One of the theories about the Houston Rockets this season, one of the Western Conference preseason title favorites who reached the season's halfway mark at about .500, has been the proof their analytics rage isn't the answer to success.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has been perhaps the biggest proponent of the mathematical model of three-point shooting, free throws and layups as the road to ultimate success.

Another premise is that star James Harden had his career year, so dominant with Dwight Howard often injured that the players began their own voting for league Most Valuable Player and selected Harden over Stephen Curry.