Fansided

Midseason Grades for Each NBA Team

By Cody Williams

Jan 14, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James (23) is defended by San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James (23) is defended by San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) sits on the court after a play during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) sits on the court after a play during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

D. player. 169. . 22-22. 7th West. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets were one of the more trendy picks around the NBA in terms of sleepers to dethrone the Warriors in the Western Conference this season. After what they showed last season in both the regular season and in the playoffs, many people had James Harden and company pegged for taking another step forward and as a team that could challenge Golden State in the conference and even compete for a title this season. That couldn’t have been a more inaccurate assessment.

Houston’s play at the beginning of the season was bad enough that it got head coach Kevin McHale fired, despite the fact that it may not have totally been his fault. The team’s effort on a night-to-night basis has been questionable at best no matter who has been holding the clipboard on the sideline and their offseason additions, most notably that of point guard Ty Lawson, haven’t panned out. In fact, the argument could be made that the addition of Lawson has been a detriment to the Rockets this season.

While Houston has turned it around to a certain degree and played themselves into currently holding down the No. 7 seed in the West, the Rockets have been a wild disappointment this season and giving them anything other than below-average marks would be lying about the reality of the situation for this team.

Next: Indiana Pacers

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