The recent performance of the Dallas Mavericks has been disappointing, as they have just suffered four consecutive losses, causing their ranking to drop to sixth in the Western Conference, further away from the high position they had hoped for. The most concerning issue is the absence of Luka Doncic due to injury, which has had an undeniable impact on the team. As last year's Western Conference champions, the Mavericks should be considered strong opponents by all Western Conference teams, but now, even their opponents don't take them seriously anymore. The team faces severe challenges, especially without Doncic, where the lack of strength makes people exclaim "struggling to make ends meet." Things are not as simple as imagined. Klay Thompson, a four-time champion, still impresses with his shooting skills, but multiple knee injuries have prevented him from returning to his peak form. Currently, he averages 14.2 points, which is decent, but he is no longer the "sharpshooter" of the past. Moreover, Thompson's defense has always been criticized, making Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd reluctant to keep him on the court for too long. Although Klay can provide help on the offensive end, whether he can really solve the Mavericks' current predicament is still a big question mark. Recently, American media proposed a three-way trade plan involving the Rockets, Warriors, and Mavericks. This trade seems complicated, but if negotiations go smoothly, Thompson will be sent to the Rockets, while the Warriors will receive Mavericks' Maxi Kleber, a 2031 first-round pick, and other assets. Wiggins will join the Mavericks to become Doncic's new…

In the fierce arena of the NBA, every game is like a war without gunpowder. When the Clippers meet the Nuggets, this match is even more filled with suspense and anticipation. On December 14th, Beijing time, the Clippers challenged the Nuggets away from home, but they were defeated by their opponents with a score of 98-120, suffering an unexpected three consecutive losses. This game not only disappointed the Clippers' fans but also shocked the entire basketball world. What exactly caused this crushing defeat? Harden's return did not save the team's decline. Although he contributed 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, his 9 turnovers were alarming. Obviously, Harden still needs time to adapt to the rhythm of the game and find chemistry with his teammates. Zubac and Powell also performed unsatisfactorily. As the team's interior pillar, Zubac scored a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, but he seemed somewhat helpless on the defensive end. Powell, as the team's top scorer, only managed to score 16 points in this game, far below his season average of 26 points. This undoubtedly exposed the Clippers' problems on the offensive end; they need to find more scoring points to share the pressure. On the Nuggets' side, although the team has been in poor form recently, they showed their strength in this game. Jokic's performance was as stable as ever, shooting 6 for 9 and efficiently scoring 16 points with 7 rebounds. More importantly, he made significant contributions on the defensive end, repeatedly grabbing key rebounds and blocking shots. Murray, Gordon, and Porter Jr.…

In the fierce arena of the NBA, every matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers is like a meticulously planned basketball feast. Especially when this matchup becomes a revenge game, the competition between the two sides is even more filled with tension and excitement. The Nuggets returned home with the regret of their previous loss, while the Clippers embarked on their away journey with the confidence of victory. From the start of the game, the Nuggets quickly established a leading advantage with their tenacious defense and accurate outside shooting. Although the Clippers have superstars like Harden, they found it difficult to find stable scoring points under the tight defense of the Nuggets. At the end of the first quarter, the Nuggets had already taken a 7-point lead at 29-22, which undoubtedly dealt a significant blow to the Clippers. Entering the second quarter, the Clippers began to adjust their tactics, attempting to close the gap through quick offensive and defensive transitions. Harden also began to showcase his individual abilities, scoring consecutively and assisting his teammates. The Nuggets did not panic as a result; they relied on the strength of the team and precise outside shooting to maintain their lead. At halftime, the Clippers were only trailing by 1 point at 47-48, further escalating the suspense of this revenge game. In the second half of the game, both sides engaged in even more intense competition. The Nuggets steadily maintained their slight lead in the third quarter. While the Clippers launched a fierce counterattack in the fourth quarter, trying to…

On January 8, 2025, Beijing time, the Los Angeles Lakers challenged the Dallas Mavericks away. Before the game, the Lakers played with a full squad, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the double-core lineup. Facing the Mavericks without two superstar players Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Lakers were widely regarded as the favorites to win. However, the result of the game was unexpected, with the Lakers suffering a crushing defeat of 97-118, which not only dealt a significant blow to the Lakers but also had implications for the overall landscape of the Western Conference. At the beginning of the game, the Lakers performed well under James' leadership. In the first quarter, the Lakers held a slight lead, ending the quarter with a 27-24 score, leading the Mavericks by 3 points. However, in the second quarter, the Lakers failed to maintain their lead and instead encountered problems on the defensive end. The Mavericks launched a scoring spree of 31-23, overtaking the score and leading the Lakers by 5 points (55-50) at halftime. At this point, the Lakers' defensive vulnerabilities became apparent, especially when facing the Mavericks' offense, as they were unable to make effective adjustments. In the second half, the Lakers' performance further deteriorated. In the third quarter, the Mavericks stepped up their game, scoring 34 points while the Lakers could only manage 26. As the gap in the score widened, the Lakers still failed to find an effective counterattack in the fourth quarter, although they did reduce the deficit to single digits at one point, they were never…

The Clippers were expected to be a rebuilding team at the start of this season, but what followed was unexpected. After just two games back, Leonard experienced another injury setback. During the last game, after the Clippers were hit with a 14-0 run by their opponents, Leonard decided to rest on the bench and subsequently left the court. Fans who understand Leonard know that this must indicate a recurrence of his physical problems; otherwise, he wouldn't have left so hastily. Subsequently, based on Leonard's own statements, we realized that Leonard's current injury is truly incurable. Leonard stated, "I'm not sure if my knee issue will be completely healed by then; I also need detailed observation and treatment for my injury." This statement is quite absurd; Leonard himself is unsure about his injury. Such a statement is contradictory; he is prepared to take time off for injuries at any moment in upcoming games. Leonard is openly misleading the Clippers. Now, fans understand that the Spurs were extremely generous with Leonard in the past. They gave him multiple opportunities, but Leonard still refused to disclose his injury issues and caused a series of uncooperative incidents off the court. Currently, despite earning the highest salary within the Clippers, he is still unwilling to take on the responsibility of leading the team to victory. Harden is now in the twilight of his career, and it's clearly impossible to rely on him alone to lead the Clippers to a championship. However, given Leonard's current state, expecting him to perform at a high level is also…

The Houston Rockets achieved a significant victory over the Washington Wizards today, with Jalen Green, Shen Jing, and Amen Thompson all performing exceptionally well, securing their second consecutive win and maintaining their position as the second seed in the Western Conference. However, there is another piece of good news that has emerged: Shepard has had a breakout performance. After being demoted to the G League's Vipers by the Rockets, he made his debut today. Shepard finished the game with an impressive stat line of 17 out of 33 shots, including 8 out of 19 from beyond the arc, scoring 49 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out 6 assists, and making 3 steals. For all Rockets fans, today confirms one fact: Shepard is not just a raw talent; he is a skilled rookie who simply lacks the physicality required. Why did Shepard, who dominated in the Summer League, appear to be a liability on both offense and defense in the NBA? It's not that Shepard isn't capable; it's that his body hasn't kept up with the intensity of the league. Today's performance solidifies the notion that if Shepard can improve his physique to meet NBA standards, he will be able to showcase his talents. In today's game, Shepard displayed confidence in his outside shooting and aggressively attacked the basket, while defensively, he held his own and even served as the primary perimeter defender for the Vipers. Regardless, the G League's level of competition surpasses that of the Summer League. Shepard's ability to exhibit his strengths in this environment validates the Rockets'…

On January 8th, Beijing time, the recently struggling Warriors faced off against the Heat, a team in turmoil, at home. It was expected that the Warriors could win under the leadership of Curry, especially since they were playing back-to-back games against a Heat team without Butler. However, during the game, although Curry scored 31 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, his teammates were not supportive enough. Excluding Curry's 8 out of 17 shots made, the other Warriors players only managed to make 6 out of 33 three-point attempts, with a meager 18.2% shooting percentage. On the contrary, the Heat, also playing back-to-back, had a balanced effort with six players scoring in double figures, grabbing 48 rebounds, and dishing out 32 assists, easily defeating the Warriors 114-98. In the previous game where they were badly beaten by the Kings, Curry shot 8 out of 12, made 4 three-pointers, and scored 26 points with 7 rebounds. When the game was no longer in doubt, Curry sat on the sidelines, draped a towel over his head, and propped his face up with his hand, appearing very frustrated. However, in this game, it was another valiant effort, and Curry wandered around the sidelines for a long time during the last timeout before finally sitting down slowly with the towel covering his head. After this loss, the Warriors have a record of 18 wins and 18 losses, ranking 10th in the Western Conference, just half a game ahead of the Kings. After the game, there was more bad news for the Warriors. Head coach Steve Kerr…

With a $33 million contract, it's finally time to say goodbye to the Clippers! Harden has moved on, but you really should retire. The NBA is a place where talent speaks volumes, and while the numbers on the paycheck don't tell the whole story, they do reflect the vision of team management and the value of the players themselves. Tucker's three-year, $33 million contract initially appears to be a sign of respect for a 39-year-old veteran, but upon closer inspection, it's the aftermath of a "sentimental drama." Sentiments have their price, but competition is merciless. The contract that Tucker secured with Harden's help at the 76ers has now become the heaviest burden for the Clippers, which is truly lamentable. This season, there are numerous examples in the league where exorbitant contracts do not match actual performance. The Timberwolves' record plummeted due to internal adjustments; the Suns lost their soul when Durant left; looking at the 76ers, Embiid earns $49 million but can't lead the team; the Clippers, despite their reputation as a powerhouse, are held back by emotional burdens. And Tucker is the epitome of the Clippers' "emotional debt." Tucker exercised his player option worth $11.54 million this summer, which is reasonable compensation, but the problem is that Tucker can no longer justify these figures on the court. Last season, in 32 games, he averaged only 1.6 points and was almost benched. This season, he has virtually "disappeared," lacking speed on the court, unable to keep up with physicality, and even losing the defensive toughness that once made him famous.…

On January 8th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Houston Rockets visiting the Washington Wizards. In the first quarter, the Wizards took advantage of their home court and established a 10-point lead. In the second quarter, the Rockets staged a remarkable comeback, scoring 37 points with both inside and outside shots, successfully overtaking the score. After halftime, the Rockets grew even stronger, with Green and Shen Jing leading the charge. The Rockets won the third quarter by 16 points, extending the lead to over 20 points. In the final quarter, the Wizards struggled to mount a comeback, allowing the Rockets to easily secure the victory. Ultimately, the Rockets defeated the Wizards 135-112. The Rockets are ranked second in the West, while the Wizards are at the bottom of the East, making them teams of different calibers! Faced with the formidable Rockets, the Wizards were eager to fight but ultimately powerless, falling behind after an initial strong start! Throughout the game, the Rockets dominated the paint with a 62-44 scoring advantage over the Wizards and controlled fast breaks with a 30-21 scoring edge. Additionally, the Rockets forced 18 turnovers with 15 steals, converting them into 35 points; in contrast, the Rockets only committed 10 turnovers, with the Wizards scoring just 13 points off turnovers. Unable to match the Rockets' intensity, the Wizards resorted to heavy reliance on three-point shooting, attempting 40 threes and making 15 with a 37.5% success rate. However, the Rockets managed to bounce back from a slow start, hitting 15 threes at a 39.5% clip,…

Who is the most impressive player this season? This question may have different answers from different people. For example, Wembanyama, who entered the top ten of the league in his second year of his career, has now made a groundbreaking performance on both offense and defense. In my opinion, there is another player worth mentioning, he is the super inside player who was sold at a low price by his mother team last offseason: Towns. After the Timberwolves were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, everyone thought that this team was just not deep enough. If they maintained their complete lineup, they would still be able to achieve great things next season. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves management seems to think differently. They believe that making Edwards the only core and shifting the focus of the team's offense outward is the most important thing. Therefore, they chose to trade away Towns during the offseason. Last season, Towns averaged 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds as a quality inside player, which was already an impressive feat considering he sacrificed a lot of shooting opportunities. What's even more unexpected is the package the Knicks gave up to get Towns: Randle, DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick. Randle was a complete garbage contract last season, and DiVincenzo is at best a quality role player. In other words, the best asset in this trade turned out to be a first-round pick. This season, Towns has completely transformed, averaging 25.5 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, with a shooting percentage of 55% and a three-point percentage exceeding…