NBA Notes: Rockets, Kevin Durant, Blazers, Deni Avdija, Sixers

Rockets

Houston is almost exactly where the projections said they would be, and that is part of the reason the grade lands here. That would be a B-plus, according to ESPN’s latest midseason rankings.

Expectations were noisy after Fred VanVleet went down with an ACL tear in September, leaving the Rockets without a proven point guard on paper.

Instead, they adapted. Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard stabilized the position, with Sheppard taking a real leap in Year Two. And Kevin Durant has been exactly what Houston hoped for, anchoring a top-five offense even through a recent dip.

The other piece here is luck. Or lack of it. Houston sits at 25-15 but has struggled mightily in clutch games, going 9-12 in tight finishes.

They are near the bottom of the league in clutch defensive rating, which feels fluky given the personnel. If that normalizes, the ceiling rises.

Trail Blazers

Portland has arguably overachieved given the circumstances. No Scoot Henderson yet. Nearly two months without Jrue Holiday. Reserve guards Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley sidelined at the same time.

Into that vacuum stepped Deni Avdija, who has looked like an All-Star-level creator while handling primary ball duties. The numbers back it up. Big scoring. Big usage. Real responsibility.

All of that happened while the Blazers were dealing with off-court chaos following Chauncey Billups being arrested as part of an FBI gambling investigation. Tiago Splitter slid into the interim role seamlessly.

The one caution flag is the point differential. It lags behind the record. Still, given everything, Portland has earned the grade.

76ers

The Sixers have quietly stayed afloat despite barely seeing Joel Embiid and Paul George together. Just 15 games. Yet Philadelphia is still hanging around the top four in the East.

That starts with Tyrese Maxey, who has played at an All-NBA level, and rookie VJ Edgecombe, who looks comfortable far earlier than expected.

Dominick Barlow has also carved out a role as a starting power forward on a two-way deal, which says a lot about both him and the Sixers’ adaptability.