On January 12, 2025, Beijing time, the 17-win and 19-loss Suns faced off against the 9-win and 27-loss Jazz at home. This was a must-win game for the Suns, who were ranked 12th in the West. Could they pull it off? The Suns continued to bench Bill and Nuki, starting with Jones, Booker, Dunn, Durant, and Plumlee. On the Jazz side, Collins, George, Clarkson, and Sensabo were absent, with Sexton, Collier, Porter, Markkanen, and Kessler starting. In the first quarter, Plumlee made a putback, followed by Markkanen's layup. Plumlee made 1 of 2 free throws and a dunk, while Booker scored 7 consecutive points, giving the Suns a 12-2 lead. Kessler scored 4 points in a row, but Durant and Dunn responded, maintaining a 10-point lead. Markkanen and Phil scored, but Durant and Booker responded, keeping the lead at 8 points. Williams, Phil, and Mihai reduced the gap to 1 point. Iguodala, Allen, and Durant scored, but Mihai, Williams, and Mills caught up, leaving the gap at 1 point. Durant and Morris extended the lead to 4 points, ending the first quarter with the Suns leading 31-27. In the second quarter, Mihai scored 4 points to tie the game, but Booker and Bill extended the lead to 5 points. Porter hit a three-pointer, and Okogie and Bill added 5 points, extending the lead to 7 points. Porter and Kessler scored, but Booker kept scoring, with Allen and Durant also contributing, increasing the lead to 16 points. Sexton, Kessler, and Markkanen narrowed the gap to 10 points. Dunn, Durant, Bill, and…

A Rising Star Emerges in the Nuggets! Averaging 8.8 Points and 1.1 Blocks, Filling Team's Weaknesses, Could He Be the Next Butler? Unlike the Lakers and Celtics, who are considered major league teams, small-market teams like the Nuggets primarily enhance their competitiveness by cultivating new players. The team's core players, Jokic and Murray, both joined the team as rookies and gradually grew into stars. Among the current batch of young players in the Nuggets, the one most likely to become a star is not Braun, who started this year, but Watson, who has performed well off the bench. Although Watson has not played much in recent years, he has shown his physical talent and defensive abilities in limited playing time. He also possesses the same fighting spirit as Westbrook. Watson was selected by the Nuggets with the 30th pick in the first round of the 2022 draft. When he first entered the league, some saw him as the next Butler. Because Butler was selected by the Bulls with the 30th pick in the first round of the 2011 draft. Although Watson is far inferior to the young Butler in terms of strength and game performance, the two players were positioned identically when they first entered the league, both as defensive specialists. Watson had little playing time in his rookie season, and the Nuggets, who were strong in 2023, eventually won the championship. Watson could only learn slowly on the sidelines as a newcomer. Last season, Watson began to receive playing time, but due to his youth, his game performance was…

From the founding of the NBA to the present, almost all the star players, superstars, and megastars are black players. It is really difficult for stars of other skin colors to reach this level. The reason for this situation is not because black players work harder, endure more hardships, or are more disciplined; it is mainly because they have good physical talents, and they really have a natural advantage in playing basketball. These advantages cannot be caught up with by later training, especially after seeing these 5 photos, you will agree with my point of view. Yi Jianlian's talent is indeed good, and he is truly the ceiling among Asians. Whether it's static or dynamic, he is at an upper-middle level in the NBA, and his athletic ability is top-notch. However, when he took a photo with his contemporary "monster" Kevin Durant, the gap between the two was visible to the naked eye. Without mentioning anything else, just looking at their wingspans, Durant, who is much shorter than Yi Jianlian, has an even better wingspan. Shaquille O'Neal plays simply and brutally, holding the ball low and then dunking fiercely. Even if several people double-team him, the restrictions on O'Neal are still limited. As a center, his talent is so good that the league even modified the rules to limit him. O'Neal has thick thighs but slender calves, which ensures sufficient lower body strength while also possessing speed comparable to guards. Just look at those calves, which are even slimmer than those of the opposing player. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a freak…

Many fans should reflect on a question: why has the Warriors' competitiveness seriously declined in the past two years? After all, they were still a championship team in 2022. In the past two years, they have even had difficulty making it into the playoffs. So we need to analyze the lineup at that time. Which core players left the team in 2022, leading to the decline of the Warriors' strength? After careful analysis, the most impressive players may be Thompson and Poole. We must now re-evaluate Poole's role in the Warriors. In 2022, Poole was a very important player during the Warriors' championship run, and could be considered a champion contributor that year. In that year's playoffs, Poole averaged 17 points with a three-point shooting percentage as high as 39% and a field goal percentage as high as 51%. When Curry was off the court, it was Poole who used his individual ability to tear through the defense and score. After he left, the Warriors lost a major attacking point. More importantly, Poole's three-point shooting was very accurate that year in the playoffs, and his playing style on the court was like Curry incarnate. Poole's performance with the Wizards is becoming increasingly outstanding. This season, his performance has been very stable. In today's game against the Bulls, he personally made 6 three-pointers and scored 22 points. So far this season, he averages 21.8 points with a three-point shooting percentage as high as 41.5%. He is no longer the Poole we remember as an inconsistent three-point shooter. Currently, he has become…

Kobe, a name, a legend. Four years ago, his sudden death shocked the world and shattered the hearts of countless fans into pieces of snowflakes. Now, four years have passed, and time has slowly healed the pain, but Kobe's appearance and his indomitable Black Mamba spirit are still deeply engraved in people's memories. His wife, Vanessa, has also emerged from the depths of grief, successfully slimmed down, and regained her radiance. Today, let us once again approach Kobe, approach Vanessa, and feel that touch, that strength. January 27, 2020, for many fans, was an unforgettable day. That early morning, a helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California, killing all nine people on board, including Kobe and his second daughter, Gianna. The news shocked the world. From basketball superstars like Jordan, O'Neal, James, to celebrities from all walks of life, they expressed their condolences. Kobe's death was not only a huge loss for the basketball world but also a heavy blow to fans around the world. Kobe's life was inseparable from basketball. He started playing basketball at the age of three, and after returning to the United States at the age of thirteen, he devoted all his time to basketball training. He once said, "I am fighting with shadow enemies." This sentence showed Kobe's love for basketball and his indomitable spirit. In high school, a tutor advised him to give up basketball, thinking he had no talent in this field. But Kobe did not lose heart; instead, he turned this sentence into motivation to inspire himself. He trained even harder and eventually became…

"Can the team still play well?" When Edwards tried to resolve the argument between Gobert and Randle on the training ground, who would have thought that this young genius would be pushed to the ground. At that moment, the training ground became a stage for drama, and the problems of the Timberwolves were exposed in full view: this team, which should have had a promising future, was already in chaos due to internal strife. Why did it come to this? Where is the future of the team? All of this stems from those seemingly insignificant little contradictions. The "first protagonist" of the contradiction is none other than Gobert. This French center, who was brought in at a high price, has been frequently in a slump since the start of the season. His offensive performance is unsightly, with continuous mistakes, causing his teammates to have some complaints. Especially the players on the guard line, their cooperation with Gobert is always out of sync, leading to small-scale disputes that gradually accumulate. It's like a powder keg, with hidden dangers long buried. Another powder keg is Randle. Many people may still remember his "lone ranger" image during his time with the Knicks. At that time, Randle was known for his outstanding individual performances, but he was criticized for his laziness on defense and decision-making errors in critical moments. After joining the Timberwolves, not only did these shortcomings fail to improve, they were further magnified. Especially with the heavy "brushing" of data, this made Gobert very unhappy. Thus, the two gradually escalated their conflict,…

On January 8th, Beijing time, the NBA 2024-25 season regular season welcomes a focus battle between the East and West, with the Denver Nuggets hosting the Boston Celtics. This is the first matchup between the two teams this season. Last season's two encounters were won by the Nuggets, indicating that their playing styles are somewhat incompatible. However, the Nuggets have been struggling this season, relying heavily on Jokic to carry the team, with his personal statistics reaching the maximum. As NBA weekly MVP rankings writer Sean Powell said, "Why has Alexander performed so well yet still not ranked first in the MVP list? It's only because Jokic's performance this season is completely historical!" It is worth noting that Jokic has ranked first in the MVP list for nine consecutive periods, which has also caused some controversy. However, this can also reflect Jokic's dominant performance this season from the side. In contrast, the Celtics have a deep lineup. They not only have the most luxurious starting five-man group in the entire league, but more importantly, their bench lineup also performs excellently. Pritchard, who is almost guaranteed to win the Sixth Man of the Year award, can even compete for the Most Improved Player award this season. As a substitute player, Pritchard has hit 5+ three-pointers in multiple consecutive games, the only one in the league; he has hit 100+ three-pointers in the first 26 games, surpassing Walker to become the fastest player in Celtics history. The most interesting thing is that the Celtics average 50.2 three-point attempts per game this season,…

Kawhi Leonard's sudden departure has caused a significant stir within the Clippers organization. Having just announced his return, he had not yet fully regained his peak form when he officially announced his departure after only two games. This is undoubtedly a blow to the Clippers fans who had high hopes that Leonard and Harden could lead the team further and make a championship push. However, Leonard's departure was not due to physical issues but rather an urgent family situation. Coach Tyronn Lue revealed that the Los Angeles wildfires had almost destroyed Leonard's home, leaving his family homeless. This forced Leonard to make the difficult decision to temporarily leave the team and return to Los Angeles to deal with the aftermath. Social media users expressed understanding, acknowledging that family comes first, even in the face of important basketball games. Leonard's absence is affecting the Clippers' preparations, especially as they were beginning to find synergy and improve their overall strength through the combination of Leonard and Harden. Both Coach Lue and the Clippers' management have expressed full support for Leonard's decision, recognizing that family safety is more important than any single game. The players and management's attitude towards Leonard's situation is commendable, with some fans expressing disappointment but also understanding. The Clippers' goal remains to compete for the championship, and the potential of the Leonard-Harden duo is highly anticipated. If Leonard's absence continues, it will undoubtedly impact the team's rhythm. Some fans jokingly suggest that the team now relies solely on Harden, reflecting the strong expectations for the Leonard-Harden partnership. Leonard is…

In the face of fate's impermanence, people sometimes encounter what is known as "unwarranted disaster." This is similar to what NBA star Kevin Durant experienced in the Pacific Palisades community in Los Angeles. Before the fire, the house prices here were astonishing, with the cheapest houses costing millions of dollars, and those worth tens of millions of dollars were scattered everywhere. The residents here displayed their luxury, just like the nobles of history. When the fire swept through, the remaining luxury cars on the road became a side reflection of their affluent lives, and many car owners were unable to transfer their vehicles in time due to insufficient manpower. Durant bought a mansion here in 2018 for $12 million, covering an area of 1200 square meters, with 7 rooms and 12 bathrooms. This residence was like a luxurious little castle, equipped with a swimming pool, gym, private cinema, and elevator, among other facilities, fully meeting his various needs during vacations. During the offseason, he often flew here to enjoy leisurely moments or host grand parties. However, the fire was merciless, and this mansion, which carried many happy memories for Durant, has now turned into ruins. Those luxury cars, precious jewelry, and other items were not transferred in time because Durant was not in Los Angeles at the time, and they were also destroyed. After this fire, many fans focused on the compensation. For many celebrities, their permanent residences are often key protection targets, and they will take out high-value insurance policies. For example, actress Gaga insured her mansion for as…

As of January 12th, Beijing time, the competition for the NBA's scoring title has intensified since the start of the new season. The average points per game for three major stars - Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) - are separated by only 0.1 points, making them hot candidates for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award as well. So far, Giannis Antetokounmpo has played 30 games, averaging 31.7 points to temporarily lead the league; Nikola Jokic has played 32 games, averaging 31.6 points to rank second in the league; SGA has played 37 games, averaging 31.5 points to rank third in the season's scoring list. Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 0.1 points more than Jokic, while Jokic averages 0.1 points more than SGA, indicating that the competition for the scoring title this season will be fierce. To date, they are the only three players in the entire league with an average score exceeding 30 points per game. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and SGA are also strong contenders for the regular-season MVP this season. In the latest MVP power rankings, SGA surpassed Jokic to rise to first place in the league, with Jokic ranking second and Giannis Antetokounmpo ranking third, making the MVP race equally fierce. Currently, the Thunder have a record of 31 wins and 6 losses, ranking first in the West; the Nuggets have 22 wins and 15 losses, ranking fourth in the West; and the Bucks have 20 wins and 16 losses, ranking fourth in the East. I wonder, who do you think will ultimately win the scoring…