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NBA Power Rankings: Spurs on top? Kawhi not

By Brandon Jefferson

Mar 4, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) defends during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) defends during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 15, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets mascot Clutch greets fans before a game against the Miami Heat at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets mascot Clutch greets fans before a game against the Miami Heat at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Houston Rockets 47-21

Last week: 5-2
Last rank: 5th

Mike D’Antoni turning James Harden into Steve Nash 2.0 is the greatest transition in NBA history since Shaquille O’Neal went from svelte to big. Harden is producing at a level many never thought he would be able to attain and in connection, the Rockets are winning games at a rate that nobody expected. Harden is leading the NBA in assists and is still scoring at a high rate. Houston has gone all-in on D’Antoni’s methods and principles and at the trade deadline they brought in Lou Williams from the Lakers to bolster an already impressive bench that was headlined by Eric Gordon. The Rockets hope that they can rain down enough 3-pointers to get past teams like San Antonio and Golden State in the West. So far this season they have been living by the 3-pointer and life has treated them very well.

Harden is a very qualified MVP candidate and would get my vote to bring home the award if I had one. After a season that completely blew up in their faces Houston has had a much better season in 2016-17. That all begins with Harden. He’s become more of a leader and has been better at getting the rest of the team around him better too. With Houston looking locked into the No. 3 in the Western Conference it will be interesting to see what the Spurs and Warriors do to close out the season. Would either of the two juggernauts try to avoid a second round matchup with the Rockets or would they rather play Houston than Utah in round two? Only time will tell, but whichever team they end up squaring off against will have to be prepared to defend Harden at the rim and the rest of the team around the perimeter.

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