Houston Rockets have achieved a record of 4 wins and 1 loss in their last five games, including an ongoing three-game winning streak, seemingly at their best at the beginning of the new year 2025. Despite facing the second-hardest schedule in the league, the Rockets have managed to defeat top Western Conference teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Memphis Grizzlies in these five games, with their only loss coming against the reigning champions, the Boston Celtics. In this highly competitive Western Conference season, the Rockets hold the second place with a record of 25 wins and 12 losses. In the four victories at the start of the year, the Rockets averaged 120.8 points per game while allowing only 110.3 points, ranking sixth in offensive efficiency (offensive rating of 118) during that period. The surge in the Rockets' offensive efficiency in the new year is largely due to the transformation of Jalen Green. The guard's efficiency and consistency have been under constant scrutiny throughout his career, but since Udoka joined the Rockets, his role in the team has been clearly defined, leading to his breakout performance. Especially in the past five games, since Amen Thompson was promoted to the starting lineup, the Rockets have transitioned to a fast-paced offense that relies on transition play and excellent ball-sharing, and Green has finally found his preferred playing style. He has been able to frequently attack the opponent's basket using his athleticism and create space for himself beyond the three-point line. In these five games, Green averaged 27.6 points, 4.8…

In the NBA regular season, there was a highly anticipated match between the Golden State Warriors and the Detroit Pistons. At that time, the Warriors had suffered two consecutive losses, while the Pistons were on a strong six-game winning streak and playing at home, so the odds of victory clearly favored the Pistons. If the Warriors wanted to pull off an upset victory, they would need to coordinate their inside and outside play and perform at a high level. In the first half of the game, the Warriors led the Pistons by a score of 57 to 47, with a 10-point advantage. The Warriors excelled on both offense and defense, with multiple players contributing points. All ten players who took the court scored, with starter Buddy Hield returning to form and shooting hot. Defensively, they forced the opponent into 12 turnovers and completed 9 steals, delivering the kind of performance that Warrior fans had been hoping for. In contrast, the Pistons were far from their five-game winning form, performing abnormally as if they were sleepwalking collectively. Hield scored 8 points, Draymond Green got 5 points with 2 blocks and 1 steal, Davis earned 8 points and 4 rebounds, Schroder had 4 points and 3 assists, Curry scored 9 points with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, and both Santos and Waters had 9 points each. O'Shaughnessy scored 7 points with 2 rebounds and 3 assists, Harris had 8 points with 3 rebounds, Duran scored 3 points with 4 rebounds and 2 assists, Beasley had 8 points with 3 rebounds,…

NBA Western Conference Latest Rankings: Kings Create NBA Miracle, Nuggets Aim for 3rd, Warriors Drop to 11th On January 13, 2025, Beijing time, there were 9 NBA games today, involving the Nuggets, Mavericks, Suns, Thunder, Kings, Pelicans, and Jazz. After the games, the Western Conference standings have changed. The Thunder played away against the Wizards. Although they were missing Chet and Caruso, they had a huge advantage and did not give the Wizards any chance. They won by 12 points in the first quarter, 12 points in the second quarter, and 11 points in the third quarter. The suspense was lost after three quarters, and the Thunder eventually won by 41 points. Alexander scored 27 points with 5 of 17 shots, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Wiggins scored 23 points with 7 of 12 shots, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. On the Wizards' side, Kispert scored 17 points with 6 of 9 shots. After the win, the Thunder remained at the top of the Western Conference with a record of 32 wins and 6 losses, leading the Rockets by 6.5 games. The Kings played away against the Bulls, and this game was very close. Both sides took the lead several times, with the largest gap being only 8 points. With 2 minutes left in the game, the gap was only 1 point. In the last 2 minutes, the Kings performed better and eventually defeated the Bulls by 5 points, securing their seventh consecutive victory. Xiaosa scored 22 points with 8 of 10 shots, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists, while…

NBA regular season, tomorrow's point spread win-loss analysis and prediction on January 14th: Timberwolves vs. Wizards (+13.5)‌ The Timberwolves lost to the Grizzlies in their last game, with their star player Edwards playing poorly, shooting 4 for 13 to get 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, and missing two three-point shots at the end of the game that could have been the game-winner. D'Angelo Russell played very well, shooting 9 for 14 to get 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Timberwolves have a defensive advantage, with the fourth-fewest average points allowed in the league. The Wizards are too weak, and they are playing back-to-back games, so losing is normal, and winning is unexpected. Point spread win-loss prediction: The Timberwolves are giving too many points, so I predict the Wizards will win at home with the points. Pistons vs. Knicks (-8.5)‌ Pre-game analysis: The Pistons defeated the Raptors in their last game, and the team has been in great form recently, seemingly unaffected by the injury of Cade Cunningham. Cunningham played very comprehensively, shooting 8 for 17 to get a triple-double of 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 17 assists. The team's record has improved significantly compared to previous seasons, with 20 wins and 19 losses, ranking eighth in the East. The Knicks had a big win over the Bucks today, with both Towns and Brunson playing well. Towns shot 10 for 16 to get 30 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Brunson shot 16 for 26 to get 44 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Knicks…

Breathtaking, Tim Hardaway, a former Heat player, expressed his opinion on the trade rumors surrounding Jimmy Butler Former Miami Heat player Tim Hardaway has openly challenged Jimmy Butler regarding the trade rumors surrounding him. The dramatic events between the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler have become a major topic of discussion in the basketball media. Several former players, including Gilbert Arenas, have discussed Butler's situation, but Tim Hardaway is also among them, having worked with the Heat and President Pat Riley. Hardaway was a guest on SiriusXM NBA Radio, where he talked about the ongoing collaboration with the Miami star and harshly criticized the 35-year-old player's actions. He said that Butler has always disrespected "authority" and cannot "sink" the ship built by Riley. Additionally, he discussed his disbelief that the forward did not choose to opt-in, given that his player option is worth over $50 million. "You can't disrespect authority, and that's what Jimmy Butler has been doing," Hardaway said. "Pat Riley, I tell you, as long as Pat Riley is here, this ship will stay afloat, and Jimmy Butler will try to sink it. That ship won't sink. I fully support Pat Riley. You're under contract, you know, you play according to this contract. We may see where all the chips fall, but you can choose to join for 52millionnextyear,andyousayyouwon′tchoosetojoin,whichisunbelievabletome.Howwouldyouchoosetogiveup52 million next year, and you say you won't choose to join, which is unbelievable to me. How would you choose to give up 52millionnextyear,andyousayyouwon′tchoosetojoin,whichisunbelievabletome.Howwouldyouchoosetogiveup52 million? But you know, this is all about authority saying no to someone, and these…

Gilbert Arenas recently discussed the double standard in the NBA community towards 40-year-old LeBron James and 40-year-old Michael Jordan, sparking a heated debate. In his podcast, Arenas defended James, stating that he is still performing at an elite level in his 22nd season in the NBA, and that the expectations placed on this Los Angeles Lakers star are unrealistic. "Jordan was averaging over 20 points when he was with the Wizards. That's impressive. But the best player at 40 is LeBron, second best is Michael Jordan. Yet, they had no expectations for Jordan; they were happy to see a 40-year-old player on the court, averaging 20 points. So why, when LeBron is on the court at 40, do they act like he's only 20?" Arenas emphasized the respect given to Jordan's performance with the Washington Wizards at age 40. At that time, Jordan averaged 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, with a shooting percentage of 44.5% and a three-point percentage of just 29.1%. These statistics were celebrated as proof of his long career and status. However, LeBron James' statistics at the same age are significantly better. James averages 23.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.8 assists, with a shooting percentage of 50.7% and a three-point percentage of 38.6%. Despite these incredible performances, he still faces constant criticism rather than appreciation for his individual talent. LeBron James' dominance at 40 is unparalleled in NBA history. On his better days, James easily ranks among the top ten players in the league, and when he's at his peak, he can be considered one…

After consecutive losses to the Rockets and Mavericks, the Lakers' record stands at 20 wins and 16 losses. Although they remain in the top six in the Western Conference, there is not much of a gap between them and the teams behind, such as the Timberwolves, Clippers, Warriors, Spurs, and Kings, who could easily overtake them. Even if the Lakers manage to make it to the playoffs, they may struggle against stronger opponents. General Manager Pelinka has bolstered the team's strength by bringing in the Nets' quality 3D player, Finney-Smith, but his arrival does not solve the Lakers' chronic problems. With James' age increasing, he can no longer keep up with the high-intensity offensive and defensive transitions throughout the game, and Davis also needs help to share the burden. Recently, American media outlet BR suggested that the Lakers' management should go all out for the NBA championship this season, with General Manager Pelinka considering the 76ers' All-Star small forward Paul George as the primary target for recruitment. George is unhappy in Philadelphia; he signed a four-year, $212 million contract last summer, but his performance this season has been significantly below expectations. The 76ers' management is worried that George could become the next Beal, and even if the Suns offer their first-round draft pick, no team seems willing to take him on, so it's not out of the question that he could be sent away this season. Here are the details of the proposed trade: The Lakers send Austin Reeves, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jared Vanderbilt, and their 2029 first-round pick…

The Nuggets' locker room was buzzing with applause and cheers as Malone, for what seemed like the umpteenth time, hung a large gold chain around Westbrook's neck to symbolize victory and recognize his efforts in the game. This marked another explosive performance by Westbrook, who led the Nuggets to a comeback victory against the Mavericks, securing their position in the Western Conference's fourth seed battle. The Nuggets achieved a three-game winning streak, with Westbrook once again delivering an outstanding performance. The game proved to be more challenging than expected, despite being an away match and with the absence of key players from the opposing team. Thompson, leading the Mavericks, managed to create a significant 15-point difference. However, Westbrook, known as the "Defensive King of the Fourth Quarter" in the league, limited opponents to a shooting percentage of just 29.8%, a feat unmatched by any other player. His relentless defense on Thompson in the final quarter effectively silenced him, while the Nuggets collectively intensified their defensive efforts, restricting the Mavericks to only 12 points in the entire fourth quarter. On the offensive end, Westbrook's chemistry with Jokic was remarkable, with their aggressive defense and intuitive plays quickly turning the tide in the Nuggets' favor. Westbrook's impressive block on the over 2-meter tall Leveri and his continuous penetration through the Mavericks' defense showcased his tenacity. The Nuggets ultimately secured a 112-101 victory, completing a remarkable comeback. Westbrook's performance was nothing short of spectacular, with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, following his triple-double in the previous game.…

In a highly anticipated NBA game, the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Atlanta Hawks with a renewed appearance. With the return of Anthony Davis, the Lakers showcased their strong defensive capabilities and team collaboration, ultimately securing a decisive victory over their opponents. This match not only highlighted the formidable partnership between James and Davis but also brought attention to the impressive performances of newcomers Smith and Milton. This article will delve into the Lakers' performance in this game and analyze how their new lineup has impacted the team's overall competitiveness. The Lakers' New Defensive System The return of Anthony Davis was undoubtedly a significant boost to the Lakers' defense. His presence in the paint, along with his rebounding prowess, significantly enhanced the team's defensive quality. Against the Hawks' fast-paced offensive onslaught, Davis' positioning and judgment allowed the Lakers to transition from defense to offense more smoothly. His impact not only limited the effectiveness of the opponent's interior offense but also instilled greater defensive confidence in his teammates. The Lakers' defensive strategy was also well-executed in this game. The team's defensive cooperation was tighter, with each player clearly understanding their role, especially during screens and switches, where they could react quickly. This cohesive team defense enabled the Lakers to effectively contract and cover positions when facing the Hawks' rapid attacks. Newcomer Smith's integration was also a crucial factor in the Lakers' defensive improvement. His active positioning and contributions on the defensive end made the team more composed when countering the opponent's perimeter threats. Smith's defensive flexibility and awareness made…

Harden's near-triple-double, Morant helplessly swallows defeat. This game had me sweating in my palms, as if I were back on the outdoor court, drenched in sweat from those days. Back then, we were a bunch of rough-around-the-edges kids, our skills weren't great, but that fighting spirit still makes my blood boil when I think about it now. Harden, this old-timer, is still at ease on the court, his composure is truly remarkable. He's like an experienced chef, perfectly blending various offensive "ingredients" to satisfy his teammates. In this game, Harden's passing was truly an art, always finding the most comfortable angle to deliver the ball to his teammates. Look at that bounce pass, threading through the armpits of the Grizzlies players, accurately finding Zubac under the basket, who then easily dunks for points. That pass was simply brilliant! And his several passes after breaking through, the timing was just right, making the Grizzlies' defense scatter and fail to cope. It's like... just like how my wife cooks, mastering the heat so well that the dishes are full of color, flavor, and aroma, making them irresistible. Morant, on the other hand, is like a young wild horse, full of vitality and explosive power. His few breakaways were so fast they made my head spin, and I couldn't help but shout in excitement. But youth is still youth, and his lack of experience made him seem a bit rash in handling the ball at critical moments. Several strong attacks ended in turnovers, and if he could have been calmer, perhaps the outcome…