NBA Power Rankings 3: Giannis for MVP and bold predictions for every team

Preseason Record: 1-3

The Houston Rockets are straddling a fence at the moment, and it’s unclear whether they will climb down into the field of tanking or try to walk along the top of the fence and fall headfirst into that field. They took four rookies in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, including Jalen Green at No. 2 overall, and have a number of other young players in their core.

They should give those players plenty of run to see who they have and what they can become, while at the same time maximizing their ability to add another talent in next summer’s draft. Instead during the preseason, they have started a frontcourt of veteran players, with Daniel Theis starting at center alongside Christian Wood, and Eric Gordon or Danuel House Jr. starting at the 3 when available.

Wood has been really solid, averaging 13.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He looks like either a building block of the future (he just turned 26) or a good asset to trade. Yet around him, the Rockets should be playing the likes of Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba and Jae’Sean Tate. Chasing wins is not wise from a team-building perspective, but also not a realistic goal either.

Bold Prediction: They have the worst record in the NBA. To hammer home that point, our bold prediction is that the Rockets finish with the league’s worst record. At some point, they will realize that the youth movement is the way to go for the season. Even if they try to win early on, playing the likes of Gordon, House and David Nwaba, their complete lack of experience in the backcourt with Green and Kevin Porter Jr. should doom them to the bottom of the standings.