Remember back in 2014, when Mark Cuban clashed with the Rockets' Daryl Morey in what the New York Post called a "nerdy NBA rivalry," and we wondered which geek genius would win?

Here's your answer: The Rockets have their own insurance commercial.

Of course, the Rockets are pitching State Farm because they now have Chris Paul, a veteran State Farm ace. Funny stuff, too. Especially Trevor Ariza's singing. Still, it isn't as funny as Dirk Nowitzki singing "We Are the Champions." Good times, good times. Imagine the fun of a State Farm commercial with Chris Paul and Dirk Nowitzki! Yeah, buddy. Unfortunately, the Rockets have the guy with the insurance gig.

And James Harden, too. Didn't have to tank, either.

Not only do the Rockets just keep on laughing and winning, they're probably the only team that could keep the Warriors from going John Wooden on the rest of the NBA.

Now, I'm no built-from-the-bottom-up billionaire, but it sure seems like the Rockets' plan beats the Mavs'. And even if, unlike the Rockets, the Astros tanked to get where they are now, no one in the Bayou City seems to mind anymore. Not since Houston took the state lead in World Series trophies, 1-0.

The good news for Dallas, I suppose, is that the Cowboys are still better than the Texans, FC Dallas is better than the Dynamo and we have a hockey team.

Just the same, does it feel like the balance of power in Texas has suddenly shifted south, or is it only my blood pressure medication?

For the record: Trust me, this isn't one of those my-city-is-better-than-your-city columns. For one thing, most are pretty sophomoric, at best, and Jim Murray wrote all the funny ones. Carving up Minnesota's Twin Cities, the Times legend typed, "They didn't like each other and from what I could see, I agree with them."

On a more personal note, I simply can't take sides in an I-45 rivalry. As you may know by now, I've spent all but one of my 61 years on one end or the other. As for the missing year, I'd like to report it was Paris or Istanbul, but it was only Beaumont. In all fairness, I don't think I left much of an impression, either.

Anyway, you'll find no shots at Houston in this column. I've still got family there, bless their hearts. Last year was hard. I'm not about to pile on.

Besides, from the looks of the standings, it sure looks like Houston's ahead these days.

The Astros didn't just win a World Series, they gave every indication it might get to be a habit. The lineup is lousy with young, exciting two-way players. If there was the slightest concern, it was the depth of the starting pitching. So Jeff Luhnow doubled down by acquiring Pittsburgh's ace, Gerrit Cole, to slot in as their No. 3.

For comparisons, the Rangers won't say who their No. 3 might be, and not just because they're playing coy, either.

The days when the Rangers dominated the Astros look increasingly distant. For me, the lasting image of those times remains the sight of a triumphant Mike Napoli in Minute Maid's left field in 2015. Having dodged a hail of baseballs in the harrowing innings preceding, he stood firm at last, ball in glove, left arm extended, like Lady Liberty lifting her lamp.

Nap showed some wear last year, which is why he won't be back. Nothing personal; just business. Ask the eight scouts that Luhnow fired last year in the throes of the greatest season in club history. He's a cold-blooded numbers guy. Like it or not, his numbers add up.

Morey's also a serious numbers cruncher, which should probably tell you that the success of these two organizations is no coincidence.

NBA types used to wonder about Morey and how he kept flipping assets like a dealer flips cards. Then, in 2012, he ended up with Harden. Pretty soon, that led to Dwight Howard and the bubbling up of a feud between Morey and Cuban.

Funny thing is, Howard proved to be a fairly large bust. But he did not leave a hole when he left.

On the contrary, here it is, two years later, and Morey has reshaped the roster and hired a coach, Mike D'Antoni, who gets the most out of it.

Now, just to be clear, I wouldn't trade Rick Carlisle for anyone. Might be the final coach to win a title without a superstar in his prime. And he's one of a handful who could make the current collection competitive.

The difference between the Rockets and Mavs, as Morey spelled out in 2014, was philosophy. Once the Mavs decided their title in '11 was essentially an outlier, Cuban broke up the team. He then proceeded on a mission to clear cap space in an effort to attract free agents to a team with a superstar in his dotage. You've seen how that's worked out.

"He busted up a championship team," Morey said back in '14, "for what he hoped cap room would do."

Meanwhile, the Rockets, blessed with a superstar ascending, have improved by accumulating assets and turning them into even greater assets. All without tanking. Genius, is what it is.

In an attempt to end on a positive note, it's only seven months until football season, if that still sounds good to you. Also, the Stars are in the thick of it. If Ken Hitchcock could rekindle a little of that old '90s magic, he could own this town. The rest of the state, however, appears taken.

Listen to Kevin Sherrington, Barry Horn and Evan Grant on Ballzy, the SportsDayDFW podcast.

Twitter: @KSherringtonDMN