NBA regular season, the Rockets defeated the Blazers 125-103. The game remained close in the first half, but a surge in the third quarter of the second half allowed the Rockets to secure a big win.
Four players had perfect performances throughout the game. Green checked out early in the second half, playing only 29 minutes across three quarters and scoring 26 points with 5 assists, boasting a team-high +23 plus-minus rating. Green is currently in an unstoppable form, consistently delivering results and being the most reliable player on the team, which is a joy to see. Dillon maintained his perfect firepower in this game, shooting 9 for 18 to score 22 points with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. This is the role he should maintain, as his scoring ability is not lacking, and his defense can also be guaranteed.
Ethan remains an all-around offensive and defensive presence. He has been able to maintain perfect play in both games, shooting 6 for 10 to score 18 points with 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. He will be the new king of the Rockets' bench, significantly contributing to the overall momentum of the team. Shenjing finally played normally in this game, shooting 6 for 9 in the third quarter to score 14 points with 5 rebounds. He finished the game with 23 points and 15 rebounds, helping the team pull away in the third quarter. Hopefully, he can toughen up in future games.
Holiday and Adams both had passing grades. Holiday managed to maintain his shooting accuracy, going 4 for 9 to score 10 points. This efficiency is acceptable, and he also had the highest plus-minus rating among the bench players. Adams was able to stabilize the paint, grabbing 9 rebounds and playing full defense, making him worthy of trust.
VanVleet, Tate, Whitmore, and Sheppard all had disappointing performances. Especially for VanVleet, he started to lose his composure in this game, shooting 0 for 6 at one point. He still needs to focus on controlling the game and not monopolize the shooting, which is very inappropriate. Tate had no state in this game, shooting 0 for 4 and needing to make adjustments. Whitmore is both selfish and reckless; he can only dribble and force his way through, resulting in a 4 for 14 shooting performance, which has always been his weakness. Sheppard still couldn't get into the game, barely scoring one after multiple attempts, finishing with just 1 for 3.