In the NBA, a player's fate is often determined by their talent. Some become superstars through their natural abilities, while others, despite constant injuries and low attendance rates, continue to receive the favor of teams and lucrative contracts. Take Jonathan Isaac as an example. This talented forward, selected sixth overall in the 2017 draft, has had a bumpy career so far but remains viewed by the Magic as a "future cornerstone." What is puzzling is that Isaac's career attendance rate is extremely low, even struggling to complete a full season. However, the Magic still have faith in him: from a four-year, 80millioncontractextensiontoanotherfive−year,80 million contract extension to another five-year, 80millioncontractextensiontoanotherfive−year,84 million deal this summer, keeping him with the team. Why is the Magic willing to invest $160 million in this "glass man"? Let's delve into the reasons. Jonathan Isaac was highly anticipated from the moment he entered the league. Standing at 2.11 meters tall with an impressive wingspan and agile movement, he possesses both offensive and defensive talents. However, health issues have always been his biggest enemy. Throughout his career, he only played more than 70 games in the 2018-19 season; in other seasons, his appearances never exceeded 35 games, and there were even two seasons where he did not play at all. Especially since the 2019-20 season, Isaac suffered serious injuries consecutively. He first tore his left knee ligament and then reinjured himself during pre-season training in 2021, missing two entire seasons. Even after recovering, his playing time was strictly limited, averaging only 16 minutes last season, which undoubtedly raises…

The Clippers may not have expected that, without a game, they would be pulled into the hot search due to the eye-catching performances of two former players. First, their former second-in-command George, who has been teasing himself, put on an extremely representative performance against the Kings. By "extremely representative," it means that PG perfectly presented the two characteristics of being super godly and super ghostly in one game. He was able to score 30 points in two and a half quarters, fully demonstrating his scoring burst; yet he could also go scoreless in the final quarter and even commit three consecutive turnovers at a critical moment, leading to a 15-0 reversal by the opponent, and he himself fouled out with six fouls... Powell's statement, "regarding George's departure as addition and subtraction," is still gaining value. No one can choose their fate outside of destiny; we can only confront destiny within our own fate. Fortunately, we still have the choice to become a better self. George chose a bigger contract and more money, which is beyond reproach. He could have rested easy, but he insisted on stirring up controversy for traffic, turning what could have been a peaceful parting into a scene of mockery, a classic example of a good hand of cards played poorly. Similarly, his good brother Westbrook is the "reverse George." George left after weighing his options, while Westbrook was forced into a trade; he took a lower minimum salary, but what remained unchanged was his original intention; from having no tactical status to steadily climbing to the…

Translation of the article content into English: Based on Kevin Durant's performance in the 2023-2024 season, there are various opinions regarding his ranking in terms of pure strength within the league. Here are some analyses: Outstanding Performance in Statistics: In the regular season, Durant played in 75 games, averaging 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. His shooting percentage was 52.3%, three-point shooting percentage was 41.3%, free throw percentage was 85.6%, and true shooting percentage was 62.6%. These statistics reflect his efficient scoring ability and comprehensive skills, keeping him at the top level in the league. For example, in some games, he repeatedly scored high points, with 22 times scoring over 30 points and 5 times scoring over 40 points, demonstrating his powerful offensive capabilities and remaining one of the top scorers in the league. In advanced statistics, Durant also performed commendably. His offensive efficiency is high, making a significant contribution to the team's offense, and he can also provide support in rebounding and assists, giving him an advantage in comprehensive strength evaluations. Still a Major Influence on the Court: Despite being 36 years old and having suffered a major Achilles injury, Durant's influence on the court remains significant. As one of the core players for the Suns, he can attract defensive attention from opponents and create opportunities for his teammates. For instance, in some games, his presence created more open shot opportunities for his teammates. Durant's extensive game experience makes him reliable in crucial moments. In tightly contested games, he can score for the team using his…

As a player who averaged over 30 points per game in the past two seasons, his highest score was only 45 points. What does this mean? In NBA history, apart from Alexander, there were another 22 players who achieved an average of at least 30 points per game for at least two seasons. The highest scores of these 22 players all exceeded 50. Of course, Alexander's strength lies in his stability. So far, Alexander has played all 32 games for the Thunder, averaging 31.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks, with shooting percentages of 52.8%/35.4%/87.8%, and a true shooting percentage of 63.9%. Especially in the 23 games after Chet's injury, Alexander scored more than 25 points in 22 games (the only exception was the mid-season final against the Bucks, where he scored only 21 points). At that time, the overall discussion about him was that he was one of the top scorers in the league today, but his limitations were evident in the game against the Bucks. His three-point production was low, unable to effectively punish the retreat of big centers, nor could he pass threateningly when double-teamed. He was obsessed with playing alone, not decisive in passing, and his choices of dribbling, shooting, and passing were easily affected by his shooting fluctuations and mentality. Lacking a keenness and boldness, and this gap would be infinitely magnified in high-level games. After the mid-season game, Alexander strengthened his three-point shooting, and at the same time, his attacking the basket and mid-range shooting became more explosive, scoring 40+…

On January 3rd, Beijing time, the NBA officially announced the Eastern and Western Conference Player of the Month awards for December, including the newly established Defensive Player of the Month award for this season. The results are as follows: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks were named Players of the Month, while LeBron James, Zhou Qi, and others received nominations; Jaxson Hayes of the Pelicans and Rui Hachimura of the Wizards were named Rookies of the Month; Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Grizzlies and Jarrett Allen of the Cavaliers were named Defensive Players of the Month; and J.B. Bickerstaff of the Cavaliers and Mark Daigneault of the Thunder were named Coaches of the Month. Player of the Month: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Karl-Anthony Towns Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder averaged 33.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.2 blocks in December, with a shooting percentage of 56.3% and a three-point percentage of 36.6%, leading the Thunder to a record of 12 wins and 1 loss. Notably, Alexander also won the Western Conference Player of the Month award in October/November, making it his third career Player of the Month award and second of the season. The Thunder's official account posted a poster to congratulate Alexander on winning the award again. Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks averaged 23.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks in December, with a shooting percentage of 56.6% and a three-point percentage of 39%, leading the Knicks to a record of 12 wins and 2 losses. This is the first…

Translation: On January 3rd, Beijing time, the NBA officially announced the results of the first stage of fan voting for the 2025 All-Star Game. Giannis Antetokounmpo surpassed Jokic, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and other stars to become the first-round ticket king. At the same time, the latest top ten popular stars in the league were released. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jokic, and Tatum ranked in the top three, with Durant ranking fourth in the league and James fifth. Curry did not make it into the top ten. In the first round of fan voting for the 2025 All-Star Game, the top ten players by votes are as follows: Giannis Antetokounmpo - 1,710,630 votes Jokic - 1,422,121 votes Tatum - 1,385,851 votes Durant - 1,268,799 votes James - 1,167,661 votes Towns - 1,099,966 votes Alexander - 1,053,683 votes Davis - 999,540 votes LaMelo Ball - 947,444 votes Wenyambo - 928,501 votes In last year's first round of All-Star voting, the top ten players by votes were Giannis Antetokounmpo (2,171,812 - ticket king), James (2,008,645), Embiid (1,844,025), Durant (1,807,394), Tatum (1,765,919), Jokic (1,636,041), Doncic (1,452,733), Curry (1,394,980), Haliburton (1,380,795), and Davis (988,225). Last year's top ten included Doncic (870,071), Curry (810,357), Embiid (170,420), and Haliburton, all of whom failed to make this year's top ten. Among them, Haliburton led the Eastern Conference backcourt in the first round last year but did not even make the top ten in the Eastern Conference backcourt this year due to poor performance. Last year, James received over 2 million votes in the first round, leading the Western Conference…

The Houston Rockets faced two unfortunate pieces of news ahead of their game against the Dallas Mavericks. The first was the suspension of their backup point guard, Amon Thompson, for two games due to a conflict in the previous match. This was his first game out, and he would also miss the next home game against the Boston Celtics. To make matters worse, the Rockets' forward, Ethan, has been out of action due to injury for several consecutive games. Last season, Ethan only played 20 games, which was one of the main reasons the Rockets failed to enter the playoffs. It seems that injuries have once again found the 23-year-old iron-blooded forward, Ethan. As part of the Rockets' famous "Door God Combination" and best defensive duo, it is clear that with both Amon Thompson and Tari Ethan unavailable, some bench players were given the opportunity to play. For example, in the game against the Mavericks, the Rockets' forward, Whitmore, scored an impressive 18 points in 24 minutes, catching everyone's attention. Another guard, Aaron Holiday, also received 15 minutes of playing time, scoring 4 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in the game, with a performance that could be considered average. Another veteran, Tate, scored 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 15 minutes, showing a very comprehensive performance. Most importantly, outside of Ethan and Amon Thompson, Tate is the first choice for the Rockets' bench forwards. Therefore, although the 28-year-old Tate is known as the most likely player to be traded by the Rockets, from the current…

On December 31st, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued as the Los Angeles Clippers traveled to face the New Orleans Pelicans away from home. The Pelicans were in the midst of a 9-game losing streak, firmly holding the last spot in the Western Conference; while the Clippers were on a 2-game winning streak, needing more victories to avoid falling into the play-in tournament area. Both teams started off with a fierce offensive battle, with the Pelicans slightly ahead in the chaos until the second quarter when the Clippers managed to level the score thanks to Kobe Bryant's heroic performance. After halftime, the Pelicans hit multiple three-pointers, building a massive 16-point lead at one point. In desperate times, Harden stepped up, attacking and assisting to help the Clippers erase the deficit. The two teams then became embroiled in a tug-of-war, with the game's suspense dragging on until the end. The Clippers completed a great comeback with Harden's free throw. Ultimately, the Clippers narrowly defeated the Pelicans 116-113. The Pelicans, plagued by injuries, faced the surging Clippers and gambled with their hot shooting, achieving an impressive 51.2% field goal percentage and sinking 18 three-pointers at a 48.6% rate. In contrast, the Clippers shot only 35.1% from beyond the arc, making just 13 of 37 attempts. However, the Pelicans' limited talent and single-minded approach allowed the Clippers to mount a decisive counterattack with their dominance in the paint. Throughout the game, the Clippers outrebounded their opponents 40-35, dominated the offensive rebounds 14-6, and outscored them in the paint 56-44. Crucially, the Clippers…

In the NBA, scoring 60 points throughout a game is a very difficult feat to achieve. However, there are always some top-level players who have accomplished this goal by only playing three quarters of a game. For example, Harden with 60 points, Kobe with 62 points, and Thompson with 60 points. So the question arises, which of these three has the highest quality? Harden's 60 Points in Three Quarters Harden's abilities are undeniable. In terms of historical scorers, he can be compared to the likes of Jordan, Kobe, and McGrady, with a rich array of offensive techniques. Winning three scoring titles with the Rockets is solid evidence of his prowess. In the 19th season against the Hawks at home, Harden scored 60 points using only three quarters, with 23 free throws, making 20 of them, earning 20 points from the line. Thompson's 60 Points in Three Quarters Thompson is a top-tier 3D player in the current league. Although not considered a superstar, he is definitely at the star level, having assisted Curry in winning four championships. He can be considered the strongest second-in-command since Pippen, excelling in mid-to-long-range shooting, especially with a single-quarter record of 37 points and 14 three-pointers that are hard for future generations to surpass. In the 16th season against the Pacers, Thompson was in excellent form, taking 33 shots and making 21, including 8 out of 14 three-point attempts, and he only played three quarters to score 60 points. Kobe's 62 Points in Three Quarters Kobe has always been known for his scoring ability throughout his…

The game has ended with the Pacers defeating the Celtics 123-114, successfully avenging their previous loss. Just a few days ago, they were brutally defeated by the Celtics by 37 points, but in this match, the Pacers controlled the game from start to finish, ultimately achieving a remarkable comeback. From the beginning of the game, the Pacers displayed an incredibly fierce momentum. Haliburton and Siakam took the court with a fiery intensity, immediately putting immense pressure on the Celtics. The Pacers started with a 6-0 run, momentarily leaving the Celtics stunned. The Celtics quickly adjusted, with Hauser scoring a three-pointer to give the team some breathing room. However, the Pacers continued their relentless offensive onslaught, with Nembhard and Turner contributing mid-range shots, and the Pacers once led by as much as 16-5. The Celtics are no pushovers, and Brown and Horford quickly stepped up, leading a counterattack that allowed them to narrowly overtake the Pacers at the end of the first quarter with a score of 29-27. Although the scores were close, it was clear from the game that the Celtics had not completely controlled the situation. The Pacers' offense was diverse and posed a greater threat. In the second quarter, both teams played at a faster pace, with the scores fluctuating. On the Pacers' side, Mathurin and Siakam continued to exert themselves, frequently raising the score. On the Celtics' side, White, Pritchard, and Brown were also actively trying to reduce the gap, but Haliburton's outstanding performance for the Pacers extended their lead. At halftime, the Pacers led the Celtics…