With the Houston Rockets' decisive victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, Jalen Green once again became the focus of Houston, scoring 26 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in just three quarters, achieving a league-leading plus-minus (+23). In this game, he extended his streak of consecutive double-digit scoring games to 10. If this momentum continues, he is well on his way to securing a spot in the Western Conference All-Star reserve lineup. However, relying solely on Green would not have been enough to completely turn the tide of the game. According to Shen Jing, had it not been for head coach Udoka's harsh words during halftime, the second half of the game might have lacked energy and aggression. Fortunately, the coaching staff and players reached a consensus on winning, otherwise their position among the top three in the West would have been at risk.
Facing the relentless offensive onslaught from the young team, Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups seemed helpless. The outside shooting of Green, the inside play of Shen Jing, and the bench contributions of Ison and Whitmore all displayed a strong desire to score. Their tidal wave of attacks directly carried them to victory. At the same time, Billups also mentioned the team's rebuilding and development, suggesting that the current Houston could serve as a reference. Although their roster is filled with many talented newcomers, playing time and shooting opportunities may not be evenly distributed. The No. 3 pick in the 24th draft, Sheppard, is the most typical example.
However, their draft picks have proven to be of high quality. Shen Jing and Green have already reached an All-Star level, and to accelerate their rapid and wild growth, the Rockets management has brought in some veterans to expedite the team's development process. This move can be considered a stroke of genius, as a group of inexperienced players finally grasped the essence of basketball passing. The veteran players provided substantial assistance, further accelerating the rapid progress of Aman and Ison, with such remarkable performances evident to all. As the team faced an injury crisis, Whitmore gradually entered the rotation, applying the skills learned in the G League to basketball games. However, his extremely immature mentality was insignificant compared to the team's record and stable playing time.
This season, the Rockets have undergone a transformation, and their overall strength should not be underestimated. Despite ranking last in assists in the league, individual abilities have reached their peak. Moreover, the team has excelled in rebounding protection, with offensive rebounds topping the league and defensive rebounds ranking ninth. Concurrently, both offensive and defensive efficiency have made it into the top ten in the league. The greatest contributor to this comprehensive performance is not Udoka but the team's general manager, Stone. After the departure of the previous head coach, Silas, Stone found himself in an awkward position, facing the possibility of being fired by owner Fertitta for any dissatisfaction. Now, it seems that the pressure has been transformed into motivation to contend for the championship.
According to data provided by the league, in the past 14 years, champions have shared a common feature: a true shooting percentage ranked in the top five in the league during the season. However, this season's Houston Rockets are not among the top five. Instead, teams like the Cavaliers, Knicks, Nuggets, Bucks, and Grizzlies are expected to contend for the final championship. To address this situation, the Rockets' best strategy to challenge for the championship would be to engage in trades. They possess ample draft picks and promising rookies, even having the confidence to go all-in for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
However, General Manager Stone has not shown much desire for major moves. The management only hopes that the current roster can compete for the Rockets throughout the season, finding and solving problems in the process of defeat, rather than blindly targeting star players to assemble a multi-giant lineup. Such a strategy would not only compress space but also overdraw the future. Should they fail to win the championship, they would become a laughingstock in the league. It must be said that Stone's control of the situation is appropriate; he has his own thoughts and plans, avoiding blind conformity, which is the greatest comfort.
