit on giving the Rockets a real bump. Meanwhile, the Hollinger formula, which has always liked them better than the human rankings, continues to be ahead of the other two with how far it will push the Rockets up.

SB Nation’s own poll separates the teams into Eastern and Western Conferences for…some reason. I don’t quite understand it myself. Either way, last week the Rockets were 12th in the West, and this week they’ve jumped all the way to 10th.

So overall, the Rockets appear to be getting a bit more respect this week, but nobody is buying them as a legitimate playoff threat yet asides from the Hollinger system. The Rockets certainly did a lot to bolster their case for a playoff spot last week, as Portland, Phoenix, and Memphis have all tapered off to around the Rockets level.

NBA Scores -- Southwest Division Racks Up Another Undefeated Night

Southwest Division results

Detroit Pistons 74, New Orleans Hornets 93 — In their first game under league ownership, the Hornets showed everyone that they were more than capable of handling a pathetic Pistons team. Marco Belinelli dropped 22, with four three-pointers, and this game was never close. Chris Paul had just six points, because he was too busy carving up the Pistons defense to the tune of 14 assists and just one turnover. Ben Gordon had 19 off the bench for Detroit.

Golden State Warriors 94, San Antonio Spurs 111 — Another no contest game. The Spurs had six players in double figures and decided this one in the first quarter, outscoring Golden State 29-19. David Lee had 17 for the Warriors, but also committed six of their 21 turnovers. Tony Parker led the way for the Spurs with 19 points, 9 assists, and Erin Barry’s heart.

Memphis Grizzlies 104, Phoenix Suns 98 (OT) — Memphis seemed to have this game in hand in the fourth, but a huge rally by the Suns forced the Grizzlies, who were up by 14 heading into the fourth, to drain a last second shot to tie the game. Rudy Gay stepped up and hit it, and the Grizzlies prevailed in overtime behind Zach Randolph, who had 34 points and 17 rebounds on just 19 shots. You live by the three, you die by the three: Phoenix made just seven of 30 attempts from beyond the arc. Jason Richardson’s 1-11 effort didn’t help either.

Southwest Division Standings
San Antonio Spurs 18-3
Dallas Mavericks 17-4
New Orleans Hornets 14-7
Memphis Grizzlies 9-14
Houston Rockets 8-13

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
New Jersey Nets @ Dallas Mavericks, 7:30 PM, Fox Sports Southwest

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores -- Dallas Wins Tenth Straight To Tie Spurs In Win Column

Southwest Division results

Detroit Pistons 83, Houston Rockets 97 — Full recap here.

Golden State Warriors 100, Dallas Mavericks 105 — The Mavericks and Warriors were neck-and-neck through the first three quarters, but a sustained run in the fourth led the Mavs to their 10th victory in a row. Ian Mahinmi was a huge matchup problem for the Warriors, garnering 10 free throw attempts in just 21 minutes. The three ball kept the Warriors in the game, but ultimately getting outshot at the free throw line to the tune of 14 points was too much to overcome. Dirk Nowitzki led all scorers with 25 points.

Southwest Division Standings
San Antonio Spurs 17-3
Dallas Mavericks 17-4
New Orleans Hornets 13-7
Houston Rockets 8-13
Memphis Grizzlies 8-14

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
Detroit Pistons @ New Orleans Hornets — 7 PM
Golden State Warriors @ San Antonio Spurs — 7 PM, Fox Sports Southwest
Memphis Grizzlies @ Phoenix Suns — 8 PM

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

Rockets Schedule And Power Rankings, Week 6

Southwest Division standings (as of Tuesday)

San Antonio Spurs 17-3
Dallas Mavericks 16-4
New Orleans Hornets 13-7
Memphis Grizzlies 8-14
Houston Rockets 7-13

The Rockets rocked a 2-1 record last week, which is exactly what they need to keep doing to get back in the playoff race. Of course, they shouldn’t be losing any overtime games if they hope to make it, and they actually did that. But it’s a start, especially after a brutal start.

This will be a week that the Rockets should gain ground. Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cleveland, all with similar records to the Rockets but more of a reason to have them, are the opponents. I’d be disappointed if they didn’t turn at least match last week’s record out of this.

Onto the games:

Tuesday Dec 7th vs. Detroit Pistons — The Pistons haven’t done anything well recently. Their big money players are Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, Richard Hamilton is looking extremely old, and the team has no inside presence at all. Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince are nice players, but if the Rockets have any fight in them, this shouldn’t be a close game. Prediction: Rockets 108, Pistons 97.

Friday Dec 10th @ Milwaukee Bucks — The Bucks have been without center Andrew Bogut for most of the season, and that’s really crippled their record. Scott Skiles has them playing their trademark great defense, but the team as a whole has disappointed on offense. Bogut is back on the court, so if anyone is going to give the Rockets a run this week, it will probably be the Bucks. Prediction: Rockets 93, Bucks 95.

Saturday Dec 11th vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – You may remember this team from their emotional asskicking against LeBron James and company. They have a lot of solid role players, but there’s no one on the team that can really handle the offensive load they’re getting. Think about the Rockets without Luis Scola or Kevin Martin. That’s what this Cavs team is right now. Prediction: Rockets 103, Cavs 88.

Other Southwest Division schedules for this week:
San Antonio: Weds vs. GS, Fri vs. ATL, Sun vs. POR
Dallas: Tues vs. GS, Thurs vs. NJ, Sat vs. UTAH, Mon vs. MIL
New Orleans: Wed vs. DET, Fri vs. OKC, Sun @ PHI, Mon @ MIA
Memphis: Weds @ PHO, Sat @ LAC, Mon vs. POR

Boy, none of these teams are getting challenged at all this week. I guess New Orleans has the roughest schedule having to go to Miami and playing the Thunder. You’ll want to be a Golden State fan this week, as well as pulling for Portland. While the Rockets might have the easiest schedule, San Antonio and Dallas don’t even have to leave their arenas all week.

By the power rankings
Here’s how each team is ranked by an average of their ESPN power ranking, their ProBasketballTalk power ranking, and their Hollinger power ranking.

Dallas: 1.66
San Antonio: 2.66
New Orleans: 12
Houston: 17
Memphis: 17.66

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores -- Dallas Continues To Roll

Southwest Division results

Houston Rockets 116, Chicago Bulls 119 — Full recap here.

Dallas Mavericks 105, Sacramento Kings 103 — The Mavs rallied late with a 15-4 run in the last six minutes to notch their ninth consecutive victory. Ex-Rocket Carl Landy threw a bad inbounds pass with 11 seconds remaining to squander the Kings’ last chance. The Mavs shot 13 more free throws than the Kings and made 12 more, so Mark Cuban should be happy tonight. Dirk Nowitzki and Tyreke Evans lead all scorers with 25 points a piece.

Southwest Division Standings
San Antonio Spurs 16-3
Dallas Mavericks 16-4
New Orleans Hornets 13-6
Memphis Grizzlies 8-12
Houston Rockets 7-13

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
New Orleans Hornets @ San Antonio Spurs — 6 PM, Fox Sports SW
Memphis Grizzlies @ Denver Nuggets — 7 PM

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores -- Battier Sends Rockets Fans Home Happy

Southwest Division results

Los Angeles Lakers 99, Houston Rockets 109 — Full recap here.

Memphis Grizzlies 109, Atlanta Hawks 112 — In an up and down game noted for it’s complete lack of defense, the Hawks were able to keep the Grizzlies at bay and win their fourth in a row. Memphis was able to cut a huge gap in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t finish the comeback. Atlanta’s better three-point shooting percentage was basically the only difference in the box score: 7-12 vs. 3-10 for Memphis. Rudy Gay led all scorers with 23.

New Orleans Hornets 89, Charlotte Bobcats 73 — Steven Jackson missed the game and his replacement, Dominic McGuire, shot just 1-8 from the floor in an ugly loss for the Bobcats. David West was the lone player on either team to crack 20 points, scoring 22. Gerald Wallace paced the Bobcats with 18.

Dallas Mavericks 100, Minnesota Timberwolves 86 — The Wolves shot just 39%, letting an off-night from Dallas slip out of their fingers. Michael Beasley and Shawn Marion both had 16 points. Both teams had double digit turnovers and both teams shot poorly, but Dallas made up it’s margin on the threeball, knocking down 10-24 compared to Minnesota’s 4-14. It was the Mavericks seventh straight win.

Los Angeles Clippers 90, San Antonio Spurs 85 — A down night for the Spurs as they shot just 35% from the floor. Blake Griffin was in beast mode, with 31 points on 21 shots and 13 rebounds. Eric Gordon added 21 for the Clippers, George Hill led San Antonio with 17. The loss cut San Antonio’s lead over Dallas in the Southwest to 1 game.

Southwest Division Standings
San Antonio Spurs 15-3
Dallas Mavericks 14-4
New Orleans Hornets 13-5
Memphis Grizzlies 8-11
Houston Rockets 6-12

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
No games scheduled.

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores -- Memphis Sends Lakers To Houston Angry

Southwest Division results

Memphis Grizzlies 98, Los Angeles Lakers 96 — Kobe Bryant got his 29 points, but it took him 26 shots as Memphis rookie Xavier Henry shut him down. The Lakers got to the line nine more times than the Grizzlies did, but shot just 43% compared to the Grizzlies’ 48%. Mike Conley had the game of his life, with 28 points, 10 in the fourth quarter, and four three pointers as he torched Derek Fisher.

San Antonio Spurs 118, Golden State Warriors 98 — Garbage time was prevalent in the Bay as the Warriors were downed easily by the Spurs. Seven Spurs reached double figures, including oft-used reserve forward Gary Neal. Stephen Curry and David Lee were both able to contribute big games, but Monta Ellis and Dorrell Wright combined to shoot just 12 for 32 from the floor.

Southwest Division Standings
San Antonio Spurs 15-2
Dallas Mavericks 13-4
New Orleans Hornets 12-5
Memphis Grizzlies 8-10
Houston Rockets 5-12

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
Memphis Grizzlies @ Atlanta Hawks — 6 PM CT
Charlotte Bobcats @ New Orleans Hornets — 7 PM CT
Los Angeles Lakers @ Houston Rockets — 7:30 PM CT, Fox Sports Houston
Minnesota Grizzlies @ Dallas Mavericks — 7:30 PM CT, Fox Sports Southwest
San Antonio Spurs @ Los Angeles Clippers — 9:30 PM CT, NBA TV

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

Rockets Schedule And NBA Power Rankings, Week 5

Southwest Division standings (as of Tuesday)

San Antonio Spurs 14-2
Dallas Mavericks 13-4
New Orleans Hornets 12-5
Memphis Grizzlies 7-10
Houston Rockets 5-12

The good news? The Rockets actually played .500 basketball this week. The bad news? They didn’t gain anything on any team outside of New Orleans, who tumbled to third place in the Southwest this week after an awful week. The worst news? Another brutal three game stretch against a pair of contenders and a hungry Memphis team. Oh, and the playoff report: another drop by John Hollinger, who now gives the Rockets just an 18.7% chance at getting swept in the first round.

Onto the games that will be bringing you sadness this week:

Wednesday Dec 1st vs. Los Angeles Lakers — The Lakers had an off-week, but also have, by my count, three players (Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Paul Gasol) that nobody on the Rockets can defend. Oh, and the rate of bandwagonism that you’ll have to deal with at this game will also be depressing. So I guess what I’m saying is: ouch. Prediction: Lakers 118, Rockets 103

Friday Dec 3rd @ Memphis Grizzlies — The Grizzlies and Rockets are mirror-images of each other in advanced NBA statistics: The Rockets are 13th in offensive rating, 24th in defensive rating. The Grizzlies? 23rd in offensive rating, 12th in defensive rating. All of that despite giving many minutes to Zach Randolph. I guess if there’s one game to get optimistic about this week, it’d be this one. Prediction: Rockets 105, Grizzlies 104

Saturday Dec 4th @ Chicago Bulls – You may remember the Bulls from earlier this season, when nobody could stop Derrick Rose. I’m guessing that this will be a rerun and a recurring theme as well: the Rockets can’t stop great point guards. Prediction: Rockets 87, Bulls 93

Other Southwest Division schedules for this week:
San Antonio: Tue @ GS, Wed @ LAC, Fri vs. MIN, Sun vs. NO
Dallas: Weds vs. MIN, Fri @ UTAH, Sat @ SAC
New Orleans: Wed vs. CHA, Fri vs. NY, Sun @ SA
Memphis: Tue vs. LAL, Weds @ ATL, Fri vs. HOU, Sun @ DEN, Mon @ UTAH

Horrific stretch for the Grizzlies, as they play four playoff caliber teams this week. And then the Rockets too. Dallas gets it easy after a rough week with just three games, two against bumbling franchises. New Orleans gets it even easier with two against bad teams and one against the Spurs. This week, if you can bear it, root for Utah and Minnesota.

By the power rankings
Here’s how each team is ranked by an average of their ESPN power ranking, their ProBasketballTalk power ranking, and their Hollinger power ranking.

San Antonio: 1
Dallas: 3.33
New Orleans: 7.33
Memphis: 17.66
Houston: 21

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores -- Dallas Takes Down The Heat

Southwest Division results

Dallas Mavericks 106, Miami Heat 97 — The Mavericks easily dispatched the Heat on Saturday night, riding a huge third quarter run to a lead that wouldn’t be relinquished. Miami’s non-big 3 combined for just 20 points and even though the Heat were able to slow down Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Juan Jose Barea came up big off the bench with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Cleveland Cavaliers 92, Memphis Grizzlies 86 — Memphis’ lack of aggression hurt them in an otherwise even statistical matchup. The Cavaliers got to the line 11 more times, sinking six more free throws, which is identical to the difference in the final score. Mo Williams led the Cavs with 21 points, while Zach Randolph was just 6-16 for the Grizzlies.

Southwest Division Standings
San Antonio Spurs 13-2
New Orleans Hornets 12-3
Dallas Mavericks 12-4
Memphis Grizzlies 7-10
Houston Rockets 4-11

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Hornets — 2 PM CT, Fox Sports SA
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Houston Rockets — 6 PM CT, Fox Sports Houston

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores -- Rockets Back On Winning Track

Southwest Division results

Golden State Warriors 101, Houston Rockets 111 — Full recap here.

San Antonio Spurs 113, Minnesota Timberwolves 109 (OT) — That was an unexpected stumbling block, but the Spurs had a furious fourth quarter comeback to take the Wolves to overtime and show them who is in charge. Kevin Love had 32 points and 22 rebounds, and Darko Milicic (?!?!) had 22 points and 8 rebounds. Manu Ginobli led the Spurs with 26.

New Orleans Hornets 85, Utah Jazz 107 — It’s heartbreaking to gain a game on someone in front of you thanks to a Jazz loss, but I’m sure every game is a welcome sight for the Rockets at this point. The Jazz put together two dominant quarters: the second and fourth, and played even with the Hornets in the other two. Five different Hornets committed two or more turnovers, and New Orleans had no answer for Al Jefferson down low as he cruised his way to 23 points and 10 boards.

Dallas Mavericks 111, Oklahoma City Thunder 103 — Dirk Nowitzki continued to be hot, torching the Thunder for 34 points on just 15 shots. Tyson Chandler dominated the Oklahoma City big men with 17 points and 18 rebounds, and the Mavericks rolled for their third straight win. Kevin Durant was just as unstoppable for the Thunder, with 32 of his own, but Russell Westbrook went just 4-13 from the floor.

Detroit Pistons 84, Memphis Grizzlies 105 — The Grizzlies shot a sizzling 52% from the floor against Tracy McGrady’s lazy eyed killers. McGrady added 2 points to the table, and outside of Chris Wilcox in garbage time, not a single Piston shot over 50%. Zack Randolph paced the Grizzlies with 21 points and 14 boards.

Southwest Division Standings
San Antonio Spurs 13-1
New Orleans Hornets 11-3
Dallas Mavericks 10-4
Memphis Grizzlies 6-9
Houston Rockets 4-10

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
No games scheduled.

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores -- Nowitzki, Dallas, Squeak By Detroit

Southwest Division results

Dallas Mavericks 88, Detroit Pistons 86 -- Dirk Nowitzki went off for 42 points--almost half of the Mavericks end of game total—as the Mavs fended off a spirited challenge from the Pistons with a fourth quarter run. Dallas had just 8 turnovers, but kept the game close by clanking shot after shot. Juan Jose Barea, Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd, and Caron Butler combined to shoot just 7-31 from the field. Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 19 points a piece.

Southwest Division Standings
San Antonio Spurs 12-1
New Orleans Hornets 11-2
Dallas Mavericks 9-4
Memphis Grizzlies 5-9
Houston Rockets 3-10

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
Golden State Warriors @ Houston Rockets: 7:30 PM CT, Fox Sports Houston
San Antonio Spurs @ Minnesota Timberwolves: 7 PM CT, Fox Sports Southwest (SA)
Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder: 7 PM CT, Fox Sports Southwest (DAL)
Detroit Pistons @ Memphis Grizzlies, 7 PM CT, Fox Sports Detroit
New Orleans Hornets @ Utah Jazz: 8 PM CT, Fox Sports Utah

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

Rockets Schedule And NBA Power Rankings, Week 4

Southwest Division standings (as of Tuesday)

San Antonio Spurs 12-1
New Orleans Hornets 11-2
Dallas Mavericks 8-4
Memphis Grizzlies 5-9
Houston Rockets 3-10

Instead of taking advantage of one of the easier stretches of their schedule, with the Boozer-less Bulls, Toronto Raptors, and reeling Phoenix Suns games all in real play, the Rockets floundered and dropped all four games, putting them in an extremely precarious situation. Even rankings systems that still like the Rockets, like John Hollinger rankings, are finding it hard for the Rockets to keep up in the standings. He now gives them just a 21.3% chance to make the playoffs.

Onto the games that will be bringing you sadness this week:

Wednesday Nov 23rd vs. Golden State Warriors — The Warriors really haven’t been playing all that well despite the 7-7 record. 20th in offensive rating and 26th in defensive rating. That said, they’ve already beaten the Rockets twice and there isn’t a single player on the Rockets roster that can guard Stephen Curry or Monta Ellis. Prediction: Rockets 110, Warriors 118

Friday Nov 25th @ Charlotte Bobcats — This might be the Rockets best chance this week to get into the win column. While Larry Brown’s teams are typically noted for their defensive chops, there isn’t a single speedy scorer on this roster, and Nazr Mohammed is getting tons of minutes. Prediction: Rockets 100, Bobcats 98.

Sunday Nov. 28th vs. Oklahoma City Thunder – I saw this game last week. It sucked then, and it will suck now. Prediction: Rockets 101, Thunder 112

Sunday Nov. 29th @ Dallas Mavericks – Luis Scola on Dirk Nowitzki. Back-to-back on the road. Third loss in four games. At least it’s an improvement on last week. Sort of. Prediction: Rockets 97, Mavericks 108.

Other Southwest Division schedules for this week:
San Antonio: Wed @ MIN, Fri vs. DAL, Sun @ NO
New Orleans: Wed @ UTAH, Fri @ POR, Sun vs. SA Mon @ OKC
Dallas: Tues vs. DET, Wed @ OKC, Fri @SA, Sat vs MIA, Mon vs HOU
Memphis: Wed vs DET, Fri vs. GS, Sat @ CLE

Brutal stretch for Dallas getting fives games in seven games, especially Wednesday-Friday-Saturday against the Thunder, Spurs, and Heat. Memphis gets the layup schedule this week. You’ll want to root for the Thunder, the Pistons, and the Warriors this week if you’re a Rockets fan.

By the power rankings
Here’s how each team is ranked by an average of their ESPN power ranking, their ProBasketballTalk power ranking, and their Hollinger power ranking.

San Antonio: 1.33
New Orleans: 3
Dallas: 6.66
Memphis: 18.33
Houston: 21.66

I still think the Rockets are a little high here. Especially without Yao.

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores - Rockets Dig Themselves A Bigger Hole

Southwest Division results

Oklahoma City 116, Houston 99 — Full recap here.

Dallas 97, New Orleans 99 — Hot shooting kept the Mavericks in the game all the way, but a David West steal in the final seconds helped seal the win for the Hornets. The two teams traded tough wins in a home-and-home and it looks like both will be serious playoff contenders this year. Juan Jose Barea shot 2-13 from the field, yet the Mavs still hit 50.7% of their shots. The turnover margin went to New Orleans by six, which helped even things up. Dirk Nowitzki’s 29 points paced the Mavericks.

Chicago 94, San Antonio 103 — Derrick Rose got 33 points, but it took him 27 shots to get them and the rest of his teammates were sitting on their hands by the time this game was over. Tony Parker led another balanced San Antonio attack with 20 points, three questions answered about his divorce, and one angry Spurs staffer making sure that three more weren’t fired. Luol Deng and Taj Gibson combined to shoot 6-24 from the field under stifling Spurs defense.

Southwest Division Standings
New Orleans 9-1
San Antonio 9-1
Dallas 7-3
Memphis 4-8
Houston 3-8

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
None.

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores -- Memphis "Keeps Pace" With Rockets For Last With Tight Loss To Portland

Southwest Division results

Chicago 95, Houston 92 — Full recap here.

Portland 100, Memphis 99 — Brandon Roy? Well, whatever, nobody needs him. Wesley Matthews stepped in for him last night and dropped 30 on the hapless Grizzlies as they lost their fourth straight to drop to 4-8. The Grizzlies shot the same or better than Portland in every aspect of the game, but couldn’t make up five extra turnovers. Rudy Gay led a balanced Memphis attack with 20 points.

Southwest Division Standings
New Orleans 8-1
San Antonio 8-1
Dallas 7-2
Memphis 4-8
Houston 3-7

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
Houston Rockets @ Oklahoma City Thunder: 7 PM CT, Fox Sports Houston
Dallas Mavericks @ New Orleans Hornets: 7 PM CT, Fox Sports Southwest
Chicago Bulls @ San Antonio Spurs: 8:30 PM CT, ESPN

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

Rockets Schedule And Power Rankings, Week 3

Southwest Division standings (as of Tuesday)

New Orleans Hornets 8-1
San Antonio Spurs 8-1
Dallas Mavericks 7-2
Memphis Grizzlies 4-7
Houston Rockets 3-6

Well, the Rockets gained ground on the Grizzlies with their 2-1 week! The bad news is that every other team in the division went undefeated, outside of New Orleans losing at Dallas. So there wasn’t a lot of overall ground gained. Still, baby steps for the Rockets after that ugly 0-5 start. Here’s who they have this week:

Tuesday Nov. 16 vs. Chicago Bulls — Chicago is 5-3 even without Carlos Boozer, but Kyle Korver may miss this game. Derrick Rose and company come in on a three game win-streak, with hard-fought victories over the Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets sandwiching a pasting of the Golden State Warriors. Ex-Rocket Keith Bogans will come back to town. The Rockets may be without Chase Budinger for this game, as the Rockets say that he is day-to-day following his ankle roll in Friday’s game at Indiana. Prediction: Bulls 104, Rockets 106

Wednesday Nov. 17th: @ Oklahoma City Thunder – Great, give the Rockets a road back-to-back against Kevin Durant and company. While the Thunder have struggled at times compared to lofty expectations this season, I can’t see anyone the Rockets have stepping up and defending Durant and Russell Westbrook. Prediction: Rockets 103, Thunder 109

Friday Nov. 19th @ Toronto Raptors – Having constructed one of most offensive-extreme rosters in NBA history, the Raptors will try to shoot the Rockets off the court with Andrea Bargnani, Leandro Barbosa, and DeMar DeRozan. Unfortunately for them, they can’t rebound to save their lives without Reggie Evans on the floor, and he basically plays defense on both sides of the floor. Following the one week timetable, this would be the game that Yao would logically be available to return for. I’ll take the over on that one. Prediction: Rockets 118, Raptors 110.

Monday Nov. 22nd vs. Phoenix Suns — The Suns just lost Robin Lopez for a few weeks, so the Rockets will be dealing with Steve Nash, 8 different small forwards, and Channing Frye. This could be a big game for the Rockets bigs, in particular Luis Scola and Jordan Hill. Should be another barnburner with the Suns ranking poorly in defense, as is their M.O. Prediction: Rockets 123, Suns 118

Other Southwest Division schedules for this week:
New Orleans: Tues vs.DAL, Fri vs. CLE, Sun @ SAC, Mon @ LAC
San Antonio: Wed vs CHI, Fri @ UTAH, Sat vs. CLE, Mon vs. ORL
Dallas: Wed @ NO, Fri vs CHI, Sat @ ATL
Memphis: Tues vs. POR, Fri @ WAS, Sat vs MIA

Pulling for the Clippers and 76ers last week didn’t do us much good. This week we’ll be pulling mainly for the Bulls (outside of tonight, of course) and the Cavaliers. San Antonio draws the hardest schedule this week, with Dallas a close second due to the lack of a fourth game.

By the power rankings
Here’s how each team is ranked by an average of their ESPN power ranking, their ProBasketballTalk power ranking, and their Hollinger power ranking:

New Orleans: 1.33
San Antonio: 4.33
Dallas: 7.66
Houston: 16.66
Memphis: 16.66

Looks about right to me. Maybe New Orleans is too high in the long-term, but that should adjust as the season wears on. What do you think?

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores - San Antonio Breezes Past Clippers To Keep Pace

Southwest Division results

Washington 98, Houston 91 — See here.

San Antonio 105, Los Angeles 97 — Down Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon, and Baron Davis, the Clippers were forced to use a starting backcourt of Eric Bledsoe and Rasual Butler. This, surprisingly, was not effective against the Spurs, who whomped them despite just 6 points from Tim Duncan. Richard Jefferson and Manu Ginobli both scored 22 in the win.

Dallas 106, Memphis 91 — Jason Terry came off the bench to score 25 points in 31 minutes, and the Grizzlies starting backcourt of Mike Conley and OJ Mayo shot just 5-19 as the Grizz couldn’t keep pace with the Mavericks. The Mavericks shot 54% from the floor and were able to get former Rocket Steve Novak 2 minutes of garbage time. Zach Randolph had 23 points and 9 rebounds in the losing effort.

Southwest Division Standings
New Orleans 7-0
San Antonio 6-1
Dallas 5-2
Memphis 4-5
Houston 1-6

Southwest Division schedule tonight:
No games.

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

NBA Scores -- New Orleans Whips Clippers, Now 7-0

Southwest Division results

New Orleans 101, Los Angeles Clippers 82 — The Hornets shot a blistering 50.6% from the field and overcame David West’s off-night to whomp the Clippers by 19 points and improve to 7-0. The Hornets found 42 points off their bench, including 15 in just 20 minutes by Trail Blazers cast-off Jerryd Bayless. Speaking of Portland, they’ll head there next.

Southwest Division standings

New Orleans 7-0
San Antonio 5-1
Dallas 4-2
Memphis 4-4
Houston 1-5

Southwest Division schedule tonight:

Houston Rockets @ Washington Wizards, 6 PM CT
Dallas Mavericks @ Memphis Grizzlies, 7 PM CT
Los Angeles Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 PM CT

For more Rockets news check out The Dream Shake.

Eternal Southwest Division Thread: Rockets Schedule And Power Rankings

Southwest Division standings (as of Tuesday)

New Orleans Hornets 6-0
San Antonio Spurs 5-1
Dallas Mavericks 4-2
Memphis Grizzlies 4-4
Houston Rockets 1-5

Let's uh, lets hope that gets better this week, yeah? Or else this season could be just as irrelevant as the last one. Here's what the Rockets have on tap for this week:

Wednesday, Nov. 10: @ Washington Wizards -- Washington is 1-4. Coach Flip Saunders just canceled an entire practice due to the lack of effort, and they are 28th in the NBA in offensive rating right now. Look for both teams to push the ball as they are both top five offenses in pace so far. Also, look for the Rockets to continue to regress to the mean after that slow start. Prediction: Rockets 117, Wizards 109.

Friday, Nov. 12: @ Indiana Pacers - The Pacers are 2-3, and are hovering right around the same level of offensive badness that the Wizards are, 27th in the NBA in offensive rating as of this writing. The two teams they have wins against have a combined record of 3-11. They haven't been a relevant NBA team since the mid-2000s. While they could be a bit feistier than the Wizards, I think the Rockets will continue to trend up. Prediction: Rockets 112, Pacers 103.

Sunday, Nov. 14: @ New York Knicks - The Knicks, thanks to new addition Amare Stoudemire, have become an early Eastern Conference contender. All things being equal, the Rockets probably have the better team. But as feisty as Chuck Hayes is, I can't see anyone on this Rockets team who can defend Stoudemire in the post. Toney Douglas and Wilson Chandler have also really stepped up this year, and I think this game has serious "last game of the road trip, lets get home" potential. Prediction: Rockets 102, Knicks 113.

Other Southwest Division schedules for this week:
New Orleans: Tues vs. LAC, Sat vs. POR, Mon @ DAL.
San Antonio: Wed vs LAC, Sat vs. PHI, Sun @ OKC
Dallas: Wed @ MEM, Fri vs PHI, Mon vs. NO
Memphis: Wed vs. DAL, Sat vs. BOS, Mon @ ORL

If nothing else, it looks likely that the Rockets can at least gain some ground on Memphis this week. The Rockets draw by far the easiest schedule of the teams in the division for this week. If you're pulling for Houston's comeback you'll want to pull for the Clippers and the Sixers this week. I mean, someone has to, right?

A completely arbitrary power ranking for each Southwest Division team: 
Spurs: 5
Hornets: 8
Mavericks: 10
Grizzlies: 17
Rockets: 23