New Year, New Beginnings! The Rockets have made a significant change in 2025 that can be described as "closing the barn door after the horse has bolted," as Udoka has started to face reality. VanVleet, with his career-high salary, has delivered his worst performance since his rookie season, which many Rocket fans find unbearable. Udoka claims he doesn't care about social media comments, but he cannot ignore the dissatisfaction from players and management. Despite poor shooting, VanVleet still holds onto the ball, and the label of leadership given by Udoka fails to convince the young players on the team. On the other hand, Stone cannot stand idly by as a mercenary affects the growth of the "Houston Prince." In 2025, Udoka's protégé VanVleet has seen a noticeable decrease in shot attempts, with only 8, 7, and 11 shots respectively. With more ball possession, Jalen Green has scored 22, 27, and 33 points in the last three games. Jalen Green has regained confidence, showcasing his skills against the Celtics and Lakers with drives, mid-range shots, and three-pointers, improving offensive efficiency and defense while significantly reducing turnovers. Jalen Green had only one turnover against the Celtics and zero against the Lakers. Jalen Green once displayed the demeanor of a superstar last season and played well in the first five games this season. However, Udoka still insisted on the basic strategy of pick-and-roll, seeking stability. Although Jalen Green does have technical shortcomings, he is the player with the highest potential on the Rockets. Udoka, in pursuit of stability, could only let Jalen Green…

On January 6th, Beijing time, the game between the Lakers and the Rockets sparked the biggest controversy, which is quite rare. After the game, James, Davis, and Redick, the three giants of the Lakers, teamed up to fiercely criticize the referees and the Rockets team, as they were not willing to accept this loss. James and the Lakers have always been gracious in defeat, but after this game, they could no longer tolerate it. The three superstars criticized the referees together, which is a very rare situation for the Lakers this season. Redick, as the team's coach, was the first to lead the charge against the referees, believing that there was a major controversial call. He said that the foul on Davis' screen was due to a Houston player flopping. At the time, Davis knocked down Houston's Holiday, and Redick claimed that Holiday flopped, questioning the referee's decision. What's more amusing is that after Davis committed the foul on the screen, James actually made the three-pointer. However, because of the early foul, the referees did not count it. The Lakers would have been within one point with that three-pointer, so it's not like they didn't have a chance. But once that play happened, it really was no longer an opportunity. Not only that, but Davis also came out to say that when he knocked down Aaron Holiday, it wasn't his offensive foul; it was the other side flopping. He said that Holiday grabbed his arm and then fell to the ground, making it look like he was pushing someone, but…

The Houston Rockets narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-115 at home, improving their record to 23 wins and 12 losses. This result has helped them maintain a slight lead over the third-placed Memphis Grizzlies, solidifying their position as second in the Western Conference. Over the past five games, which were considered a challenging stretch for the Rockets, they faced tough opponents such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and the Lakers. The Rockets managed to secure two victories and three defeats during this period, which can be seen as an average performance considering they were playing at home. There were several factors that contributed to the Rockets' 2-3 record. Firstly, Ethan was unable to play due to injury, mirroring the career trajectory of Kawhi Leonard. Additionally, Amen Thompson was suspended for two games against the Heat, weakening the Rockets' strongest defensive duo. To make matters worse, Smith suffered a finger fracture during training and is expected to miss between four to eight weeks. Despite these setbacks, the Rockets' 2-3 record is commendable. The Rockets' offense has been inconsistent, but their defense has been impressive. Their defensive strategy left the Lakers struggling to find scoring opportunities. The Rockets' rebounding prowess, ranked among the top two in the league, played a crucial role in their victory over the Lakers, with a significant advantage in offensive rebounds. Amen Thompson's return was a lifeline for the Rockets, as he is a pillar on both ends of the court. Defensively, Amen is the only Rocket capable of guarding LeBron James…

Recently, the Rockets' performance can be described with one word—lukewarm. The young players on the team are doing well, with some occasionally exploding, but the team's overall offensive efficiency, especially at the point guard position, is really dragging them down. Take Amen Thompson, for example. Although he has potential in scoring ability, he hasn't yet achieved stable scoring, averaging only 12 points, which is indeed quite low. The Rockets urgently need a stronger point guard, and this problem is already there. Controlling the rhythm and driving the offense, a good point guard can make the team's offense more fluid and layered. The question is, who can step up for the Rockets to find such a player? Fox's name is being mentioned more and more often. The Kings' All-Star point guard is young, athletic, and most importantly, he has the ability to organize the offense. Moreover, he himself also intends to leave the Kings and wants to find a place that can give him more opportunities. Do you think the Rockets are just right? The Kings are considering rebuilding, and letting Fox go is also a possible choice for them. The Rockets have several promising young players and some expiring contracts, which can provide some trade chips, plus draft picks from the Suns, making the trade chips relatively rich. This gives the Rockets considerable negotiating capital in such a trade. Are you starting to doubt whether the Rockets will really get Fox through a trade? Some netizens believe that this trade is not worth the risk. Although Fox scores well, can…

On December 31st, Beijing time, on the last day of 2024, the NBA regular season saw the Clippers challenge the Pelicans away from home. Prior to this game, the Clippers had already won two consecutive victories, ranking sixth in the West with a record of 18 wins and 13 losses; while the Pelicans were at the bottom of the West with a record of 5 wins and 27 losses. Judging from the rankings, this game should have been an easy victory, but unexpectedly, both sides fought fiercely. Returning to the game. In the first quarter, Jones and Murphy of the Pelicans opened fire first, helping the team take a 13-7 lead. On the other hand, Harden of the Clippers made a step-back three-pointer, completing a 3+1, and then made a 2+1 with a breakthrough layup, scoring 10 points in the first quarter through inside and outside shots. At the end of the first quarter, after Jordan-Hawkins hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer, the Pelicans ended the first quarter with a score of 37-31. In the second quarter, Powell's excellent performance helped the Clippers overtake the score. However, the Pelicans were not willing to give up, as McCollum, Jones, and Murphy exploded again, leading to a 14-0 run that once expanded the gap to 14 points. In the latter half of the quarter, Powell and Dunn of the Clippers continued to attack inside and out, helping the Clippers close the halftime score to 56-62. After the halftime break, McCollum started with two three-pointers to help the team expand the lead. After switching sides,…

In the NBA, where stars shine brightly, some are born to be the main characters, like our "chosen one" LeBron James, who remains firmly seated on the throne of "greatness" despite narrowly missing out on championships multiple times. But today, we're talking about someone who isn't a natural-born protagonist with a halo, but rather a "motivational brother" who has gone through many ups and downs and ultimately achieved a phoenix-like rebirth—Westbrook! Back in the day, Westbrook, along with Durant and Harden, were known as the "three young talents" of the Thunder, making it all the way to the finals together. Although they didn't end up lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy, their youthful storm shook the league. Westbrook, in particular, gained a large fan base with his "triple-double miracle." Even without a championship title, Westbrook's status among fans remained solid, and his induction into the Hall of Fame seemed just a matter of time. Who would have thought that this former "son of Thunder" would go through so many twists and turns? After leaving the Thunder, Westbrook became a wandering wanderer, moving from Houston to Washington, then to the Lakers and Clippers, gradually transitioning from a team core to a supporting role. During his time with the Lakers, Westbrook even accepted a bench role, but despite this, he couldn't escape the fate of being traded, eventually continuing his dream with a minimum contract. However, Westbrook is a person with an indomitable spirit. This offseason, he joined the Nuggets, signing a two-year, $6.8 million contract—a golden opportunity to save his career! At…

The passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant was undoubtedly a shock to the sports world and beyond. Recently, his widow Vanessa, along with her children, visited Kobe's grave for an emotional memorial service, where they also set off fireworks to celebrate the new year together. This act quickly became a trending topic, drawing widespread public attention. At the same time, changes in Vanessa's appearance have also caught people's attention; she appears slimmer now, forming a stark contrast to her state shortly after Kobe's death. A photo of her with a white male model has further sparked intense speculation among fans about her potential new romance. Vanessa and her children expressed their longing for Kobe by setting off fireworks at his gravesite. This unique way not only demonstrated Vanessa's deep affection for Kobe but also allowed fans to feel the resilience and unity of the Bryant family. During this special moment, they chose such a method to commemorate their departed loved one, which undoubtedly moved many deeply. Since Kobe's death, Vanessa's image has undergone significant changes. She has become slimmer, which contrasts sharply with her state when Kobe first passed away. This change may be due to grief or Vanessa's efforts to adjust for the sake of her children and her own life. Regardless of the reason, we see a strong and brave Vanessa who chooses to move forward bravely in the face of life's difficulties. A close photo of Vanessa with a white male model that surfaced online immediately sparked heated discussions among fans. In the photo, Vanessa leans on…

New Season, New Dynamics: Each of the 30 teams in the league has its own challenges. Taking the East as an example, Jimmy Butler failed to renew his contract with the Heat, and he is unhappy and not performing well, even requesting a trade. Pat Riley has suspended him for seven games. Regardless of where Butler ends up, the Heat should act decisively to resolve the situation. On the other hand, in the West, the Suns have three superstars - Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal - but they are plagued by injuries, making it difficult for their unbalanced lineup to compete in the competitive Western Conference. It's time for a major reshuffle of the roster. Notably, Butler is interested in joining the Suns to team up with KD, and KD also needs a tough forward like Butler! Since the new owner, Mat Ishbia, took over the Suns, the team has set championship contention as its top goal. To achieve this, Ishbia made three significant moves: first, bringing in KD to raise the team's ceiling; second, trading Chris Paul for the prolific scorer Beal; and third, trading Deandre Ayton for the European heavyweight center, Jusuf Nurkic! Thus, the Suns built an unusual lineup: three top-paid scorers (KD, Booker, Beal) + a super heavyweight blue-collar center (Nurkic) + several low-salary role players! Unfortunately, the Suns have been ravaged by injuries, leaving them far from championship contention! In the new season, the Suns started anew but fell behind again in the fiercely competitive West! So far, the Suns have only managed…

Thunder's Big Win Over Celtics! Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Scores 33+11, Doc Rivers' Prediction Comes True, Clippers Shouldn't Have Traded 9 for 1 The Thunder and the Celtics had a fierce battle, with the Thunder ultimately achieving a great comeback victory, winning 105-92. In their next game, the Thunder will face the Cavaliers, who are currently first in the East, which could be a preview of the finals. The Thunder, currently first in the West, have won 15 consecutive games and are leading by a wide margin. The Cavaliers have also won 10 straight games and are far ahead in the East. The Thunder have a record of 30 wins and 5 losses, while the Cavaliers have 31 wins and 4 losses. If the Thunder win their next game, they will have the same record as the Cavaliers. If they lose, the Cavaliers will solidify their position as the top team in the league. This 15-game winning streak is also the longest in Thunder history, surpassing the record from the SuperSonics era. In this game, the Celtics once held an advantage because they had their strongest lineup. The Celtics lined up a formidable starting five of Holiday, White, Jaylen Brown, Tatum, and Porzingis, with Horford on the bench. The Thunder, on the other hand, stuck to their regular starting lineup, with Alexander and Wallace in the backcourt, Dort on the wing, and Giddey and Hartenstein in the frontcourt. The Celtics, who play with a "Moreyball" system, were indeed unstoppable when their shooting was hot. In the first quarter, the Celtics went on…

The Houston Rockets narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-115 in a thrilling home game. The Rockets dominated the Lakers in the first half, but the Lakers fought back in the second half. Fortunately, the Rockets managed to hold on in the final moments, securing a hard-fought victory. After the game, the Rockets experienced three joys and one concern. Green, who had been struggling, finally stepped up in the closing moments of the game. He scored crucial points to maintain the lead and finished with an impressive stat line of 33 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block. His newfound defensive intensity was also a pleasant surprise. Adams played a pivotal role as a surprise asset, grabbing 7 offensive rebounds and drawing several fouls while battling for rebounds. His presence in the paint was crucial, and his ability to protect the rim greatly benefited the team. Without him, the Rockets would not have won. Amen's performance was also outstanding. He drew an offensive foul on James at a critical moment, stopping the Lakers' momentum. With 16 rebounds, including 6 offensive rebounds, and a shooting efficiency of 11 out of 19, he demonstrated his versatility on both ends of the court. He has solidified his position as a key player for the Rockets' future. However, Shen Jing's performance was disappointing. He struggled offensively, getting repeatedly blocked by Davis and lacking a reliable shot. Defensively, he was unable to contain the opposition's attacks and had difficulty controlling rebounds. His inability to defend effectively made him a liability on the court. It…