Houston Rockets: 10 Best Highlights of the 2014-15 Season so Far

It's been a great start to the 2014-15 season for the Houston Rockets. Despite a ton of injuries, the pesky Rockets have been able to stick around the top of the West, and a lot of highlight plays have helped them get there.

James Harden is making a strong case for MVP, averaging 25.6 points, 6.4 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game. The Beard, of course, has had several highlights along the way.

The same goes for Dwight Howard and Trevor Ariza, who have left us in awe with thunderous alley-oops and phenomenal defense.

There have also been surprising highlights from unexpected contributors. The likes of Donatas Motiejunas and Joey Dorsey have made SportsCenter reels this season, and even rookies such as Kostas Papanikolaou and Nick Johnson have gotten in on the action.

We're just past the quarter mark of the season, and at this rate, we have a lot to look forward to for the last three quarters.

10. D-Mo Fakes out Serge Ibaka

It has been somewhat of a breakout year for Donatas Motiejunas.

The 7-foot Lithuanian is averaging 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in his 16 starts. He is finally starting to find his niche in the rotation.

As his confidence has grown, D-Mo has become comfortable in the post. He has even played as the primary scorer and excelled as the go-to guy in crunch time. With Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones out, Motiejunas has been depended upon to operate in the post as a reliable scoring option.

As it turns out, D-Mo has some pretty sweet moves in the paint.

We've seen this before in flashes, and now—as he is finally tapping into his potential—Motiejunas is putting on a clinic down low. He has created mismatches on the block several times against some of the better defenders in the league, including Marc Gasol.

Serge Ibaka is no exception to that.

D-Mo can add Ibaka to his list of post defenders taken to school. This pump fake and spin is reminiscent of the Dream, Hakeem Olajuwon himself.

Not to suggest D-Mo compares to the all-time greatest Rocket, but his post moves have helped Houston win despite several injuries.

9. Ariza's Heroics in Miami

After the Rockets let Chandler Parsons walk away in free agency, one of their biggest concerns was the small forward position. But Houston signed Trevor Ariza to take his place, and it didn't take long for Ariza to prove he was the right call.

When the 4-0 Rockets went to Miami to face the undefeated Heat on Nov. 4, it was their first true test of the season. And even though the Heat are now struggling, it was a highly anticipated matchup at the time.

The game was close throughout—until Ariza helped shut the door in the fourth quarter.

The 3-and-D style of play that earned him his contract came to life. He couldn't miss from downtown, and he shut down Dwyane Wade in the closing minutes. Ariza picked Wade's pocket and pulled up for the dagger.

Bill Worrell, the Rockets' longtime announcer, couldn't have said it better: "What was that other guy's name?"

The Rockets remained undefeated and extended their winning streak to five games. More importantly, it was clear that Ariza's lockdown defense and shooting stroke were more valuable than Parsons' hefty contract—and it cost Daryl Morey only half the price.

8. Dwight's Monstrous Alley-Oop on the Thunder

He hasn't played much this year, but I had to get Dwight Howard in on all the fun. As one of the most dominant big men in the NBA, Howard is bound to get a highlight dunk in every once in a while.

This year, despite not playing much due to injury, the 6'11" center has still been able to posterize a few people. The Rockets have not been great at throwing the lob to Howard, but when they do get it right, man, is it a special sight.

The Thunder denied James Harden's pass to Jason Terry beyond the arc, but they should have been focused on Howard in the post. Harden was able to get the trajectory just right, and Howard did the rest—ferociously slamming it home.

Poor Nick Collison didn't stand a chance.

Unfortunately, this ugly game against the Thunder happened between the tenures of CSN Houston and ROOT Sports Southwest. For that reason, we have to enjoy this thing of beauty as the OKC announcers try to mask hopeless defense with a bogus claim of basket interference.

The truth is you can't really defend a perfect pass over the top to Dwight. You can only watch and pray he doesn't make it—or at least hope you get cut out of the poster.

7. Harden Between the Legs on Mayo

Several times a year, Harden will leave you in shock with an awe-inspiring play. There are games when Harden is by far the best player on the court, and it shows with his skill set and incredible athleticism.

On this play, Harden went for the step-back jumper over O.J. Mayo, but Mayo was able to knock it away—or so he thought.

Instead, the Beard played it off like it was planned, scooped the ball through his legs and proceeded to float it up and in amidst the oohs and aahs from the Milwaukee crowd.

This particular play happened as the Rockets started to pull away from the Bucks in the third quarter. Mayo thought he had a steal and was starting to get out on the fast break, but Harden took it right back in the blink of an eye and got the easy bucket.

The between-the-legs action shows off Harden's uncanny skills, similar to this play he pulled off a couple of years ago in Philly.

Harden is a top player in the league because of his offensive firepower and recently improved defensive effort, but jaw-dropping plays like these are a pleasant bonus.

6. D-Mo's Behind-the-Back Pass

We've already talked about D-Mo's scoring improvement, but Donatas Motiejunas has also gotten nifty with his passing.

The Rockets get a steal against the Sacramento Kings, and somehow D-Mo winds up being the one running the fast break. The 7'0", 222-pound big man made Derrick Williams look silly. A quick behind-the-back dribble one way followed by a sneaky behind-the-back pass the other way turns Williams in circles and results in an easy James Harden layup.

Give Harden some credit for the nice Euro-step move around Williams, but we've seen the Beard do that a thousand times in his sleep—so it's not as captivating.

Motiejunas running the break with ridiculous handles, however, is something quite unprecedented. That's something we haven't seen since Yao Ming did it way back when against the Portland Trail Blazers.

It just so happens that D-Mo had another spectacular pass in the same game against the Kings, this time to Trevor Ariza for an easy basket. It's also worth nothing that this fast break was started by great team defense by Houston, but we'll talk more about that later.

5. Joey Dorsey Breaks out Versus Memphis

With all the injured players, Houston has needed different guys to step up, and Joey Dorsey has been one player who has done so.

Dorsey was a Rocket in 2008 before he was traded and eventually found himself playing in Europe. After a few seasons overseas, the 6'9" big man has returned to Houston as a backup center.

He got off to a slow start this season and fell out of the rotation completely. However, as Dwight Howard has missed time, Dorsey has gotten his opportunity by backing up Tarik Black.

In a game that seemed nearly impossible to win without Howard, both Black and Dorsey had monster games, and the Rockets upset the mighty Memphis Grizzlies—in blowout fashion nonetheless. Houston dominated the Grizz in the paint because of the efforts of these unexpected contributors.

Dorsey starts this fantastic sequence with a nice reverse layup, something not usually seen from the uncoordinated big guy. The next possession, not only does he get the huge rejection, but he also runs the floor and is rewarded with the put-back slam.

Perhaps the most impressive part of this is it all happened with James Harden on the bench.

Without Howard and Harden on the floor, the Rockets have struggled. Outside of those two players, Houston doesn't really have anyone who can carry the offense. But this night was different, and the bench stepped up in a big way to take down the Grizzlies.

Dorsey also had a big dunk in this same game, which was a drastic improvement over his epic fail just a few games before. Due to all the injuries, Dorsey is finally getting an opportunity, and he is proving he can play sufficiently in the paint on both ends of the floor.

This might have been the best win of the season for the Rockets so far, and it happened without Howard, Terrence Jones or Patrick Beverley. To beat down one of the best teams in the league while missing three starters is quite an accomplishment—and it happened because of efforts from guys like Dorsey.

4. Papanikolaou with the Poster Slam

The Rockets have received several contributions from rookies this year, but perhaps none as big as from Kostas Papanikolaou. The 24-year-old from Greece has been a solid addition to Houston's rotation before being sidelined with a knee injury.

Papanikolaou, or Big Papa as some like to call him, is very talented for his size. At 6'8", he is one of Houston's best playmakers. As a stretch 4, he can take on the role of point forward and facilitate for the second unit. He is a great penetrator and even better passer.

Coming from overseas, Papanikolaou has had to translate his skills to the NBA's style of play. It's been a bit tough for him at times, as he turns the ball over plenty and has struggled to consistently hit shots from long range.

In this play, however, he starts it off by swishing a 3. He may just be shooting 29.9 percent from deep this season, but he's clearly improving—and that number should rise once he comes back healthy. It's the next part, however, that was surprising.

The Bucks threw a bad pass, and Big Papa jumped on it. He had a clear path to the hoop, but Larry Sanders, former block champion of the NBA, had other ideas. Sanders sprinted back to contest the shot, but would regret it immediately. Already in mid-air, he knew he had made a mistake.

Papanikolaou cocked back the ball and threw it down with aggression. The stadium was stunned, as was Matt Bullard. Big Papa posterized one of the best shot-blockers in just his first month in the NBA. James Harden ran the floor behind him and was fired up at the result.

Hopefully Papanikolaou can come back healthy and continue to have an impact for the Rockets.

3. Harden Dunks on the Spurs

The Beard strikes again!

Sure, this dunk is impressive. James Harden sells the fake to claim the ball up top and then cuts hard along the baseline. Donatas Motiejunas squeezes in the bounce pass, Aaron Baynes cannot rotate in time and the Beard finishes him off with the flush.

But this win meant more than just a highlight dunk.

It's been nearly two years since San Antonio has beaten its division rival, and Houston intends to keep it that way. This seventh-consecutive victory over the Spurs signified the Rockets' dominance in the state of Texas.

Every season, the Texas triangle is the toughest road trip for NBA teams, as all three teams are perennial playoff contenders. It's easy to suggest the Spurs have owned the title of best team in Texas because they have been perhaps the best team in the NBA for the past 15 years.

However, as of late, San Antonio cannot seem to take down its foe down I-10.

The Rockets have owned that matchup, and they are clinging to a slim lead in the standings over both the Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks for the best record in Texas. Houston has the best division record in all of the Southwest, for that matter.

Gregg Popovich decided to rest some of his guys for this contest in Houston. He often will do that when he does not mind giving up a loss in a tough part of the schedule, which should serve as a compliment to the Rockets.

Keep in mind, the Rockets were missing just as many starters in that game, and they still were able to romp the defending champs, 98-81. Houston made history that night, winning its first six games by double-digits, which had never been done in NBA history. We can only imagine how well a healthy Houston squad could be doing right now.

This win over the Spurs maintained the Rockets dominance in their recent history as rivals, and this dunk was the lasting image for San Antonio to take home.

2. Nick Johnson for the Win

The Rockets have relied on unexpected sources to step up all season. This time, Nick Johnson was the guy who came up big.

Houston blew a cushy fourth-quarter lead against the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves, who had just lost to the 0-17 Philadelphia 76ers in their previous game. The Wolves were determined to make a statement after their embarrassing loss, but Johnson made sure that didn't happen.

James Harden fouled out late in the fourth, and Dwight Howard, Terrence Jones and Patrick Beverley were still out with injuries. So to whom do the Rockets turn?

Well, first Donatas Motiejunas carried the team into overtime with four consecutive points in the final minute of regulation. With the game on the line, however, Jason Terry got the call. He took the ball up the court and used the pick set by Motiejunas, but when he went up for the jump shot, Corey Brewer took it away with a quick closeout. Instead, Terry was forced to give it up to Johnson in the corner.

The rookie caught the pass with three seconds left in a tie game, put his head down, drove to the basket and made the tough lay-in with Zach LaVine draped all over him. The off-balance bucket put the Rockets up for good to secure a gutsy overtime win on the road.

Minnesota might not be the best competition the league has to offer, but the Rockets bench was able to come through once again and bolstered Houston to another win.

Different guys have been stepping up in different ways, and Johnson was able to confidently drive to the rack and win the game for the Rockets with his only basket of the night. This guy would be in the D-League if it weren't for all the injuries.

Instead, he hits a game-winning shot.

1. Harden Leads the Rockets over Dallas

In perhaps the most satisfying win they'll have all season, the Rockets outlast the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 22. It was Chandler Parsons' coming-home party, but James Harden was the one who stole the show.

The Rockets were without Dwight Howard for just the third time all year. The first two games didn't go so well: home losses to the Golden State Warriors and the lowly Lakers. The situation looked bleak, but as it turns out, it wasn't anything the Beard couldn't handle.

Houston dominated for most of the game, with its biggest lead reaching 18 points over their hated rivals. The Rockets started on fire but went ice cold and lost Beverley to a recurring hamstring injury in the fourth.

Dallas took advantage and jumped out to recapture its first lead since the middle of the first quarter. The Mavs held a four-point lead with less than 60 ticks remaining.

When it seemed the Mavs were going to run away with it, Harden stepped in just in time. The Beard dribbled the length of the court—before the Mavericks could set up on defense—and drew a foul on none other than Parsons for the and-1 bucket. He hit the free throw to take the lead and got the crowd back into the game.

Up one with 28 seconds left, the Rockets needed to play some defense.

For the Rockets of yesteryear this would have been an issue, but not for the new-and-improved 2014-15 Rockets. Houston is a top-five team defensively nowadays, and it has relied on defense to win several close games. The team as a whole has improved dramatically, and a lot of the credit should go Harden.

Last season, Harden was ridiculed for his horrendous defense, and there was even an 11-minute video attesting to his lazy effort.

After spending the summer with Team USA, it's safe to say things have changed for the Beard. Harden has transformed into one of the best two-way players in the league—he now leads the league in defensive win shares. You can't argue with the numbers.

So with the Rockets clinging to a one-point lead, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle decides to attack Harden with Monta Ellis coming off a down-curl, and Harden responds. Harden is right on Ellis, who has nothing to do with the ball but turn it over to Ariza.

Ariza then hits two free throws, increasing the lead to three.

The Mavs chose not to call a timeout and instead bring the ball up the court, still a one-possession game. This time, Dirk Nowitzki sets a pick on Harden, who is forced to switch on to the German 7-footer. No problem.

Nowitzki calls for the ball and tries to create separation for a 3, but Harden does not budge. Dirk forces up an off-balance shot with Harden right up in his grill and misses it out of bounds. The Mavs get one final look with the clock expiring, but Ellis can't connect on the out of bounds play.

The Rockets staved off Dallas without Howard and picked up a big division win.

Coming off of a blowout loss in Memphis and an embarrassing collapse at home against the Lakers, Houston took down the Mavericks and held their high-powered offense to just 92 points, 19 below their season average.

Houston's drastic improvement on defense could be a turning point for the franchise, which now seems to be in its best shape since the '90s with Hakeem on the roster.

Led by Harden on both ends of the floor, there could be a lot more highlights like this in the coming months for Houston, possibly even deep into the postseason.