With the worst record in the Western Conference, the 2022 NBA playoffs are already off the table for the Houston Rockets. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to watch for as the 2021-22 season winds down — and it goes beyond strong individual showings, which we did see out of Jalen Green and Christian Wood in Wednesday’s close loss to Utah.
From now until the regular season’s conclusion on April 10, we’re regularly updating where the Rockets stand in relation to their closest “competitors” in the race for 2022 NBA draft odds and positioning.
Houston owns two picks in this year’s first round: Their own, and one from Brooklyn. For purposes of these updates, we’re going to focus on teams who are currently (at the time of publication) within three games in either direction of both the Rockets and Nets in the standings.
After a second straight season at the bottom of the West, will the Rockets land another elite prospect such as Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, or Paolo Banchero for their troubles? Scroll on for the latest updates as of March 3, along with information on odds and tiebreaker scenarios.
Lottery Race Update: Orlando puts on a tanking clinic in the fourth to stay in cellar, OKC trips up on success and Rockets say hello to #2. Standings:
1. Orlando 15-48
2. Houston 15-47
2. Detroit 15-47
4. Oklahoma City 20-42
5. Indiana 22-42— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) March 3, 2022