Rockets Fall in NBA Power Rankings Amid Homestand Struggles
The Houston Rockets started off the 2023-24 season looking like world beaters at the Toyota Center, as they posted an 11-0 record at home before losing their first one to the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 20. Over the last week, though, the Rockets have started a seven-game homestand 1-3, resulting in the team dropping three spots in NBA.com's weekly power rankings.
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After being ranked 15th last week, Houston now sits at 18th in the latest power rankings released on Tuesday. The Rockets are 3-6 over their last nine games, and two of those wins have come against the Dallas Mavericks, who were without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving due to injuries, and the Detroit Pistons, a team fresh off setting the NBA's single-season record for most consecutive losses.
Despite their recent struggles, the Rockets still have a lot to look forward to with a roster that is littered with young, promising talent, including Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., rookie Amen Thompson and others. Sengun is a Most Improved Player candidate with averages of 21.3 points (leads the team), 9.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
With a 16-15 record, the Rockets find themselves currently occupying the ninth seed in the Western Conference, which is the bottom half of the Play-In Tournament. They'll finish off this seven-game homestand with games against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday and a back-to-back against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks over the weekend.
