NBA Power Rankings: What’s wrong with the Cleveland Cavaliers?

James Harden and Mike D’Antoni are the NBA’s Thelma and Louise. Their high-flying offense is their very own version of driving high-speed towards the edge of an impending cliff. Looking at the Houston Rockets as a whole this experiment really shouldn’t be working. Aside from Patrick Beverley and Clint Capela, this team really doesn’t have many plus-defenders and outside of Harden and Eric Gordon there aren’t many people that can create their own offense. So then how does this team get away with handing the ball to Harden game after game and continuously put up monstrous stat-stuffing box score numbers? Well, it’s mostly because Harden is that damn good. Secondly, it’s because D’Antoni’s offense presents every defense with a horrible choice: either allow Harden to attack the basket against one defender or help on Harden and leave a 3-point shooter open from deep. There’s no way to stop both. D’Antoni knows that. Harden knows that. The NBA knows that. Russell Westbrook’s on pace for an historical season that we haven’t seen since Oscar Robertson was lacing up his high tops, but right now Harden is my choice for Most Valuable Player. Without Harden, the Rockets aren’t coming close to being the team they are today.. 13-7. Previous: . Houston Rockets. 7. team. 169