This season, one of the most surprising teams in the NBA league is definitely the Houston Rockets. At the beginning of the season, no one in the entire league predicted that the Rockets would be able to maintain a stable second-place ranking in the Western Conference. With their victory over the third-ranked Memphis Grizzlies, the Rockets have solidified their second-place standing in the West, only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. This season, the Rockets' rebounding and defensive capabilities have consistently been among the strongest in the league. The only area where they fall short is offensive scoring, which has not been consistent. If Jalen Green can consistently deliver key blows, this Rockets team could become a championship-level contender. 32+14! 27+3! The Rockets have indeed won big with their bet, and Stone's $300 million contract proves to be worth it.
In the game between the Rockets and the Grizzlies, No. 2 draft pick Jalen Green and No. 16 draft pick Sengun both exploded, leading the team to victory against strong opponents alongside VanVleet. Jalen Green shot 11 for 21, scoring 27 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block, with an efficient offensive scoring rate exceeding 50%. His defense was also impressive, with 3 steals and 1 block in a single game, showing his sharpness. Sengun shot 12 for 20, scoring 32 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks, with the highest points, rebounds, and assists of the game, demonstrating his versatility.
VanVleet, who had previously underperformed and struggled with shooting, was criticized. However, against the Grizzlies, he shot efficiently, going 8 for 13 and scoring 22 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. In the crucial moments, VanVleet made a mid-range shot to seal the game, which was particularly critical. Despite the absence of two key defensive players, Jabari Smith and Tari Eason, the Rockets were still able to defeat the third-ranked Grizzlies in the West, demonstrating that the young roster of the Rockets is strong enough, with both offense and defense performing well. Dillon Brooks, facing his former team, the Grizzlies, instead "let water," shooting 2 for 15 and only scoring 5 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.
32+14+5! 27+3+3! Sengun and Jalen Green, the strongest twin stars of the Rockets, have not disappointed, as they are unleashing their strongest abilities, leading the team to victory and moving forward. As the star player, one should have such ability and courage. According to NBA statistics, Jalen Green, the No. 2 draft pick of the Rockets, has averaged 28 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.2 steals in his last five games, with very sharp performance. Moreover, his shooting percentage is 48%, three-point percentage is 41.2%, and he averages 4.2 three-pointers per game. It is clear that Jalen Green has recently warmed up and entered peak form.
According to official reports from the Rockets' journalists, this season, Jalen Green has become the team's top scorer 15 times, while Sengun has done so 10 times, making them the most frequent top scorers. Sengun has scored 30+10 three times this season, and both he and Jalen Green have been getting stronger and stronger recently. Coach Udoka of the Rockets expressed satisfaction with the recent form of Jalen Green and Sengun, but he also mentioned defensive issues after the game, saying, "We always make it too easy for our opponents to break through and attack the basket; we must always be alert to defensive awareness."
NBA statistics show that the Rockets have a record of 25 wins and 12 losses this season, with a winning rate of 67.6%, compared to 19 wins and 18 losses at the same time last season, indicating significant improvement. Fans say that the Rockets have indeed made the right bet, as Stone's contracts worth 300millionforSengun(5years,185 million) and Jalen Green (3 years, $110 million) prove to be more than worth it. Both Jalen Green and Sengun are continuously improving and performing better, hoping that they can break through their ability limits and reach new heights again.
