Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Teams Making the Postseason Hunt Interesting

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 19, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) shoots the ball as Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) and Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) defend in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 98-86. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) shoots the ball as Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) and Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) defend in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 98-86. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 9
Next
Mar 19, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) and center Dwight Howard (12) and forward Donatas Motiejunas (20) and forward Michael Beasley (8) and guard Jason Terry (31) react on the bench against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Rockets 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) and center Dwight Howard (12) and forward Donatas Motiejunas (20) and forward Michael Beasley (8) and guard Jason Terry (31) react on the bench against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Rockets 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Houston Rockets

Record: 35-35

Last 10: 6-4

Current Seed: No. 7

Current Streak: Lost 1

The Houston Rockets have regressed significantly, but there’s no telling how well this team will play come the postseason. Poor as the team may be playing, James Harden and Dwight Howard are proven postseason performers who can take over games on the biggest of stages.

In what can only be described as a significant development, Howard will be available for the long-run after a suspension scare due to his recent stickum scandal.

That’s a very fortunate break for the Rockets.

Harden is producing at an elite level individually, but he’s playing Houston in and out of games. He’s averaging 28.6 points, 7.2 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 2.7 3-point field goals made, but he’s also committing 4.6 turnovers per game.

Many have doubted Houston, and with good reason, but Howard remains confident in his and Harden’s ability to lead the Rockets to a championship.

That’s a tall task, but Houston did reach the 2015 Western Conference Finals. Not much has changed structurally, and if Houston gets the right first round matchup, it could make some serious noise on the postseason front.

It’ll be an uphill battle, but Houston is not a team to sleep on in the postseason picture.

Next: Western Conference, No. 3