On January 2nd, Beijing time, the Rockets played against the Mavericks at home, and the game ended with the Rockets successfully defeating the Mavericks 110-99. Although the Mavericks were missing Doncic in this game, it was still a tough challenge for the Rockets to win, especially when Irving and Klay were able to play. However, in this game, the Rockets not only effectively limited Irving's performance but also had multiple players step up. Moreover, when Klay found his rhythm and tried to make a comeback in the fourth quarter, the Rockets maintained their offensive momentum and continued to exert defensive pressure on the Mavericks, ultimately securing a decisive victory.
In this game, the Rockets' offensive capabilities showed significant improvement, which is crucial for them. The reason why the Rockets suffered reversals in previous games was due to their lackluster offensive performance, especially in the fourth quarter when their poor offense gave opponents the opportunity to turn the tide. Therefore, the current Rockets must find their offensive rhythm, and they achieved this in this game. Although VanVleet, the starter, was in a slump, Sengun, Green, and Dillon all had excellent offensive performances, and Whitmore also delivered the expected offensive output. The Rockets maintained their offensive state throughout the game. After the win, although the Rockets remained in third place in the West, they are now only half a game behind the second-place Grizzlies.
Sengun's outstanding performance in this game was remarkable. After the game, Sengun was interviewed by reporters and talked about being double-teamed. He said: "Opposing teams have been double-teaming me this season, so I've been working hard to play more aggressively, attacking the basket more aggressively, playing faster, and finding open opportunities for my teammates." It can be said that such a Sengun has finally woken up. Although the Rockets have high expectations for Sengun, he sometimes performed poorly in games, especially when he chose to shoot from outside instead of attacking the paint, which greatly harmed the Rockets. Now that Sengun realizes that he should resolutely attack the paint, it is a huge advantage for the Rockets.
However, while Sengun shone in the game, VanVleet continued to struggle, finishing the game with only 1 out of 8 shots made for 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, including a dismal 0 out of 4 from beyond the arc. VanVleet's performance left no room for excuses, as he had ample offensive opportunities in the game but failed to capitalize on them. This was not the first time VanVleet had underperformed; he had previously struggled in several games. As other Rockets players gradually found their form, VanVleet, as the team's main point guard, should be criticized for not finding his own rhythm. It was only because other players excelled in this game that VanVleet did not face more criticism; otherwise, he would have been heavily questioned if the Rockets had lost.
For Udoka, he should also rely more on one player, and that is Whitmore. When Amen and Ethan were healthy, Whitmore had limited opportunities, making it difficult for him to showcase his offensive abilities. However, with Ethan now injured and Amen suspended, Whitmore received more playing time, and he seized the opportunity to deliver an impressive offensive performance. It can be said that without Whitmore's breakout in this game, the Rockets would not have held a significant lead. With the Rockets currently experiencing significant offensive issues, Whitmore should be given more responsibility by Udoka in upcoming games, especially when the team struggles to break through offensively. Udoka should give Whitmore more chances. In this game, Whitmore scored 18 points with 3 rebounds and 1 assist, shooting 7 out of 9.
