At the outset of the season, key factors such as talent, depth, and coaching were already in place. However, it is important to note that despite these conditions being met, they do not guarantee ideal results with certainty. Take the Rockets as an example; they have shown remarkable progress this season, which is not by chance but the result of various factors working together.
Ime Udoka's excellent guidance has injected strong momentum and a clear tactical direction into the team. Compared to the same period last season, the Rockets have won 7 more games, clearly demonstrating significant improvements in tactical execution and player performance.
Currently, the Rockets hold an outstanding record of 26 wins and 12 losses, firmly ranking second in the West. This achievement is attributed to the passion and drive of the young talents on the team, who shine on the court with their exceptional physical abilities and limitless potential.
Experienced veterans also play a pivotal role, using their accumulated experience and calm mindset to stabilize the team and make wise decisions at critical moments. Additionally, the team's tough players exert immense pressure on opponents defensively and are relentless offensively, contributing significantly to victories.
Notably, in January, the team's rising star, Green, entered an exceptional competitive state, scoring over 20 points in six consecutive games, leading the Rockets to a remarkable record of 5 wins and 1 loss. Green's performance in January reached All-Star level standards, averaging 30.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. Moreover, his shooting accuracy was as high as 51.2%, three-point shooting reached 45.6%, and free-throw shooting was an impressive 92.3%.
This is exactly the Green that the Rockets and fans hope to see, one who is suitable to be the new king of the Rockets. It seems that the Houston Rockets' rebuilding has smoothly entered its second phase, allowing General Manager Stone to build an exceptional team around Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith.
I flipped through the history of the Rockets and found that every page reads "competing for the NBA championship"... After carefully examining it for half the night... The two words written throughout are 'center'. In fact, the current Rockets do not need any major trades, but after the injury to Xiao Smith, there were many problems exposed in the frontcourt. According to a report by renowned NBA journalist Shams, sources revealed that the Rockets want to bring in a center to support Green and Amen; it is said that Stone has set his sights on the Blazers' center Ayton, offering Landale, Tate, and a future first-round pick.
As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Ayton possesses outstanding interior skills and commendable defensive capabilities. After joining the Lakers, he will undoubtedly fill the long-existing gaps in the team's interior defense and rebounding. At the same time, he can naturally become the best partner for Anthony Davis in the paint. Ayton's extensive defensive coverage and outstanding rebounding ability will greatly compensate for Shen Jing's shortcomings.