ESPN’s latest midseason rankings outline how several NBA clubs are navigating challenging first halves, spotlighting the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers.
Houston Rockets — B-Plus
The Rockets sit at 25-15, almost exactly matching preseason projections, and that steadiness led ESPN to award the club a B-plus. Houston lost veteran point guard Fred VanVleet to an ACL tear in September, but Amen Thompson and second-year guard Reed Sheppard stabilized the backcourt, with Sheppard making a significant Year-Two leap.
Kevin Durant has delivered as advertised, anchoring an offense ranked in the league’s top five despite a recent dip. Close finishes remain a concern: the Rockets are 9-12 in clutch situations and near the bottom of the NBA in clutch defensive rating. A rebound in that metric could raise the team’s ceiling in the second half.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland has overachieved under difficult circumstances. Rookie Scoot Henderson has yet to play, guard Jrue Holiday missed nearly two months, and reserves Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley were sidelined simultaneously. In their absence, forward Deni Avdija assumed primary ball-handling duties and produced All-Star-level numbers in both usage and scoring.
The on-court progress came while the organization dealt with off-court turmoil after head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested in an FBI gambling investigation. Assistant Tiago Splitter stepped in as interim coach without disrupting the locker room. Although the Blazers’ point differential trails their win-loss record, ESPN credits the team for staying competitive.
Philadelphia 76ers
Despite seeing Joel Embiid and Paul George together in only 15 games, the 76ers remain inside the Eastern Conference’s top four. Tyrese Maxey has led the charge with All-NBA-caliber play, while rookie VJ Edgecombe has settled into the rotation faster than expected.
Forward Dominick Barlow, on a two-way contract, has earned a starting role at power forward, underscoring Philadelphia’s adaptability. The Sixers have kept pace in the standings while waiting for better health among their star players.
Source: Hoops Wire
