Houston Rockets' Winning Bet: A Testament to Smart Management and Teamwork The Houston Rockets have emerged as a dark horse in the NBA, securing their position as the second-best team in the West with an impressive defense and the explosive performance of their young players. Recently, they have won three consecutive victories, demonstrating their fiery form. Most notably, second overall pick Jalen Green has had a breakout performance. In January, he delivered an outstanding record: averaging 27.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, with a shooting percentage close to fifty percent and an impressive 41.2% from beyond the arc. Over several games, Green maintained a stable scoring output, showcasing his All-Star-level offensive prowess. Coach Udoka's training of the team is undeniable. This renowned coach, who hails from the Spurs coaching staff, brought Popovich's defensive philosophy to Houston. Under his guidance, the Rockets have built the third-best defensive efficiency in the league, with defensive stalwarts like Brooks and Smith forming an intimidating frontline that strikes fear into opponents. Even more surprising is the significant improvement in Jalen Green's defense, which has elevated him to the top 70 defenders in the league alongside Shen Jing. Udoka particularly emphasizes the defensive coordination between the two, moving away from simple one-on-one rotations. Reflecting on the offseason, the Rockets' management made a wise decision. They had the opportunity to bring in Paul George but ultimately chose to trust their young players. Reality has proven this decision to be incredibly correct. Looking at the situation of the 76ers, who paid a hefty price of…

On January 15, 2025, Beijing time, the 22-win and 17-loss Mavericks hosted the 23-win and 15-loss Nuggets. Just two days ago, the two teams faced each other, with the Mavericks leading the Nuggets by 19 points at one point despite the absence of Doncic and Irving. However, they were eventually reversed and lost the game by an 11-point margin. Today, Irving returned to the lineup, although Doncic continued to be absent, the Mavericks' combat effectiveness has been significantly enhanced. Can they defeat the Nuggets? The Mavericks' starting lineup: Irving + Clay + Marshall + Washington + Levli, while Gordon from the Nuggets continued to come off the bench, with the starting lineup: Murray + Westbrook + Braun + Porter + Jokic. In the first quarter, Levli made two dunks, Porter hit a three-pointer, Braun made a layup, and Murray made two three-pointers, giving the Nuggets an 11-4 lead. Gafford made a hook shot, followed by Murray, Porter, and Westbrook scoring eight points in a row, extending the lead to 13 points. Dinwiddie and Irving also scored, but Porter and Murray continued to extend the lead to 15 points. Dinwiddie made a 2+1 play, while Watson and Jokic responded, maintaining a 17-point lead. Gafford and Grantham scored, but Murray added four more points, ending the first quarter with the Nuggets leading 36-21. Murray scored 19 points in the first quarter alone. In the second quarter, Gordon extended the lead to 21 points. Clay, Marshall, and Irving scored for the Mavericks, but Jordan responded with consecutive alley-oops, keeping the lead at 20…

Shandong Team Explodes for 104 Points in 7 Minutes, Soaring to 3rd Place Under Coach Qiubiao's Guidance Shandong Team has emerged as a dark horse this season, transforming from a 15th-place finish last season to a remarkable 20-win, 9-loss record, ranking 6th in the league and becoming a top contender for the top 4 spots! Despite significant overall progress, Shandong has encountered some issues. In their last four games, they suffered defeats against Guangdong and Shenzhen, two opponents clearly inferior in strength, causing a drop in their rankings and exposing various shortcomings within the team. Shandong's foreign players possess notable abilities but lack consistency. Gali and Moore are strong offensive players, yet their performances fluctuate. Chris lacks independent scoring capabilities, and there are no absolute offensive standouts among the domestic players. This results in a solid defensive presence but occasional failures on offense, impacting the team's performance. In their previous game, Shandong suffered an unexpected loss to Shenzhen, missing a golden opportunity to secure the 3rd spot in the league and revealing their weaknesses. Regardless of the opponent, they must remain cautious! Their next challenge is an away game against Guangzhou Team! Guangzhou Team has had an average season, securing only 7 wins and 22 losses. The absence of their two key players, Guo Ailun and Xiaoding, has weakened their fighting capacity and motivation. Facing them, Shandong has a significant chance of victory! Playing away, Shandong did not have much initiative. Chris scored with a self-rebound and putback, Warren responded with a floater, Douglas made a layup, and Liu Yancheng…

On January 15th, Beijing time, the Mavericks lost 99-118 to the Nuggets at home, with Doncic out due to injury and Irving returning. The game lost suspense from the first quarter, with the Nuggets leading 36-21 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Nuggets won by 11 points with a score of 35-24, leading 71-45 at halftime. The entire second half became garbage time! Jamal Murray had his strongest game of the season: playing 37 minutes, shooting 18 of 26, making 5 of 9 three-pointers, 4 of 4 free throws, scoring 45 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. Before this game, Murray's highest score this season was only 34 points. This is the fifth time in Murray's career that he has scored over 40 points, and it is also his highest score since February 20, 2021 (50 points). Murray only played 19 minutes in the first half, shooting 12 of 15, making 4 of 6 three-pointers, 4 of 4 free throws, and scoring 32 points with 3 assists. Seeing Murray in such good form, Jokic only attempted 2 shots in the first half, which is the ultimate selflessness. This is the third time in Murray's regular-season career that he has scored over 30 points in a half, tying Anthony and Jokic for the most in Nuggets history. In the entire game, Jokic shot 4 of 7, made 1 of 2 three-pointers, 1 of 2 free throws, and got 10 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, with a plus-minus of +23, the highest in the game.…

A 19-point comeback: Why did the Nuggets take another step forward? In one game, they were 19 points behind and eventually completed a reversal with a score of 112-101. This game, which can be called a "roller coaster of the heart," how could the Nuggets climb out of the mud? Is the chemistry between Westbrook and Jokic really the key to the Nuggets' comeback? What is the story behind the comprehensive outbreak from the bench to the starting lineup? This game not only played out excitingly but also left a pile of thought-provoking questions. The Mavericks indeed suffered from being "short-staffed" in this game - Doncic and Irving both rested, which made people wonder, "Can the Mavericks without a leader hold up?" However, in the first half of the game, they slapped this question in the face with their actions. Especially Klay Thompson, the veteran's 11-point explosion in a single quarter made the Nuggets' defense suffer. Throughout the game, Klay hit six three-pointers and contributed 25 points, not only consolidating the Mavericks' lead of up to 19 points but also proving that he still has the ability to dominate the rhythm of the game. However, the hidden danger of lacking core players gradually emerged. The Mavericks' tactical choices became monotonous at critical moments, lacking the control power of Doncic as the "pillar of the sea" and Irving's ability to make key shots, ultimately leading to their inability to withstand the storm of the reversal. If Klay supported the Mavericks' sky in the first half, then the wind and rain in…

On January 14th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued. In an earlier Eastern Conference focus match, the 12-game winning streak and league-leading Cavaliers hosted the fifth-seeded Pacers. Prior to the game, it was widely believed that this would be a one-sided crushing match, as the Cavaliers had unlocked too many milestone records this season, with an unstoppable dominance that surpassed even last season's Celtics. In the past 20 years, only the 73-win Warriors could compete with them. The first quarter of the game was fiercely contested, with the Cavaliers trailing the Pacers by 2 points. However, fortunately, in the second quarter, the Cavaliers relied on their strong adjustment ability to score 34-19 and pull away the point difference. Surprisingly, in the second half, the Pacers staged an astonishing comeback, giving the Cavaliers a net point difference of 37-18 in the third quarter and maintaining their lead with a 31-22 advantage until the final whistle. In the end, the Pacers pulled off a stunning upset against the Cavaliers, handing them a 15-point defeat and causing the invincible league leaders to fall. It is worth noting that the Pacers defeated the Cavaliers in this game while their star player Haliburton only played for 18 minutes, contributing 2 points, 1 rebound, and 5 assists. The Pacers relied on their excellent roster depth to contribute a team basketball game with six players scoring in double figures. At the same time, the team's record quietly welcomed a six-game winning streak, becoming another super championship dark horse in the NBA. Fans who know the Pacers…

The NBA regular season is nearing its halfway point, with the Western Conference showing a trend of polarization. The Trail Blazers, Jazz, and Pelicans have already decided to rebuild and are not interested in competing. The Thunder seems firmly entrenched at the top of the West with an almost 85% win rate, making it difficult for other competitors to catch up. Among the larger group, the Rockets were actually the first to break through, with a record of 26 wins and 12 losses, approaching a 70% win rate. If they continue at this pace, the Rockets are expected to secure one of the top three spots in the West. However, from the Grizzlies to the Warriors, these ten teams are bunched together, each with their own challenges. The Nuggets rely on Jokic and Westbrook; Leonard has returned but hasn't found his form, performing worse than the previous Clippers lineup; the Lakers lack defense and offense, with LeBron and Davis both feeling disheartened. The Suns and Kings are attracting attention with their rebounding momentum. After acquiring Beal, the Suns have come alive, while the Kings have quietly won seven straight games, keeping pace with the main group. It's like the current stock market, where there can't be continuous declines; there will always be opportunities for recovery, attracting more retail investors. However, a rebound doesn't necessarily mean a reversal, as a big drop could occur at any moment, burying more people. Among this group, the most pitiable team is undoubtedly the Warriors. With a record of 19 wins and 20 losses so…

In the long history of the NBA, there have always been players who are underestimated by people. Even if they retire on the spot without playing, their achievements in the past are enough to leave a significant mark in the annals of NBA history! This season, the league's landscape has undergone a huge change, with the former pillars of the league gradually growing old and losing control over the game! The current league is now ruled by players at the peak of their careers such as Jokic, Alexander, Doncic, Antetokounmpo, and Tatum, while young talents like Wembanyama, Banchero, Edwards, Cunningham, Morant, etc., are already eager to seize the baton! Among them, there is one player who, at the age of 36, continues to make significant changes for victory in pursuit of his ultimate dream. He is none other than Harden, the absolute core of the Clippers! This season, Harden has led this team of underdogs to the top six in the West, which is an incredible feat! At the age of 36, Harden has changed his previous approach to the game, making this season the one where he has invested the most energy into defense throughout his career! This is also the main reason why the Clippers can achieve a record of 21 wins and 17 losses this season. Leading by example, Harden spares no effort to participate in defense whenever he is on the court! As a result of his defensive efforts, the team wins more games, but his personal offensive statistics and efficiency decline. Due to the extra…

On January 14th, Beijing time, as the schedule progresses in depth, the rankings for several major awards in the regular season are gradually becoming clear. Thunder's star player Alexander has become one of the hottest superstars in the league with a record of 32 wins and 6 losses, ranking second in the league, and an average of 31 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block per game. He has also quietly replaced Curry as the best guard in the current NBA. It is worth noting that as the undisputed super core of the Thunder, Alexander has averaged over 30 points for three consecutive seasons. Moreover, he makes visible progress every year, with his basketball skills becoming increasingly refined and his body muscles becoming more defined. This summer, he is about to unlock a milestone-like super feat. According to American salary expert Marks, since Alexander's contract will expire in 2027 and he was selected for the best lineup in both 23 and 24, coupled with the fact that he is almost guaranteed to be selected for the first team this season, or even a double first-team superstar plus MVP, Alexander has automatically unlocked the qualification to sign a super-max contract. This summer, he can sign a super-max contract worth up to 294millionoverfouryears.Accordingtotheannualsalarydistributionofthecontract,hissalaryinthe2030−31seasonwillsuccessfullyexceed294 million over four years. According to the annual salary distribution of the contract, his salary in the 2030-31 season will successfully exceed 294millionoverfouryears.Accordingtotheannualsalarydistributionofthecontract,hissalaryinthe2030−31seasonwillsuccessfullyexceed81.45 million, making him the first super star in NBA history to break the $80 million salary mark. Although salary explosions in the league…

In the fiercely competitive Western Conference of the NBA, the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder have always been two promising teams that attract attention. However, after in-depth analysis, it is not difficult to find that compared to the Thunder, the Rockets show a more terrifying development potential and future prospects. The following three reasons are enough to prove that the Rockets are the true masters of the West's future. Salary Structure: The Rockets' Advantages Are Obvious, While the Thunder Hides Crises Next season, the Thunder will face huge pressure on their salary cap space. With the big contracts of the team's players gradually taking effect, the total salary will significantly increase. Looking back at the glory and helpless disbandment of the "Thunder Trio" in the past, a similar plot is very likely to be repeated in the current Thunder team. Once the salary pressure exceeds the bearable range, the team will most likely choose to rebuild to balance the finances, which will undoubtedly disrupt the team's development trajectory. On the other hand, the Rockets currently have VanVleet with the largest contract, which expires at the end of the season and is still an option for the team next season. Shen Jing's big contract starting next season is only more than 30 million, Green has a total of more than 30 million in the next two seasons, Amen's contract is only about 10 million, and the salaries of other young players are also in the millions. As long as the Rockets choose to get rid of VanVleet's contract, the…