NBA Power Rankings: Cavaliers are right where they want to be

169. The Houston Rockets came into the season wanting to try something different and that’s exactly what they did. They took James Harden, who already had the ball in his hands a bunch, and made him the team’s de facto point guard. Now, James Harden is the best point guard in the entire league, and maybe even the game of basketball. I do not think for a second that the above sentence is hyperbolic in any sense. Harden has upped his assists per game to a league leading 12.7 per game in Mike D’Antoni’s seven second or less system. <p>The Houston Rockets surrounded Harden with a cast of shooters that makes the defense choose between open three-pointers or open lanes. Both are horrible choices to surrender, but when facing the Rockets your hands are tied behind your back. Worry about Harden scoring easily and watch three after three rain down. Worry about giving up open threes and you let Harden score at the rim or even worse at the free throw line/</p> <p>For all the fun that Houston has brought on the offensive end, they have looked equally porous on the other end of the court. Their 111.7 defensive rating ranks 28th out of 30 teams. That won’t get them very far in the playoffs. Patrick Beverly’s return should help improve that number slightly, but there doesn’t seem to be any answer to their defensive woes currently on the roster.</p> <p>The Rockets have an MVP candidate on their team and while their plan of outscoring every opponent makes sense on paper, it’s proven harder to execute game-to-game. That doesn’t mean that they are going to stop anytime soon. Harden’s ability as a playmaker really opens up the court and makes the game easier for all the other four players on the floor with him.</p>. . . Houston Rockets. 13. team