NBA Power Rankings: The Houston Rockets are a real threat

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) is in today's FanDuel daily picks. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) is in today's FanDuel daily picks. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 14, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) dribbles the ball in the second half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana Pacers beat the Orlando Magic 88-69. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) dribbles the ball in the second half of the game against the Orlando Magic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana Pacers beat the Orlando Magic 88-69. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indiana Pacers 20-18

Last week: 5-1
Last rank: 15th


All it took was a signature Nike sneaker for the Indiana Pacers to get their act together. Pacers star forward, Paul George, unveiled his new sneaker the PG1 and Indiana has been playing some of the best basketball in the league in 2017. Albeit their past seven games have been against the Chicago Bulls (twice), Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Knicks. However, the good teams in the league usually handle their business when facing inferior competition. In all honesty, the turnaround for the Pacers has mostly been due to the improved play of Jeff Teague and the emergence of Myles Turner. Together, that trio has helped Larry Bird’s rash decision to implode a successful team because he wanted to go fast not look as awful as it did to begin the year. If the Pacers can keep getting All-NBA level production out of George then they become a real threat to snatch one of the home-court playoff spots in the weaker Eastern Conference. Sure they got blown out by the Nuggets, but if George has outings similar to the one he had in London–where ironically enough he debuted the PG1–than this team will be on the outside looking in once the calendar hits May.