NBA Regular Season Focus Battles: Various Powers Compete, Each with Ups and Downs
Hey, basketball fans! The NBA regular season on January 21 was quite exciting, with several focus battles that were as captivating as a series of dramas, making for an enjoyable watch.
Let's start with the game between the Rockets and the Pistons. The Rockets have the momentum-driven Jalen Green, while the Pistons have the same-year number one pick Cunningham. It's like two groups of martial arts masters facing off, each with their own signature skills. So far this season, the Rockets have performed quite well, with a record of 28 wins and 13 losses, ranking second in the West. The Pistons, on the other hand, have a record of 21 wins and 21 losses, placing ninth in the East.
During the game, the Rockets were at home and should have had the advantage of playing on their home court, but they lost their form completely, as if they had lost their souls. They couldn't hold their ground in both the interior and exterior lines, which is not good enough. Jalen Duren of the Pistons dominated under the basket like a tiger descending from the mountain, almost smashing through the rim. At this point, Jalen Green didn't perform well either, making consecutive turnovers, allowing the Pistons to go on a 14-0 run and fall behind by 11 points in the first quarter. However, in the second quarter, the situation turned around a bit as the Pistons' state dipped slightly. This was when the Rockets' Amen Thompson and Whitmore stepped up, attacking the Pistons' defense like two sharp blades, leveling the score before halftime.
However, upon returning from the break, Cunningham exploded like he had been injected with adrenaline. In this quarter, whether it was driving to the basket or shooting from outside, no one could stop him, scoring 19 points alone, widening the gap again. By the final quarter, both sides seemed to have run out of energy, with pitifully low offensive efficiency. Although Jalen Green scored 9 points himself, it didn't change much, and they could only watch as the Pistons took the victory at home, losing 96-107, which was a pity for the Rockets.
I think the main reason the Rockets lost this game was that they didn't play well themselves. Jalen Green made too many turnovers, as if a precision gun started jamming. Moreover, without Adams playing, they were outrebounded by 13, which is a big problem in basketball games.
Now let's look at the game between the Suns and the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers are very strong in the East, with a record of 35 wins and 6 losses. The Suns have a record of 21 wins and 20 losses, ranking tenth in the West. In this game, the Cavaliers' interior beast Little Mobley did not participate, so the Suns originally had a chance.
At the beginning, both sides were really locked in a fierce battle. It was like a tug-of-war, with both sides fighting for every point, and many scorers on both sides. Those role players also performed well in the lineup during the transition segments. The first quarter ended in a 27-all tie, which is a common occurrence at the start of the game. However, in the second quarter, except for Durant, the other Suns players seemed to have suddenly forgotten how to score, being chased and beaten by the Cavaliers. At halftime, they were already down by double digits. The situation became even more unfavorable for the Suns in the second half. Mitchell began to exert his power, charging forward like a fully fueled sports car. Strus' three-point shots were incredibly accurate, leading the team to a 13-2 run, quickly widening the gap to over 20 points. In the final quarter, although the Suns tried to catch up, they were unable to recover due to the large deficit earlier, ultimately losing 92-118 by 26 points.
I believe the main issue for the Suns in this game was that the players other than Durant did not perform well. You can't rely solely on Durant; basketball is a team sport, and everyone needs to contribute. If more players had stood up like Durant, the outcome of the game might have been different.
Finally, there's the grudge match between the Warriors and the Celtics. The Warriors have a record of 21 wins and 20 losses, while the Celtics have a record of 29 wins and 13 losses. This was their first meeting of the season. It's like two old rivals meeting again, which is bound to be exciting.
At the beginning of the game, the scores were very close. Both sides were biting each other tightly. People like Porzingis and Tatum kept driving to the basket, while Curry and Schroder also scored intermittently. However, towards the end of the first quarter, the Warriors were like they had been enchanted, being hit by a 14-1 attack wave from the Celtics. This was quite demoralizing. In the second quarter, the Warriors' offense was like a headless fly, aimlessly missing shots, while the Celtics were about the same, but they had the lead earlier. By the third quarter, the Celtics were hot-handed, while the Warriors were still struggling, ending the third quarter with a 34-point deficit, leaving little suspense for the game. Ultimately, they lost the game by a large margin of 85-125.
I think the Warriors had significant problems in both defense and offense in this game. They couldn't stop the opponent's scorers on defense, and their offense lacked effective tactics, always playing haphazardly.
Now let's take a look at the standings. The standings are like a report card, with each team wanting to move up and achieve a better ranking.
In the West, there are teams like the Rockets with good records at the top, and teams like the Suns struggling in the middle. The gaps between the teams are actually not that big, and the outcome of a single game could lead to significant changes in the rankings. Therefore, the upcoming games must be taken seriously one by one.
In the East, the Celtics and Cavaliers are at the forefront. They definitely want to maintain their advantage, while the teams behind them are not willing to lag behind, all aiming to improve their rankings.
These NBA games are indeed very interesting, with each match filled with uncertain factors. Just like life, sometimes everything goes smoothly, and other times you suddenly encounter setbacks. What are your thoughts on these games, fellow fans? Do you think the Rockets should adjust their state, or do you think the Suns need to change their approach? Or do you have any expectations for the Warriors' future? Anyway, I believe each game has aspects worth our deep reflection, and it also makes our viewing experience richer and more colorful.
For example, for those strong teams, they cannot always bask in the joy of victory. Take the Warriors as an example; although they sometimes lose badly, they must learn from their failures, identify their problems, and then make improvements. For some teams with less-than-ideal records, like the Suns, they need to tap into their potential in subsequent games and involve more players in both offense and defense.
Looking at the players, Jalen Green has talent, but he still needs to reduce turnovers and improve his stability. Although Durant is very capable, he can't do it all by himself; he needs to motivate his teammates. Each player has their own responsibilities, and only by working together can the team achieve better results.
In this long season, every game is a milestone, whether it's a victory or a defeat, having a significant impact on the team's future. Fans are also looking forward to the upcoming performances of various teams, hoping they can bring us more exciting games.