NBA regular season continues to be played, with the Rockets hosting the Grizzlies at home. The Rockets have been in good form recently, securing a three-game winning streak. In this game, the Rockets' offensive performance was average, but fortunately, Green's efficient play helped the team keep up with the score, trailing 23-30 in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Green continued his stable performance, and White Magic, who came off the bench, also performed efficiently, with the Rockets trailing 57-60 at halftime. In the second half, both teams fought fiercely, but in the final quarter, the Rockets once trailed by 13 points. Fortunately, Green led the team with a 14-2 run to narrow the gap, and in the end, Amen made a free throw to seal the victory.
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Green has proven that as long as he has the ball, he can perform, having scored over 25 points for five consecutive games. He is now a true scoring weapon with high offensive efficiency (a shooting percentage of 72.2% in this game), capable of driving and shooting, creating fouls, and not shying away from key shots, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter alone. This season, Green has scored over 30 points in seven games, with the Rockets maintaining a perfect 7-0 record in those games. He finished the game with 42 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal on 13-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-6 from three-point range. Today, it was entirely Green's individual effort that carried the Rockets' offense; without his outstanding performance, the Rockets would have lost much earlier. He was able to maintain a high level of output and efficiency throughout each quarter.
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Shen Jing had a poor performance in this game, with frequent personal turnovers and inaccurate free throws. However, considering that he faced tight defense throughout the game, with double teams whenever he entered the restricted area, there wasn't much space for him to operate offensively. Under these circumstances, Shen Jing still managed to put up a decent performance, making reasonable choices, and his low efficiency is understandable. He shot 7-of-17 from the field, 0-of-1 from three-point range, and 3-of-6 from the free-throw line, finishing with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and 6 turnovers.
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Thompson was a two-way player in this game, leading the team with 4 offensive rebounds and 5 blocks. In the final moments of the fourth quarter, he dominated both ends of the court, scoring 12 points and recording 2 blocks, blocking Wells, creating fouls with cuts, and making free throws to seal the victory. He shot 7-of-15 from the field, 1-of-3 from three-point range, and 4-of-7 from the free-throw line, finishing with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 5 blocks, and 4 turnovers. Especially on the defensive end, he is agile and athletic, with good physical attributes, and his defensive footwork and anticipation are also impressive. On the offensive end, he can cut for dunks, participate in fast breaks, and fight for offensive rebounds for second-chance points. His continuous cuts in crucial moments were the key factor in the Rockets' victory. If he can develop a stable mid-to-long-range shooting ability, he has the potential to become a star in the league as a two-way player.
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VanVleet had an average performance in this game, far from the level expected of a top-paid player. His offensive performance was mediocre, and he repeatedly ignored Green's requests for the ball. When Green was open on the perimeter and hot-handed during the game, VanVleet did not pass the ball to him in time. He shot 2-of-5 from the field, 2-of-3 from three-point range, and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line, finishing with only 9 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
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White Magic was a surprise player in this game, showing great courage and confidence. Whenever he had the opportunity, he would decisively attack the basket, and if there was an open shot from the outside, he would take it. He scored 10 points in the second quarter alone, helping the team stay in the game. He shot 6-of-9 from the field, 4-of-7 from three-point range, finishing with 16 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 turnover.
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Dillon had a disappointing performance, with poor offensive stability and a bit too eager to prove himself against his former team. As a result, he completely fell into a pattern of individual play, shooting 3-of-11 from the field, 2-of-8 from three-point range, and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line, finishing with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 1 turnover.
The Rockets couldn't sit still today, relying on Green and Thompson to turn the game around against the Grizzlies. It must be admitted that these two are the future of the Rockets. The Rockets couldn't sit still because Green, who has the ball, has significantly improved across the board. In the last six games, Green has averaged 30 points with a true shooting percentage of 65%, during which the Rockets have achieved a 5-1 record. He has become a top scorer in the league, making it unnecessary to trade for Fox.
The upcoming schedule is not easy, with matchups against the Nuggets, Kings, Trail Blazers, Pistons, and Cavaliers. Apart from the Trail Blazers, who are considered a weak team, the other teams are all strong contenders.